Battle of Dresden

  

                                   Battle of Dresden, by Thomas Charles Naudet

Was it the battle of Dresden that set the stage for the apocalyptic clash at Leipzig where the supernatural beast made it's appearance? Did the clash of cannon over the two-day battle raise the monster from the depths? I won't know until I write the story, but I have my suspicions. In the meantime, here's some information about the battle of Dresden:

Fun Fact: The Battle of Dresden

August 1813. The summer armistice has ended. Austrian has joined Russia, Prussia, Sweden, and Great Britain against France. The Army of Bohemia, consisting of 230,000 Russians and Austrians under the command of Prince Schwarzenberg, accompanied by the Tsar and the King of Prussia, advanced on the capital of Saxony, whose King was a firm supporter of Napoleon. Gouvion St. Cyr's XIV Corps was the only French force near Dresden. The Emperor rushed away from his pursuit of Blucher toward Dresden, followed by elements of the Imperial Guard, Vandamme's corps, Marmont, and Victor.

Informed that St. Cyr could not hold against the massive force while a flanking attack developed, Napoleon advanced to Dresden with the Guard Cavalry, Marmont, and Victor, leaving Vandamme to conduct the outflanking maneuver.  When the Allies learned of The Emperor's arrival, they had second thoughts about attacking, but their troops marched forward before their orders could be canceled. 

St. Cyr held his defensive line throughout the 26th, and  Napoleon's counterattack with the Guard in the later afternoon regained those positions which had been lost earlier in the day. During the night, Victor and Marmont arrived to increase the French force to 120,000 men. Schwarzenberg's strength increased to 270,000, but he had to siphon of troops to meet Vandamme's approach. 

On the 27th, Schwarzenberg massed his troops to smash the French center, while Napoleon planned to hold the center with only 50,000 while delivering attacks on the flanks.  At 6:a.m. he moved first, crushing the Allied right wing with Mortier's and Nansouty's attack on Wittgenstein. At the same time, Murat drove off the Allied left. Schwarzenberg, having lost 18,000 troops with but limited success against the French center, elected against fighting a third day.

                   By Friedrich Rudolf von Rothenburg - Schlachtenatlas, Public Domain 

 

If you want some more Napoleonic conflict with a touch of Egyptian magic, check out my story, "Seventh Hussar and Aide to the Mage." 

 

 

Melisende

 

 The unboxing continues at Xanadu. It's nothing like the Battle of the Pyramids pictured above, except for the chaotic nature of the job. I unloaded three boxes in the garage and another three in the basement. I'm finding books and filling the bookcases that surround me in my writing den. I do read and resort to them from time to time when I'm looking for something specific, or just to spark my imagination. It feels good to have the familiar covers gather round again.

Fun Fact:

In 1131, Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem, was on his deathbed. He summoned his 26 year old daughter Melisende. He had taken religious vows and become a monk, hoping to secure a seat in the eternal palace above.  Although Melisende's husband Fulk had taken her on the understanding that he would succeed Baldwin as king, Baldwin announced that Melisende and Fulk would rule together, along with the young Baldwin (III) as soon as he was old enough. Baldwin died and the couple were crowned in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 

Fulk tried to exclude Melisende from the government and got rid of Baldwin's experienced administrators in favor in his own men, causing great disaffection. Additionally, Melisende's sister Alice, whose husband, ruler of Antioch, had also died, decided the time was right to again to do what Baldwin had prevented before--to rule Antioch in her own right. She declared herself Princess of Antioch and received support from Pons of Tripoli and Jocelin II, Count of Edessa. 

Fulk put down that rebellion only to find on his return to Jerusalem another rebellion in progress trying ot put another woman in charge: Melisende. The Count of Jaffa, Hugh le Puiset, and Romanus of Le Puy, lord of the lands east of Jerusalem spearheaded this movement. The tall and handsome Hugh was the second cousin of Melisende--and was said to be having an affair with her. Hugh was accused of plotting against Fulk's life. Instead of appearing for the duel he had demanded to preserve his honor, he made a treaty seeking Muslim aid against the King of Jerusalem. Fulk defeated the Muslim raiders and besieged Hugh, who was forced to surrender and exiled for 3 years. Before he left, another knight stabbed him nearly to death. Hugh recovered only to die a short time later. 

Hugh was dead, but Fulk's problems weren't over. In 1135 he relented and agreed to share the throne with Melisende. The pair worked together. In 1141 they had the Temple of the Lord (Dome of the Rock) for its reconsecration as a Christian church. They also established a nunnery at the Convent of St. Anne where Melisende's sister Yvette became the abbess. The most impressive construction they did was on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. They also engaged in a castle building program. One of these castles was far outside Jerusalem and was conferred to the Hospital of St. John--thus beginning the military order of the Hospitaliers, the first of five castles they controlled. The Templars likewise were trusted with control of several other castles. The two orders became the primary castle guardians in the Crusader states.

Meanwhile, Alice in Antioch again tried to assume power but was outmaneuvered and Raymond of Poitier came to take over that city. The Muslim leader Zengi to the east was casting his eyes on Antioch, as was Byzantine Emperor John II to the west. Raymond got a reprieve in the west when John died of infection resulting from a boar hunting accident. Fulk met a similar fate in a less noble contest when he horse stumbled and rolled on him, as he was trying to lance a hare, crushing his skull. Melisende finally had all the authority. She was crowned queen again, on Christmas day 1143 with the young Baldwin III beside her. 

-The above is summarized from Chapter 13 of Dan Jones' Crusaders. 

 

Founding of the Knights Templar

 

Fun Fact:

Acre and Jaffa in 1125 were the most important ports for the Crusaders. Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem, visited Acre in May and awarded a charter to Domenico Michiel, Doge of Venice, to establish a Venetian colony at Tyre. Baldwin was endeavoring to establish overseas connections to call on for military support. The witnesses to the charter included Hugh of Payns, founding master of the Knights Templar. Hugh was from France and by 1119 had settled in Jerusalem. At that time, the area around Christ's tomb was a meeting place for pilgrim soldiers seeking service in the crusader states. Hugh and many others decided that they would devote themselves to a strict communal life, devoting themselves to poverty, chastity, and obedience to the patriarch of Jerusalem to keep the roads safe and protect the pilgrims to Jerusalem. Hugh appealed to every fighting man to join the order for a life of service to the Lord.

