The War in Syria, Volume 1 (of 2)

CHAPTER XI.

March towards Beyrout—Apprehensions of the Admiral—Arrangements in case of Disaster—Letters to and from the Emir Bechir Cassim—Skirmish—Position at Boharsof—Omar Bey dispatched to join the Emir—Letter to the Admiral—Arrival of Sir Charles Smith—The Author ordered to return to the Camp.

On the 8th (October) General Jochmus marched out of his position with four Turkish battalions, and occupied Ornagacuan, pushing his advanced posts as far as Boharsof, opposite to which, on the hills above, commanding a winding road, were observed a few of the enemy’s light troops. In the evening the Admiral became alarmed at our intended movement, and wrote as follows:—

“My dear Commodore,

“October 8.

“I cannot but feel most sensibly alive to the imminent risk in which we have placed ourselves and our former successes, by the very precarious result of our projected expedition.

“If we draw the mountaineers from their fastnesses on the hills, and are obliged to embark in consequence of an attack from Ibrahim, we expose those men to certain destruction. Let the young Emir depend upon his information for coming down the mountains or not, but do not persuade him to rely too much on a Turkish force.

“We must leave a sufficient number of troops in our position here and the outposts to render it secure from a sudden attack.

“Should the Emir object to join you, you must fall back. Nothing but the advanced state of the season induces me to assent to this plan, which I consider pregnant with risk and uncertainty, and not waiting for the reinforcements.

“Yours, &c.,

“Robert Stopford.”

“To Commodore Napier.”

I felt so confident that the arrangements I had made must succeed, and had received from Souliman Pacha’s aide-de-camp, who came over to us, such information about the position of the enemy’s army, who were much disheartened, that I did not at all enter into the Admiral’s apprehensions, and wrote to him that I had received most satisfactory information from the aide-de-camp, and that he might rely upon it I should do nothing rash, or move till assured all was right; that two hours would bring us all back, and Ibrahim must march very quick if he could beat steam.

At daylight on the 9th, I sent an Arab battalion, composed of Egyptian deserters, to join General Jochmus, and shortly after I left my head-quarters at D’Jounie, and arrived on the heights of Ornagacuan at nine. The Princess Charlotte proceeded in tow of a steamer to Beyrout, and two others with a marine and Turkish battalion to St. George’s Bay, to keep Souliman in check; in our lines were left four battalions, and the sick and convalescents took charge of the camp at D’Jounie. In the event of disaster, or meeting a very superior force in front, it would have been impossible to have repassed Dog River, I therefore sent directions to Captain Austin, of the Bellerophon, who flanked its mouth, to fill up the road that had been broke up leading from Beyrout; and I made my arrangements to retire to the convent and heights above the river, gain the road, and cross at its mouth, under cover of the Bellerophon. This could have been effected with little loss.

Before leaving D’Jounie, I wrote to the Prince Cassim as follows:—

“Prince,

“October 9.

“The Emir Bechir is not come; if at twelve o’clock to-day he is not here, you are Grand Prince. I cross over Dog River this morning, and will occupy Ornagacuan. I wish you to cross over immediately, and join me on the heights of Boharsof to-morrow morning; we shall then march on Beyrout.

“I have the honour to remain,
“Your’s, &c.,
“Chas. Napier.

Soon after this was dispatched, came a letter from the Emir:—

“9th October.

“This morning I have sent all the troops to Basquinta, with the Princes, and I am going to MasÀrÀ because I am ill. I hope the troops will drive the enemy away. I have received the firman which you sent me. I have read it before all my people, and I have thanked you for this honour. I have sent one of the Emirs to Blazebel to put those troops in good order, and drive the enemy away, because, though there were a good many chiefs there before, they were of no use. I beg you always to send the provisions and ammunition; and now send more, because I am going to El-Metten, and every day I shall have more people; and I have named Scheik Uden, Scheik Sarley, and Scheik Sal-Ufine to take the provisions, and send them to me. Mr. Wood will tell you everything.”

So far all appeared right; there had been a little skirmishing with the mountaineers, but we had no idea that an enemy of any force was at hand, and were very comfortably seated in the convent at Ornagacuan, enjoying a tolerable breakfast after our long ride. During our repast, the firing became brisker and nearer, and before we were quite finished, a priest came in with the intelligence that the enemy were in our position. General Jochmus, who had been out in the morning, was incredulous; but I thought it high time to beat to arms, get on horse, and see what was going forward. By this time the fire was very sharp; and when I got near the advanced posts, I found sure enough they had been driven in, and the enemy’s skirmishers were actually in our position. No time was to be lost; two Turkish battalions advanced en tirailleur, and another in column, supported by two others and the Egyptian battalion, and before the enemy had time to reinforce their advance, we succeeded in driving them back. Our position was along a high mountain, with a deep ravine on each side. Towards the end of the position there was a considerable descent; another mountain rose at nearly right angles, the ravine to the left went round it, but to the right it finished, and a circuitous road led from the foot of the mountain, and conducted to its summit, where we discovered a strong body of Egyptians covering another column, who were retiring along the road I have mentioned. This first position was commanded by another, and it again by a third, the approach to them nearly perpendicular; another road led from the first position to Bechfaya. The appearance of this unexpected force, and the strength of the ground, rather staggered me, and after examining it with great attention, and consulting Colonel Hodges, an old Peninsular warrior, and the other officers under my command, I decided that nothing could be done by an attack in front, unless assisted by the Emir Bechir, who had not yet made his appearance; and I felt satisfied, that as the enemy had not pushed forward when they had actually got into our position, I had nothing to fear now we were aware of their force, and prepared to meet them.

