DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0242
212
kirby’s wonderful museum.
in the foot, and was therefore obliged to return that night to
Orleans.
She, however, continued no longer in the city than was
absolutely necessary. She rose early in the morning, and
crossed the river to her troops. On her arrival, she found
that the English had not only declined all attempts to regain
what they had lost, but had also abandoned several other
considerable posts, and drawn all their troops on that side
of the city within the Tourelles, and the bulwark that de-
fended it. Joan, after reconnoitring the works, proposed
immediately to attack both places, but was opposed by the
joint voice of all the French generals. They remembered
at how dear a rate the English had purchased these works ;
they represented, that the English could never have carried
these fortresses, had not their attempts been favoured by the
lowness of the river when they made the attack ; that there
were but two ways of approaching it, one by the bridge, the
arches of which were broken down; the other by the river,
which was now too high to be forded. Joan, however,
slighted all these reasons and remonstrances with an air of
authority ; and the soldiers, who thought themselves invin-
cible under her standard, calling aloud to be led on by their
brave deliverer, the council was obliged to submit, and it
was accordingly agreed to make the attack immediately.
On a nearer and more accurate survey, Joan thought the
attempt both difficult and dangerous, though far from being
impracticable, and ordered the cannon to be placed on that
part of the bridge which had not been broken down. Some
of the archers were so desirous of beginning the attack,
that they swam across the river, and climbed to the top of
the ruined arch, in order to discharge their arrows with
greater effect. These precautions being taken, Joan or-
dered a violent cannonade to be made on both sides of the
river, under which she attacked the bulwark at the head of
her troops. The English made a noble defence. Joan was
wounded in the neck with an arrow at the beginning of the
kirby’s wonderful museum.
in the foot, and was therefore obliged to return that night to
Orleans.
She, however, continued no longer in the city than was
absolutely necessary. She rose early in the morning, and
crossed the river to her troops. On her arrival, she found
that the English had not only declined all attempts to regain
what they had lost, but had also abandoned several other
considerable posts, and drawn all their troops on that side
of the city within the Tourelles, and the bulwark that de-
fended it. Joan, after reconnoitring the works, proposed
immediately to attack both places, but was opposed by the
joint voice of all the French generals. They remembered
at how dear a rate the English had purchased these works ;
they represented, that the English could never have carried
these fortresses, had not their attempts been favoured by the
lowness of the river when they made the attack ; that there
were but two ways of approaching it, one by the bridge, the
arches of which were broken down; the other by the river,
which was now too high to be forded. Joan, however,
slighted all these reasons and remonstrances with an air of
authority ; and the soldiers, who thought themselves invin-
cible under her standard, calling aloud to be led on by their
brave deliverer, the council was obliged to submit, and it
was accordingly agreed to make the attack immediately.
On a nearer and more accurate survey, Joan thought the
attempt both difficult and dangerous, though far from being
impracticable, and ordered the cannon to be placed on that
part of the bridge which had not been broken down. Some
of the archers were so desirous of beginning the attack,
that they swam across the river, and climbed to the top of
the ruined arch, in order to discharge their arrows with
greater effect. These precautions being taken, Joan or-
dered a violent cannonade to be made on both sides of the
river, under which she attacked the bulwark at the head of
her troops. The English made a noble defence. Joan was
wounded in the neck with an arrow at the beginning of the