Baldwin leased apartments at Al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount to Hugh and from thence the Templars took their name. Baldwin remained a staunch supporter of the Templars ever after. He sent Hugh back to Europe to petition the princes for assistance--planning an assault on Damascus. Hugh was also to assist William of Bures in offering Baldwin's daughter Melisende in marriage to Fulk of Anjou at Le Mans. Hugh and William persuaded Fulk to move to Jerusalem to marry Melisende. He would leave Anjou in the hands of his fifteen year old son Geoffrey "Le Bel." Geoffrey was to be married to Matilda, daughter of Henry I, who also contributed treasure to the crusader endeavor. Hugh gathered support in recruitment and funding wherever he went, and the Templars also received papal recognition, becoming the church's first military order. Among the new supporters was Bernard of Clairvaux--who become Saint Bernard.  

Although the expedition for support was a fabulous success, the succeeding campaign was not. Waiting for the Hugh and Fulk to arrive, Baldwin passed up an opportunity to attack Damascus when Tughtakin, ruler of Damascus died and the transfer of power to his son Taj Al-Muluk Buri. November 1129, Baldwin at last rode out with 2,000 knights and many infantry and other crusader nobility. The force setup at at a wooden bridge near Darayya, about six miles south of Damascus. 

When the crusader knights split into foraging parties, Taj saw his chance. He sent out a contingent of Turks and other allies who fell on a force of knights near al-Buraq and slaughtered them.  The avenging counterattack met a storm of rain, thunder, and lightning that made the roads impassable. Unable to recover from the the setback, Baldwin had to retreat. 

The above is condensed from chapter 12 of Crusaders by Dan Jones.

 

Killing Napoleon

 It's a fun fact with a book review:

 December 24, 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of France and victor of the Battle of Marengo, had decided not to go to the theater to hear Haydn's The Creation oratorio. He changed his mind under pressure from Josephine and her daughter Horsense. After all, it was expected that the Bonaparte's would attend the premiere. In addition to Napoleon's aide-de-camp, Jean Rapp, Ann-Charles Lebrun, General Jean Lannes, Caroline Murat, and General Bessieres accompanied the Bonaparte family. Napoleon left first with Lannes and Bessieres. Rapp attended to the ladies in a second coach, delaying it as he spent time adjusting Josephine's beautiful shawl from Constantinople for best effect. 

Napoleon's coach had already sped away for the theater before Rapp had completed the arranging of the shawl. A detachment of 12 mounted grenadiers of the Consular Guard preceded his coach. In the Rue Saint-Nicaise, one of the grenadiers noted a cart blocking half the street as well as a carriage coming through the gap. The grenadier pushed his horse between the cart and carriage. The mare on the cart was startled and recoiled, unbalancing a conspirator who was lighting the fuse of the infernal machine contained in the cart. The fuse did get lit, but the act was delayed by the unbalancing as well as the fact that another conspirator had failed to give a timely signal. 

The First Consul's coach, which had slowed, sped up to rush by the cart. The coach turned off to Rue Marceau at the moment the bomb blew. The explosion shattered windows, lifted the grenadiers from their seats, toppled chimneys, and damaged walls and roofs, wreaking havoc and carnage on the Paris street. The poor girl who had been paid a few coins to hold the mare may have been the first victim of the blast. Even the horse was utterly destroyed, leaving only a shod hindquarter near the scene.

Napoleon's coach tipped on two wheels and a window broke. Lannes tried to kick open the door, believing someone had fired a cannon at them.

The ladies' coach was approaching when the blast rocked the street. The coach was lifted from the ground and windows broke, wounding Hortense's hand.  The horses reared amid the cloud of noxious dust and ran back toward the Tuileries. After learning that Napoleon had escaped unharmed, they went to the opera by an alternative route.

The above is summarized from the accounts in a chapter of Jonathan North's Killing Napoleon: The Plot to Blow Up Bonaparte. The nonfiction book tells the tale of the conspirators, the plot, the method and means by which the explosive-laden cart came to the Rue Saint-Nicaise, the aftermath and damage from the blast, which killed many and injured many more on the busy street, as well as the measures taken to find and punish those responsible (including those who weren't). 

The book is highly readable--being well researched and well written--providing an understanding of events and the individuals involved. I enjoyed discovering the workings and the rivalries of the Paris Police agencies and the detective work required to track down and try at least some of those responsible. Although the confessions weren't entirely voluntary, they did seem to be supported by the facts uncovered in the investigation. The devastation of the terror event receives decent treatment as well, including notes about the injuries and charitable restitution provided for the unfortunate survivors.

I give it 5 out of 5 blasts.

We have to imagine that had the plot been successful, not only would 15 years of history have been dramatically changed, the target most certainly would have become forever associated with the manner of his death, often being referred to as: Napoleon Blownaparte. 

 

 

 

Hard Time in Kharput

 

The sequel to Accidental Pirates has been sent to the publisher for consideration. Chris and Kenny are thrown into a kingdom in turmoil facing treachery within and enemies without. Chris has been drafted to replace the blood mage - and he finds the job has a serious downside. Kenny wields enchanted steel against a host of enemies. Together they are the kingdom's only hope against a new evil.

I've been doing a lot of reading about Enoch - Genesis 6, Moses 7 & 8, as well as The Book of Enoch, a long with A Brief History of Time and an Alan Dean Foster novel. I may post about these at some point, but at I haven't yet finished any of the books, so I'll post a fun fact from something I did finish - or at least I think I did. This is condensed from chapter 11 of Crusaders by Dan Jones:

Fun Fact:

During an expedition to Egypt, King Baldwin I died after eating a breakfast of fresh fish. His body was salted, spiced, and transported back to Jerusalem to be buried beside his brother Godrey at The Holy Sepulchre. Baldwin of Bourcq raced to Jerusalem, beating the other contenders, to be anointed king and was later crowned in Bethlehem. Nearly sixty, he had been Count of Edessa for almost twenty years. Frankish power and Crusader confidence had been dealt a severe blow at the Field of Blood. The fate of the Crusader kingdoms depended on European help.

Ilghazi, the victor of the Field of Blood, died in 1122--his death probably wasn't from the fish--and the Franks looked to Aleppo again with greedy eyes. September 13, 1122, Joscelin, Count of Edessa, was captured by Balak, Ilghazi's nephew who had stepped in to fill his uncle's slippers. After being transported, sew inside a camel skin, Joscelin was locked up in the fortress of Kharput. Then Baldwin himself was also captured and locked up with Joscelin. The Crusader fortunes seemed fated never to recover from the defeat at the Field of Blood.

A year later, Ilghazi's son Timurtash succeeded Balak after the latter's death in May 1124. Baldwin arranged to pay Timurtash a ransom for his release. However, Baldwin had built up some ill will about his capture; he failed to pay the ransom as agreed, preparing to attack Timurtash instead. The other good news for the Crusaders was the capture of Tyre.

