366 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



tecting their guns and ammunition to the last. The 

 siege lasted for nineteen days. Twenty -nine men, 

 who were holding the pier, so as to keep open the 

 communication with the lake, were betrayed by a 

 Cuban, and cut off to a man. General Walker 

 arrived in a small steamer, but was unable to offer 

 any assistance, as all the men he could spare were 

 engaged protecting the transit route. Meantime a 

 fortnight glided by, and the situation of the garrison 

 was becoming desperate ; not only had every horse 

 been eaten, but the most terrible methods were re- 

 sorted to to sustain life. Day and night an incessant 

 and galling fire was kept up on both sides. Various 

 attacks of the enemy were met with most determined 

 resistance. To add to the horrors of the siege, 

 cholera broke out, which was increased by the im- 

 possibility of burying the dead; and the putrid 

 atmosphere, and poisoned water, and scanty food, 

 frightfully diminished the numbers. On the 19th 

 day, of the 400 men, 150 only were left, and General 

 Henningsen at last reluctantly determined to abandon 

 his guns, and, with the weak and exhausted remnant 

 of his men, cut his way through the enemy's ranks, 

 or perish in the attempt. Upon that night, how- 

 ever, General "Walker had planned his rescue, and 

 Henningsen had the satisfaction of seeing a force 

 landed in the rear of the enemy. This force, which 

 consisted only of 175 men, forced their way over 

 three successive breastworks, and after a most gallant 