In the evening the Emir wrote as follows to General Jochmus:—

“October 9.

“I have received your letter, and our troops to-day at ten o’clock left Merouba for Basquinta; perhaps they will get there before sunset; that place is seven hours from you. I had the fever, and could not move with the troops; but I hope to-morrow to join them. I hear Osman Pacha arrived yesterday at Suwacka-Suswat, distant from Basquinta two hours and a half; if we meet him there, we will drive him away; it will not do to leave him a march behind us. We want men on horseback to be in your service. We send the bearer Mansur.”

This intelligence was not very pleasing; it would be impossible for them to arrive in the rear of the Egyptians before the afternoon of the 10th, even if they met with no opposition and used their best exertions, and this would have given another day for Ibrahim and Souliman to concert a movement. I was, however, determined to keep my ground, and I desired Jochmus to order Omar Bey, who had been left in our position, to march on Argentoun, cross over Dog River, and endeavour to form a junction with Emir Bechir. This was a very dangerous movement, the pass was difficult, and if discovered in the act of crossing, the consequences would have been serious. Omar Bey was, however, a good soldier; I placed full confidence in him, and I wrote to the Emir Bechir as follows:—

“Prince,

“Convent, October 9, 1840.

“We are here at the convent of Ornagacuan with five battalions; the enemy is in front of us under Osman Bey, and the Emir Mourat at Caillet Medun. I have ordered two battalions to march on Argentoun, cross Dog River in the night, and get in the enemy’s rear. Leave Osman Pacha to himself, march rapidly on Bechfaya, and join Omar Bey. When I hear your firing, I shall attack.

“Chas. Napier.”

At day-light on the morning of the 10th, I observed the English Consul’s flag flying in Beyrout, and a brisk communication going on between the ships and the town; that, and the steam-boats moving from St. George’s Bay, led me to believe, that Beyrout was evacuated, and that Souliman Pacha was concentrating his troops to attack my right, while Ibrahim, who we ascertained was our opponent, attacked my front; under these circumstances it was not a pleasing sight to see the Turks and marines, who were stationed in St. George’s Bay for the express purpose of watching Souliman, removed to take possession of an abandoned town, thus leaving my right quite exposed, and I wrote to the Admiral, giving him an account of my position as follows:

“My dear Admiral,

“October 10.

“I am on the heights of Ornagacuan, in a very strong position: the enemy are in front, close to me, also in an unassailable position: we drove in the out-posts yesterday. I last night received a letter from the Prince, who is not well, but his troops were at Basquinta, about five hours march from the enemy. I have desired him to advance on their rear, and I have directed two battalions to march on Argentoun, ready to cross Dog River at the first favourable moment.

“I see you have sent men to Beyrout, so I presume it has capitulated; this may change our operations. If Souliman reinforces Ibrahim, who is here, it might be proper to withdraw in the night, embark every soul in the steam-boats, go round to West Bay, land our troops there before day-light, and precipitate ourselves on Souliman’s camp; this can only be done when we hear what the Prince may do. But if you do not want the steam-boats at Beyrout they ought all to be in the Bay, in order that I might embark without a human being knowing it but yourself. Hodges, who is in my confidence, and who will stay till you send the steam-boat to Constantinople, will be able to answer any question you may please about us. I hope to hear from you the news about Beyrout. Be quite easy, my dear Admiral, about us, and believe me to remain,

“Yours, &c.,

“(Signed)Charles Napier.”

I had heard a report of Sir Charles Smith’s arrival, but I did not apprehend he would assume the command till after the performance of the service now in progress. Shortly after dispatching this letter, however, I received two from the Admiral, dated the day before, which prepared me to expect an order to retreat; they were as follows:—

“Sir,

“Princess Charlotte, D’Jounie Bay,

October 9th, 1840.

“Colonel Sir Charles Smith having arrived with a Firman from the Sultan, constituting him General in command of all his forces in Syria, nothing is in future to be undertook without his order, and you will abstain from any further operations until further orders.

“I send the steamer as before ordered, to protect your right, if necessary, but not to land their troops.

“I am, Sir,
“Your most obedient humble Servant,
“Robert Stopford.”

“Commodore Sir Charles Napier,

H.M.S. Powerful.”

“My dear Commodore,

“October 9th, 1840.

“Colonel Sir Charles Smith will listen to all your plans, and readily adopt them if he thinks them feasible, but his appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Turks, and senior officer of the Europeans, gives him the sole military authority.

“I hope you will listen to, and receive him with kindness, not bordering on any feeling of disappointment.

“It will be no discredit to our arms to make a military reconnoissance, and to retire if necessary.

“Yours truly,

“Robert Stopford.”

This was followed up as I expected, by another from the Admiral.

“My dear Commodore,

“October 10th.

“The nature of our operations being completely changed by our possession of Beyrout, from which place the enemy’s troops were withdrawn last night, that I have sent you an order with the advice and opinion of Sir Charles Smith, appointed by Firman to command the Turkish forces, to return without a moment’s loss of time, and with due security to your troops, which appear in some degree of insecurity.

“Yours truly,

“Robert Stopford.”

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