Baldwin II arrived at the walls of Aleppo in October with his Timurtash tax in the form of an army at his back. Additionally, he had among his forces the troops of a Muslim ally, Dubays Ibn Sadaqa, whom he had promised to install as the commander of Aleppo in place of Timurtash. Baldwin laid siege to the city until January 1125, when Muslim forces began raiding Antiochene territory. Baldwin returned to Jerusalem. A stalemate between the Franks and the Muslims had developed and could only be broken by an influx of new warriors from the west or a uniting of Islamic forces.

 

Next week I'm scheduled for a podcast interview. I'll post a link when it's available. 

 

 

Field of Blood

 

Speaking of Accidental Pirates, I was on The Spaceman and the Hafling podcast/show Saturday. We recorded yesterday; the show should go up on youtube in a couple weeks. Naturally, I will post a link when I get it.

I finished reading Sharpe's Sword. The end made up for the slow middle. The end reflects the ending of the first book in the series with the hero slaying and taking the overalls of the French Imperial Guard cavalry colonel. -- Foreshadowing Sharpe fighting at Waterloo as a colonel? I don't know. I can't remember if he was a colonel at Waterloo, but I think he was. I used to have a very nice matched set of the original series but parted with them during one of our moves when I thought I would never read them again--that was 20 years ago. Now I read them in ebook if I find one that's an exceptionally good price and I feel the yearn to revisit Sharpe and the light company.

Fun Fact History:

During the summer of 1111, a Muslim coalition under Mawdud, atabeg of Mosul, laid siege to Turbessel near Edessa and forced the crusader leader there, Joscelin of Courtney, to pay tribute. The following year, King Baldwin failed in besieging Tyre after the siege machines were burned and a relief army threatened. The next year, 1113, Mawdud and Tughtakin briefly captured Baldwin. The crusader king escaped, and in October, Mawdud was assassinated by one of the Nizari Ismaili sect--also known as the Hashashin. In fighting among the Muslim leaders prevented organized action against the crusaders for a few years. 

Ilghazi ibn Artuk commanded an army of Turcoman warriors and controlled the fortress town of Mardin, between Aleppo and Mosul. Aleppo and Edessa bordered his region of influence. Roger of Salerno was the regent of Antioch on behalf of the 11 year old Bohemund II. Battles for succession in Constantinople left Roger free of potential hindrance from the west. He seized the opportunity to take control of Aleppo's satellite castles. The citizenry made pleas to Ilghazi for help against the invader. Ilghazi, with his father-in-law, Tughtatin of Damascus, began assembling a huge army.

Roger's fb page began to fill with warnings of the massive hostile build up and he responded with #livingmybestlife and began raising his own army. His force even included Armenian mercenaries and light cavalry from Northern Syria and Asia Minor. 

On June 28, 1119, Ilghazi posted #lightyouup and attacked at a location that became know as Ager Sanguinis: Field of Blood. He triumphed after a battle of only an hour, in which Roger suffered a sword thrust through the nose and into his brain. Having left his Excedrin behind, he expired with a splitting headache. One chronicler reported that the Christians who were not flayed or beheaded on the spot were chained like dogs and led away. Many of those lucky prisoners were tortured the next day and slain, while others were taken to Damascus for ransom, death, or slavery. Ilghazi had destroyed Antioch's regent, army, and regional dominance in a single battle.

The above is summarized from Crusaders by Dan Jones.

Wikipedia indicates that Roger had camped in the pass of Sarmada at a wooded valley with steep sides and few avenues of escape; Ilghazi surrounded him during the night.  Roger's 700 knights, 500 light cavalry, and 3,000 infantry assembled in a V formation and initially prevailed in an archery duel and attacked on their right. However, the crusader left collapsed under an aggressive attack, confusing the rest of the force at the same time a dust storm blinded them. The slaughter followed.

 

 

 

Dangers of reading Accidental Pirates

 In case you thought reading was a safe activity:

 

Here's the interview with me about Accidental Pirates -- paperback available Nov 26 - Get your boys reading for Christmas.

The sequel is half finished with 15 of 30 chapters already filled with slam bang action and adventure.  

I think I've been remiss in sharing some fun facts lately, so here's a helping of history:

FUN FACT: 

In 1111, Al-Mustazhir bi-Allah served as Caliph of the Abbasid Empire and spiritual leader of the Sunni branch of Islam. He married Ismah Khatun. In March, she headed for Isfahan to take her place in the Caliph's palace. In February, a delegation of Sufi's, disgruntled merchants, and lawyers from Aleppo had arrived in Baghdad to complain that they had lost that lovin' feeling of support from the Caliph, and they were tired of fighting the infidels who continued to storm, besiege, kidnap, and kill. With the recent loss of Sidon to King Baldwin, they feared Tyre, Damascus or Aleppo could be next dominoes to fall. 

With a total abandonment of gruntle, the delegation went to the sultan's mosque and disrupted the service, driving the speaker from the pulpit and breaking it to pieces. They proceeded to do the same at the Caliph's mosque. The arrival of Ismah Khatsun provided them with another opportunity to totally lose their cool. The Caliph wanted them arrested, but Sultan Muhammad, brother of Ismah Khatun, declared jihad on the infidels.

Meanwhile, the crusader states had their own problems. They were dependent on Europe for their supplies and manpower, and knew that if their enemies ever united against them, they could not hope to hold. 

(The above is summarized from parts of chapter 11 of Dan Jones Crusaders) 

 

 

Viking Cruise to Jerusalem

 

Fun Fact:

Sigurd I became king of Norway at 13 when an Irish axe ended his father's life. He received the crown jointly with his two half brothers, Eystein and Olaf, the latter being a toddler. At 17, Sigurd agreed to lead an expeditionary force to the Mediterranean and Eystein agreed to rule the kingdom while Sigurd was away. In 1177, Sigurd took 60 longships and sailed away (without meeting any extra-terrestrials who sang for him to Come Sail Away.) 

Sigurd spend some months in England before sailing south and put in at Galicia for another winter. The Norwegians had difficult times when the supply arrangements with a local earl fell through and they had to forage for provisions. Sigurd plundered the offending earl's castle and set sail again. They soon encountered a fleet of Muslim pirates--seizing eight of the galleys and scattering the rest. Sigurd then stopped off in Portugal to plunder a Muslim castle at Sintra and executed the occupants. The fun continued with a raid on a castle south of Lisbon and a battle with Muslim corsairs near Gibraltar. 

