In this siege, for the first time, the spade was used by soldiers
in the field. Hitherto the work had been considered derogatory to
troops, and peasants and miners had been engaged for the work; but
Prince Maurice had taught his soldiers that their duty was to work
as well as fight, and they now proved the value of his teaching.
The besieged made several successful sorties, and Sir Francis Vere
had been severely wounded in the leg. The cannonade effected but
little damage on the strong walls; but the soldiers, working night
and day, drove mines under two of the principal bastions, and
constructed two great chambers there; these were charged, one with
five thousand pounds of powder, the other with half that quantity.
On the 3d of July the mines were sprung. The bastion of the east
gate was blown to pieces and the other bastion greatly injured, but
many of the Dutch troops standing ready for the assault were also
killed by the explosion.
The storming parties, however, rushed forward, and the two bastions
were captured. This left the town at the mercy of the besiegers.
The next day the garrison surrendered, and were permitted to march
away. Three hundred and fifty had been killed, among them young
Count Lewis Van der Berg, and two hundred had been left behind,
severely wounded, in the town. Between five and six hundred of
the besiegers were killed during the course of the siege.
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