THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE 1821 TO 1833 BY W.ALISON PHILLIPS 1897

DESPERATE STRAITS OF THE GARRISON 195
loathsome food ;
and now even rats and mice were luxuries
no longer obtainable.
The sick and wounded,
for whose care it was impossible to make provision, lay
in neglect and filth, rotting in a living death. The
brave defenders of the shattered walls, weakened by
hunger, could scarcely any longer bear the weight of
their arms. And now, even of the most miserable food,
rations remained for only two more days. Yet no
voice was raised in favour of surrender.
The men of
Missolonghi were determined, come what might, to
be true to their vow to live or die as free men.
to life
There remained but one chance:
to cut their way
and freedom through the lines of the enemy;
and a sortie of the garrison and all the inhabitants of
the town was accordingly arranged for the night of the
22nd of April.
It was hoped that in the surprise and
confusion of the attack a large portion, at any rate, of
the besieged might fight their way to liberty. Those
who fell would at least die gloriously as free men.
Botzares' plan was well conceived, and by no means
hopeless of success. Communication was opened with
Jvaraiskakis, and that chief was asked to send a strong
body of Armatoli to the slopes of Mount Zygos, to
feign an attack on the rear of the Turkish camp, and
draw off the attention of the besiegers. The sound of
the firing was to be the signal for the sortie to begin.