He followed that by bringing a taste of Norway to the black pirates at Formentera in the Baleric Islands. The pirates taunted Sigurd from their walled caves, and Sigurd responded by throwing a housewarming party. He had two small boats hauled to the clifftops, where he filled them with men and had them lowered into the mouth of the caves. While the Norwegians gifted the pirates with stones and arrow, Sigurd led a climbing expedition from below. On arrival, they tore down the walls and set fires to smother the caves with smoke. They killed the pirates and took more loot there than at any other rest stop.

 Sigurd continued the pillage party at Ibiza and Menorca before reaching Sicily in 1110. On his arrival in the waters of Palestine, Sigurd took aim at the Fatimid city of Ascalon. The Muslims refused to come out to party, so Sigurd has his crew drop him at Jaffa while they sailed on to Acre. At Jaffa, he met Baldwin I and the two of them headed for Jerusalem. 

Although the crusader state holdings has expanded, there were places like Ascalon, Tyre, and Sidon which continued to hold out. Sigurd took his fleet to blockade Sidon from the sea, and Baldwin brought his army by land to storm the walls. Sidon surrendered on December 4. 

Sigurd seemed to feel like he had done his part to liberate the holy land, and left for Norway. He stopped in Constantinople where he was feted extravagantly by Emperor Alexios. Sigurd traded in his ships for horses and made his way across country to Denmark, where he was given a ship for a happy return to Norway. Although he was later subject to hallucinations and panic attacks, he governed peaceably with his brothers and outlived them both.

--The above information was condensed from chapter 10 of Dan Jones' Crusaders. 

I found Dan Jones' history podcast this weekend on Amazon. Although I enjoyed them, the ones I've listened to so far lack the the depth and detail to make them really great.

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This week took us to Coeur d'Alene, the homestead, and back to Byzantium. We passed through the other fabled land where I almost accepted a job offer and my traveling companion assured me that I had made the right choice.

I finished a short story and got it off to my Skirmish Team, and I trimmed two hundred words from another story and also sent it to the team. We're on the road again next week and the week after.

 

Napoleon at Jaffa

 

Fun Fact:

After subjugating Egypt, Napoleon led his small army toward Syria in February of 1799. The army of 13,000 was divided into four divisions under Generals Kleber, Reynier, Bon, and Lannes. The latter would go eventually become a Marshal of the Epire and die in 1809 following the battle of Aspern-Essling in which he was struck by a cannonball and had a leg amputated. 

Bonaparte wanted to take the port of Acre, but the British navy, the formidable walls, the defenders' stout resistance, and the plague all worked to prevent Bonaparte's success. Before he got to Acre, he first overcame resistance at El Arish and Jaffa. The garrison at El Arish, which had surrendered and sworn not to take up arms against the French, went and joined the Jaffa garrison.

Bonaparte had lost two valuable weeks in the siege of El Arish, and had to get back to Egypt to contest an expended landing by Ottoman forces. He hoped to make up time with a quick conquest of Jaffa. Plague was already working on his army.

Near the walls of Jaffa, Napoleon had near brushes with death from an artillery shell and a sniper's bullet that went through his hat. He had an officer and trumpeter approach and enter the city with a letter advising the commander that the garrison and city would be protected if they surrendered, otherwise shelling would begin the next morning.

A short time later, the heads of the officer and trumpeter appeared on spears raised above the city gate, and the bodies were thrown from the walls. Things were not getting off to a promising start at Jaffa.

Bonaparte used the terrain and tree cover to push his artillery within 150 yards of the walls. The shelling began as promised on March 4, 1799. The Jaffa garrison made a series of attacks against the besiegers, but they were not sufficient to break the siege.

During the afternoon of March 7, the French stormed the walls. Although the castle was taken by 8 pm, house to house fighting continued until it became a massacre as the French killed everyone where any resistance was offered until it became a murderous frenzy mixed with robbery and plunder.

Resistance continued in fortified buildings and mosques. These finally offered to surrender in exchange for their lives, to which the French leaders on the scenes agreed. Many of these prisoners were sent away to other cities, and the Egyptians among them were released to Egypt.

Bonaparte lacked sufficient food for his own army and couldn't provide for the prisoners. He couldn't trust them to be released on oath as many of them had already violated the oath they had taken on their surrender and release at El Arish. The war council met and considered the problem, ruling out sending them all to Egypt under armed escort as the already weakened army could not spare the troops for such an escort. The war council released all noncombatants and ordered the execution of the garrison. Some 2,000 - 3,000 prisoners were marched into the desert, divided into small groups, and shot.

Meanwhile, the plague was spreading among the French. Four to five soldiers were dying each day from the disease. Morale was failing. Napoleon took a tour of the hospital, visiting the infected, shaking their hands, telling them what they had was not the plague. Many of them recovered, and some of the doctors who had abandoned the patients returned.

The walls of Acre, coupled with the other problems for Napoleon, resisted the French efforts, and Napoleon returned to Egypt. Eventually, he slipped away to France with some of his officers, leaving Kleber in charge. General Kleber was later killed by an assassin.

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If you're interested in Napoleonic or other warfare, check out the Wyrd Warfare Anthology featuring my story "Seventh Hussar and Aide to the Mage."

If noir rather than wyrd is your preferred literary cocktail, another story, "Calypso's Count" was also just accepted for publication in the Moggie Noir: Dames, Derringers, and Detectives Anthology. Look for it on May 2. I'll post that cover when it becomes available. In the meantime, you could read "Monica on my Mind" in Pinup Noir 2, 

or "A Stardust Memory" featured in Sultry Murder Jazz.

 

If you would rather have my full length noir novel Smoke, it's on sale now.

 Links to my books can be found across the top of this page - and descriptions and links to all my books and short story anthologies are here.

The Brothers Howe

 The Howe brothers, Admiral Richard and General William, raised Britain's prospects in the Revolutionary War following the defeat at Lexington and Concord and the disastrous victory at Bunker Hill with a series of victories in 1776. The brothers, known for their reckless courage, were supportive of one another and worked in cooperation to launch amphibious attacks on the revolutionaries. Their oldest brother George had been killed in action at Ticonderoga during the French and Indian War (I've mentioned in one of my posts about that war). The Howe brothers not only held military commands, they had been appointed as peace commissioners. 

The approach of the British Armada and army to Staten Island in June 1776 was described as London afloat. It was the largest invasion fleet to sail east across the Atlantic. The combined numbers exceeded the total population of Philadelphia, the largest city in the colonies, and the 32,000 troops seriously outnumbered George Washington's army of 19,000. General Howe planned to conquer New York, taking a major port and the mouth of the Hudson through which he could advance north to Lake Champlain and to Canada.

