The town, indefensible, lurking in a hollow under commanding hills, had held out for 118 days.

They had endured two assaults and an incessant bombardment, to which, towards the end, owing to the failure of heavy ammunition, they were unable to make any adequate reply.

It was calculated that 16, 000 shells had fallen within the town.

In two successful sorties they had destroyed three of the enemy's heavy guns.

They had been pressed by hunger, horseflesh was already running short, and they had been decimated by disease.