On August 22, 1776, the Howe's launched the invasion of Long Island where Washington had stationed 9,000 troops. (See my novel Crisis in Fire and Snow for my exciting take on the battle). Howe pinned Washington's troops with a feigned frontal assault by his Hessians while sending a flanking force around via Jamaica Pass to route the Americans. Washington made a miraculous retreat and crossing of the East River under cover of darkness and a morning fog to avoid complete capture. 

Howe went on to take Manhattan, winning at Kip's Bay, amphibiously outmaneuvering Washington at Harlem Heights, and a heavy rain at White Plains allowed Washington to escape again. (All these are also related in Crisis in Fire and Snow). Howe went on to take Forts Washington and Lee, capturing most of the garrisons. 

Washington continued to escape the British pursuit with an army that was down to only 3,500 troops. Going into winter quarters, Howe's arms had taken 4,500 prisoners (including 4 generals), 235 cannon, with thousands of shells, cannonballs, and muskets, and frightened the Continental Congress into fleeing Philadelphia. 

It was a terrible crisis for the Americans, but Howe was still blamed for lethargy in letting Washington escape and failing to follow up after each victory to crush destroy the rebellion entirely. Some attributed his lack of hot pursuit on the field to his pursuit of Elizabeth Loring, with whom he had a public affair. However, it may be that Howe's caution was strategic. The brothers, as military leaders and peace commissioners, hoped overwhelming force coupled with conciliatory measures might persuade the rebels to reconcile with Britain. The prevalent belief in Britain was that the militant rebels were few and that a show of force would embolden the majority of the colonists to rally to the crown. Admiral Howe even issued a proclamation pursuant to his peace commissioner power to grant pardons and declare peace. All of their peace efforts came to naught, being too little too late as the struggle had become a fight for independence rather than a negotiation for terms of reconciliation. 

Howe had driven Washington to desperation, and he pushed his tattered and rag-tag force through a snow storm and across the Delaware to defeat the garrison at Trenton--but I'll save that for another post.

The above is condensed from The Men Who Lost America by Andrew Jackson O'shaughnessy -- Chapter 3.

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Good news on the writing front this week came in two forms. First, the Sultry Murder Jazz Pinup Noir anthology with my story "A Stardust Memory" came out this week--and I'm named on the cover. Second, my story "Seventh Hussar and Aide to the Mage" was accepted for the Wyrd Warfare anthology scheduled to come out next month. I'll link it then.

If you're looking for some free and discounted books, you'll want to see these limited time offers: 

Check out this telepathic alien detective from the 1930s - Lowan's Checkmate. Download it for free.

Looking for non-human characters in fantasy and sci-fi?

Falling into fantasy books on sale here.

 

Tea, Coercion, and Conciliatory Acts

 Fun Fact:

Frederick Lord North was 38 when he became prime minister in 1770. Corpulent with large features and a bulbous head, he was famous for his wit, literary anecdotes, and historical references. Prior to becoming PM, he had supported the policies that led to the revolution in America. Although he took a more conciliatory policy when he took office, his policies regarding the East India Company tea precipitated the rebellion. 

The East India Tea Act of 1773 was designed to make tea cheaper in America and increase revenues from the tea tax, thus upholding the right of Parliament to tax America. It seemed like a win-win. While England viewed the right to tax as fundamental to parliamentary supremacy, the Americans regarded any direct tax as a tool for tyranny.

The Americans responded by dumping the East India tea into Boston Harbor. North escalated the tension by imposing the Coercive acts, intending to make an example of Massachusetts; instead, it made North despised in the colonies. The sanctions failed to isolate Massachusetts, uniting the colonies in opposition. 

In February 1775, North introduced his Conciliatory Proposal to Parliament to avoid escalating the conflict. The idea was to allow the colonies to tax themselves--provided they made a sufficient contribution. Parliament would not give up the right to tax the colonies but would suspend the exercise of the right. As you might expect, it was a hit neither with Parliament nor the colonies. Franklin said it was akin to a highway man bringing his hat to the window for you to fill sufficiently to spare him the trouble of rifling your pockets himself.

Although North showed tremendous political courage in submitting the proposal in direct contradiction to the King's wishes, it was too little too late as parliament and the people were set on demonstrating supremacy, and it didn't address other issues that concerned the colonists. 

The heavy losses at Bunker Hill in June 1775 made North believe that a successful military conquest of the colonies was not a likely possibility. 

The above is condensed from The Men Who Lost America by Andrew Jackson O'shaughnessy -- Chapter 2 or 3, I think.

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I spent most of yesterday researching and writing a short story. Don't leap to the conclusion that I finished; it's not even half done. The weather was too cold to do anything outside, and will be worse tomorrow with temperatures coming in at -20.

A fellow author's having a difficult time, being hospitalized at the moment. Give her books a look and choose one or six to start with. Here's a link to Rex Regis, a series starter.

Little Omnibus battle

 Let's return to the Omnibus bill of 1850. Stephen Douglas succeeded where Daniel Webster had failed and brought the provisions through the Senate in small bites instead of at a single gulp. Getting the provisions through the House would be another battle.

The laconic and handsome Linn Boyd would spearhead the effort in the House. Howell Cobb of Georgia was Speaker of the House, which contained members who were often hot-headed and undisciplined. Cobb picked Boyd from those clamoring for attention on August 29. Boyd moved to add creation of the New Mexico and Utah Territories as an amendment to the Texas border bill. He soon dropped the Utah amendment, and argued, so that none would doubt where he stood, that he was for union and the Constitution. He proclaimed that he was for union not only as protection against foreign aggression, but "for the more important reason that it protects us from on another."

Joseph Root of Ohio wanted to add the Wilmot Proviso to the bill. McClernand rose to oppose the motion. Cobb repeatedly ruled the Southern members out of order on their attempts to delay the bill. Boyd, with Douglas' constant help, battled against the chaos that reigned in the chamber. Votes swayed back and forth. The bill's fate teetered on the edge between success and failure. 

On September 5, Boyd refused to allow any more amendments to be offered for his bill for fear that they would cause the bill's demise. He moved previous question to call for a vote on the bill, but the question failed. "Long John" Wentworth of Illinois wanted to send the bill back to committee to add selected amendments. Cobb ruled that his proposed amendments could be considered separately. After an amendment calling for the Wilmot Proviso to be implemented in the new territories was voted down, Cobb ruled against a second division of Wentworth's motion, reversing his ruling on the basis that it had applied to a new motion, which Wentworth's motion had then been, but with a number of votes having taken place since, the motion was no longer new and could no longer be divided. Thus the only vote left on the motion was whether it should go back to committee. Cobb's ruling was upheld by a vote, and Wentworth's motion and amendments were defeated. 

Robert Toombs then proposed an amendment which, although hidden in innocuous terms, would establish slavery in the New Mexico Territory, but the trickery was detected and nullified by slashing some of the language from Toombs' proposal. 

September 6, Cobb recognized Volney Howard of Texas, who moved for reconsideration of a third reading of the compromise bill, which had been voted down the day before. The vote carried. Finally, the bill itself could be voted on. The little omnibus bill passed by 108 to 97.

The next day the California Statehood bill passed. After heated debate, the Utah Territory bill also passed. The fugitive slave bill passed on September 12. 

Washington celebrated. Stephen Douglas gave an impromptu speech, declaring the nation united from shore to shore with the mighty west as the connecting link. Millard Fillmore proclaimed, "The long agony is over."

The above is summarized from Chapter 26 of Fergus Bordewich's America's Great Debate: Henry Clay, Stephen Douglas and the Compromise that Preserved the Union.  

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I finished a short story yesterday. By "finished" I mean the first draft is complete. I'll do a read through and send it to my Skirmish Team for comments and criticism before I submit it. It's tentatively titled "A Stardust Memory."

 I also finished Jed the Dead by Alan Dean Foster. I had heard good things about it, and it was on sale for a buck or two. The story is about Ross Ed who finds a dead alien in a desert cave on his way from Texas to California. He continues his journey and encounters people along the way who help or hinder him. The government definitely falls into the hindering category. He ends up on the run from the military, people who want to use the alien to attract other aliens, and those looking to make big bucks from the intergalactic corpse. I have to admit that I couldn't get attached to Ross Ed or any of the other characters, and the story, although intriguing at times, couldn't consistently hold my interest. The text of the ebook had errors on almost every page, as if the book had been scanned with faulty OCR technology. I'm a fan of Foster, but this one didn't reach me. I give it 3 out of 5 road kill rabbits.

Don't forget, the first trilogy in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series is on sale, as is Smoke. See the links at the top of the page.

The Compromise compromised

 "Few things are certain in this life, however shrewdly a man may plan." -- Raphael Sabatini -- The Black Swan

Fun Fact:

Back to 1850 and the Great American Compromise. The matter of Texas in Clay's Omnibus bill was tentatively resolved by the Dawson Proviso, an amendment stipulating that New Mexico would not be allowed to exercise any authority east of the Rio Grande until the boundary commission had drawn a line that satisfied both Congress and the Texas Legislature. In other words, Texas had veto power over the boundary issue. Naturally, this brought Texas in to support the Omnibus. However, Stephen Douglas and others saw that Texas, having a de facto border established at the Rio Grande by the proviso, would never agree to anything less. 

James A. Pearce of Maryland moved to strike the entire Texas and New Mexico section of the Omnibus and reinsert it without the Dawson Proviso, as an unreasonable capitulation to Texas. Henry Clay saw all his hard work would be undone by Pearce. Clay and his friends tried to dissuade him from the maneuver, but Peace carried on. David Yulee seized the occasion for a maneuver of his own, asking if Pearce would consent to allow them to vote separately on the deletion and reinsertion provisions. When Pearce agreed, they voted for the deletion, but before the reinsertion vote, Yulee made a motion to delete everything still in it that related to Texas. His motion passed. With Texas unsatisfied, the Omnibus was critically wounded and leaking blood in shark infested waters. The predators moved to strike the portions relating to New Mexico, and then to California--each passing and leaving the Omnibus a hollow shell, with Utah remaining as the lone passenger. That issue was voted on and passed a few days later with little opposition. 

Defeated, Clay left Washington. Would anyone step up to fill the gap?

The above is summarized from Chapter 23 of Fergus Bordewich's America's Great Debate: Henry Clay, Stephen Douglas and the Compromise that Preserved the Union.

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 Check out my new book page with also includes magazines and anthologies featuring my short stories. Two more will be added soon.

"Let him fire!" The debate heats up

 

"My opinions, even if I were the president of the United States, are neither important nor necessary." - Zachary Taylor

Fun Fact:

Henry Clay's 1850 Omnibus Bill for the admission of California as a free state; establishing territorial governments in Utah and New Mexico, leaving the question of slavery to those states to determine; establishing the border of Texas to exclude New Mexico; paying Texas' debts; not abolishing slavery in D.C. but prohibiting the slave trade there; and recognizing that Congress had no power to prohibit the slave trade between slave holding states, consumed months of debate in the Senate.

A variety of plans and amendments were presented. Some carved California into multiple states; some split Texas into two or more states. Only Clay's plan left Texas intact.

Clay received the support of Stephen Douglas, and Lewis Cass railed against the Southern Democrats and their desire for an effective veto over any legislation. Senator Tom Benton argued in support of admitting California--although he opposed the omnibus compromise bill as a concession to those who threatened seccession. Senator Foote seized the opportunity to ridicule Benton with veiled reference to his daughter eloping with John C. Fremont--and challenged Benton to a duel. The feud between Benton and Foote would later boil over on the Senate floor during debate. 

Foote decided to support the compromise, and Benton determined to sway the Senate against it or destroy it with amendments and prolonged debate. At one point Benton offered 9 amendments to the bill which would leave it a useless husk. The amendments were continually voted down, but Benton simply offered more of the same ilk.

Foote at last gained the floor to defend Clay and the bill; he repeated a claim that Benton had taken bribes. Benton leaped to his feet and came at Foote. The latter backed away and as Benton drew close, he drew a horse pistol from his vest. Vice-president Fillmore, presiding over the Senate, shouted for order, and senators dragged Benton away from Foote. He broke away from the holds, bearing on toward Foote again, who pointed the pistol at him.

"Let him fire!" Benton cried, tearing open his coat and shirt to bare his chest. "Let the assassin fire!"

Other senators pried the gun free and locked it in Foot's desk. Naturally, Benton, who had initiated the appearance of a physical attack, raged that a pistol had been brought to assassinate him, and Foote's protestations of possessing the pistol for defense only went unheeded. A committee formed later to investigate the incident did absolve Foote of wrong doing, finding he had drawn the pistol in self-defense.

The above was gleaned from several chapters of Fergus Bordewich's America's Great Debate: Henry Clay, Stephen Douglas and the Compromise that Preserved the Union.

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Well, sometimes the chickens come home to roost - and that can be a good thing. I've recently submitted 3 short stories for publication and yesterday I learned that the third one was accepted for publication. That's three stories in a row with notices coming in three successive weeks. The competition was said by the editor to be particularly fierce for this third publication, and I'm ecstatic that my story made the cut. I do have a fourth story submitted and another that needs editing before I submit it.

I've started writing an adventure novel for boys. The idea didn't spark my interest when the call for submissions first came, but I finally decided that I am uniquely qualified to write great adventure books for boys. First, I have been (and always will be) a boy, having started at a very young age. I knew a lot of boys growing up. Not only did I read a lot of old adventure books as a boy, I now write adventure in various genres. My writing may be at its best when creating and relating exciting action and boundless adventure. In fact, last week, one of my readers shared a similar observation and noted that my use of historical themes and strange creatures hits the bull's eye. I'll cop to that charge.

Daniel Webster's Speech of 1850

 Before I get to some of the stirring quotes from Daniel Webster, let me share some stirring news of my own. I doubt it will be quoted like Webster, Clay, and Calhoun, but it's almost as meaningful for me. I signed a contract yesterday for the publication of another one of my short stories. I finished and submitted it last month. It will come out in an anthology early next month, and I''ll be sure to post a cover picture and link.

In addition, I'm about to finish another short story and submit it for consideration. I'm down to the final thousand words. I had a wrestle before the computer screen about how to construct a satisfying ending from the materials I brought to the project through the telling of the story to the two-thirds point. From that point the story must reach an exciting confrontation, which was already in progress, and resolve the tension the unanswered questions and conflict created. It's always the latter that is tougher to handle. It's easy to create questions, uncertainty, and tension. Resolving that is where too many stories and story tellers fall short. For further info, check out my posts on my writing philosophy of The Trauma, The Drama, and The Dream, or my presentation on the subject.

 

 Fun Fact:

I'm currently reading Fergus M. Bordewich's book America's Great Debate: Henry Clay, Stephen A. Douglas and the Compromise the Preserved the Union. The quotes below are from the Congressional Record as given in the book. So far, this book is excellent. It presents a fascinating account of the men and circumstances surrounding the Congressional debates of 1850 concerning the admission of Texas, and states from the territory gained in the war with Mexico. The slavery issue yawned like a great gulf that separated the factions in congress and threatened to divide the nation. After Henry Clay had presented his 8 point proposal for a compromise, and it had been debated and denounced by the extreme wings of the major factions. Daniel Webster spoke for four hours in support of the proposed compromise in a way that only he could do. It made him enemies all around and did not resolve the matter. Here are a few portions of it:

“In all such disputes, there will sometimes be found men with whom everything is absolute; absolutely right, or absolutely wrong. They deal with morals as with mathematics; and they think what is right may be distinguished from what is wrong with the precision of an algebraic equation. They have, therefore, none too much charity towards others who differ from them. They are apt, too, to think that nothing is good but what is perfect, and that there are no compromises or modifications to be made in consideration of difference of opinion or in deference to other men’s judgment. If their perspicacious judgment enables them to detect a spot on the face of the sun, they think that a good reason why the sun should be struck down from heaven. They prefer the chance of running into utter darkness to living in heavenly light, if that heavenly light be not absolutely without any imperfection.”

“I hear with distress and anguish the word ‘secession... Secession! Peaceable secession! Who is so foolish, I beg everyone’s pardon, as to expect to see any such thing? Who sees these states, now revolving in harmony around a common centre, and expects to see them quit their places and fly off without convulsion, may look the next hour to see heavenly bodies rush from their spheres, and jostle against each other in the realms of space, without causing the wreck of the universe. Peaceable secession is an utter impossibility. Is the great Constitution under which we live, covering the whole country, is it to be thawed and melted away by secession, as the snows on the mountain melt under the influence of a vernal sun, disappear almost unobserved, and run off? No, sir! No, sir! I will not state what might produce the disruption of the Union; but, sir, I see as plainly as I see the sun in heaven what that disruption itself must produce; I see that it must produce war. “Peaceable secession! Where is the line to be drawn? What states are to secede? What is to remain American? What am I to be? An American no longer? Am I to become a sectional man, a local man, a separatist, with no country in common with the gentlemen who sit around me here, or who fill the other house of Congress? Heaven forbid! Where is the flag of the republic to remain? Where is the eagle still to tower? Or is he to cower, and shrink, and fall to the ground? What is to become of the army? What is to become of the Navy? What is to become of the public lands? How is each of the thirty states to defend itself? To break up this great government! To dismember this glorious country! To astonish Europe with an act of folly such as Europe for two centuries has never beheld in any government or any people! No, sir! No, sir! There will be no secession!”

"[L]et us come out into the light of day. Let us not be pigmies in a case that calls for men. Let us make our generation one of the strongest and brightest links in that golden chain which is destined, I fondly believe, to grapple the people of all the states to this Constitution for ages to come.”

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There are few things that ring so true with regard to modern problems as the wise words of earlier statesmen. Unfortunately, those on opposite sides both attempt to bend those words to serve their own cause. Compromise held the nation together until those sectional divisions finally burst the frail seams of the agreement. Eventually--especially when one side's positions become more and more extreme, running away from the middle ground rather than toward a compromise position, the rift must open and swallow both progress and the hopes for a peaceful solution. 

Speaking of solutions to difficult questions: Check out Truth in Flames for some lively debate about independence amid fire and fury.

A Major Holiday for August

 

Did you ever notice that there are no major federal holidays in August in the United States? I'm talking about the kind of holidays recognized by employers, courts, banks, and the post office. There are probably scads of days during the month that have been glommed onto by various particular interests as special days like International Vampire Bat Day or National Pecan Pie Day. The whole month may have been co-opted as Foot Fungus Awareness Month or something like that; I never pay attention to those. 

There must be a slew of local and state fairs during the month to celebrate local identity and accomplishments by gorging on grease and sugar at the midway food booths and regurgitating it as an offering to friends and strangers on the tilt-a-whirl. 

Has August been reserved for local events? 

The whole nation of France seems to be on vacation in August--for the entire month--yet we have no major holiday for the month. Why is that?

The important dates in August that come to mind for me include the start of WWI, in which millions died--so that's probably out as a holiday--and V-J Day to end WWII. I can understand the reasons for not making that a major holiday. 

Other events include Lewis and Clark--Lewis anyway--reaching Lemhi pass in on the Continental Divide to behold a sea of mountains extending before him on August 12, 1805. I guess no one wants to celebrate a day of partial accomplishment.

 Columbus set sail August 3, 1492. We already celebrate him in October.

The Declaration of Independence was formally signed August 2, 1776. That one's swallowed up in the July 4 celebration. 

Warren G. Harding died August 2, 1923. Probably not a good candidate for a national holiday.

The British sailed up the Chesapeake and burned the Capitol and other government buildings on August 24, 1814. While some may consider asking our old pals across the pond to re-enact that event, I doubt it will catch on as a major holiday in this country.

The Great Klondike Gold Rush kicked off August 16, 1896. I don't imagine that would be a good basis for a national holiday.

The 19th Amendment passed in August 18, 1920. I imagine that there are still some who question the wisdom of that one. Those folks are now outvoted, so this is a viable August holiday contender. 

The 18th is also the birthday of Meriwether Lewis. We could throw in William Clark for fun and make it Lewis and Clark Day. Additionally, it was August 17th or perhaps the 13th that the Corps of Discovery encountered Chief Cameahwait, Sacajawea's brother, of the Shoshoni, who provided horses at this crucial point in the expedition. I've probably mentioned this before, but I highly recommend Stephen Ambrose's book Undaunted Courage about the Corps of Discovery.

We should make a day between August 12th and 18th Chief Cameahwait and Sacajawea Day, or a day to commemorate the entire Corps of Discovery. As one of the greatest expeditions of discovery in American history, the Corps and those who sustained them along the way should be recognized with an annual holiday.

Contact your congressmen and demand a federal holiday to celebrate Cameahwait, Sacajawea, and the Corps of Discovery.

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If you need a break from  bothering your congressman or lobbying your senators, consider getting the entire Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series - several of the books in the series are priced at only 99 cents right now.

Waiting for al-Afdal

 Fun Fact:

Najm al-Din Ilghazi Ibn Artuq was a daring general, competent emir, and co-ruler of Jerusalem under the Seljuk Empire of Sultan Malik-Shah, of the Sunni Muslim persuasion. His weakness for wine or fermented mare's milk was matched only by his penchant for cruel violence. Ilghazi and his brother Sokmen became co-rulers of Jerusalem after their father's death. 

Antioch had fallen, and the Fatimids of Egypt, Ismaili Shi'ite Muslims, sent and army with 40 trebuchets under vizier Malik al-Afdal to attack Jerusalem in August of 1098, following the death of Malik-Shah. The barrage of stones brought down a portion of the walls. Ilghazi and Sokmen surrendered, turning over the business of running Jerusalem to al-Afdal, who released them and their supporters. The brothers went to Damascus and al-Afdal went back to Egypt after placing Iftikhar al-Dawla in charge of the holy city.

Meanwhile, the crusaders experienced division and strife after the fall of Antioch as Bohemond claimed that as the first lordly entrant into the city, he should rule it. Although Raymond of Toulouse objected strenuously, Bohemond refused to be swayed; he thus established the second crusader state after that of Baldwin at Edessa.

A reduced and divided army departed Antioch for Jerusalem in November. They marched south, conquering towns, taking tribute from those emirs caught between Seljuq and Fatimid rule, and fighting among themselves. Bohemond returned to Antioch while the rest continued toward the goal, bickering all the way.

On June 7, 1099, the crusaders, some 15,000 strong, about a third of the force that had departed from Constantinople, came within sight of Jerusalem, a city guarded by thick walls, gatehouses, and watchtowers. For the first month of the siege, the defenders waited for al-Afdal to send a relief force. The crusaders constructed heavy equipment.

The crusaders opened the attack on July 14 with three mangonels to drive the defenders from the walls and then brought in the battering ram. After breaking through two walls, they opened the way for a massive siege tower covered in skins and crowned by a gold cross. The tower advanced as the defenders hurled pots of Greek fire. Godrey rode atop the tower and the man next to him received a stone hurled from the city which crushed his skull and neck. 

Frankish flaming arrows sent the defenders for cover long enough for the tower bridge to be lowered to the wall. Godrey and his men stormed across to fight their way down to the city streets, where they opened the gates for the whole army to charge through. Since the Christians had been expelled on the approach of the crusaders, all inside were subject to the sword. However, al-Dawla and his chosen made a deal to preserve themselves, and Raymond of Toulouse ushered them from the city to the Fatimid stronghold at Ascalon.

Jerusalem had fallen to the Franks. Al-Afdal never showed.

The above information was taken from chapter 9 of Dan Jone's Crusaders.

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Books 5 and 6 of the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series are only 99 cents a piece. Get them now while you still can.

Is There No Hope?

The Patriot Cause is in jeopardy. The commander’s minions and King George’s troops are victorious on all fronts.

Can Lucette save Washington and his army? Will Alex be able to stand against Roberts’ devastating new weapon? Iago and Atu confront old enemies and encounter new ones. Rip and Antonio must help in a crucial mission to save the Cause.

Join them in the fight for a new nation.

 

 Fun Fact:

 

Bohemond and his Norman troops scale the walls of Antioch, 

in an engraving by Gustave Doré

Gather round and hear the tale of the taking of Antioch in the spring of ten-ninety-eight. A fair Norman prince, Bohemond was--although of the generic sort as far as that title goes. During the first crusade, it was, that gathered princes stormed the gate. For many long months the knights and their armed kith had laid siege to their Turkish foes. Another Iliad it was, with the conquerors held long at bay. No Trojan horse did breach the wall, but an armorer willing to betray. 

Fayruz succumbed to promises of gold made by Bohemond the bold. The host of Christendom feigned a retreat from impregnable Antioch. It was but a ploy to terminate the lengthy deadlock.

Bohemond and his chosen returned to clandestine ropes lowered by Fayruz in the dark of night. The revenants climbed into the tower, keen to engage in the fight. They threw open the gates and broke the lock, inviting their host into Antioch.

They took the city and put a portion to the slaughter, slaying many, sparing neither son nor daughter. Yet the elation was short lived as a new enemy approached. The besiegers became the besieged, surrounded by a numerous host.

With city stores exhausted from their own successful strangle, the princes scrounged for food and sustenance in every corner and angle. Amid this desperation, pilgrim Peter had a vision of a holy lance. Deep in a hole within the church he found the relic that would provide a fighting chance.

Driven to desperation and instilled with religious ardor, the soldiers sallied forth with ambition to conquer. The Frankish army charged the stunned enemy, who divided by their factions to escape and to flee.

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If you gathered from the above that I'm reading Dan Jones' Crusaders, you would be right. The poetic mayhem--for how else can the inconsistent meter and roving rhyme be described?--is entirely of my own manufacture.