you that the zealous co-operation of the Ottoman frigate Dewan, on the service, has been highly meritorious to all on board, and calls for my warmest approbation. To Mr. Young, the cousul at Palestine, I am much indebted for the assistance he has rendered me by his knowledge of the people and localities of the country. Captain Boxer speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of Lieutenant Galway, who commanded the boats of the Pique both days, Messrs. Morris and Heath, mates, Messrs. Hawkins, Kealey, and Bridge, midshipmen; and Mr. Partridge, volunteer, first class. I consider it my duty to recommend to your notice, Lieutenant Patey, senior lieutenant of this ship, as well as Mr. Cockburn, the senior mate, employed on shore, for their officer-like, cool, and steady conduct; indeed, too much praise cannot be given to every officer and man employed on this service, for the manner in which they have conducted themselves through three days of arduous and fatiguing duty. To Admiral Sir R. Stopford, &c. I have, &c., EDWARD COLLIER, Captain. H.M.S. Castor, off Caiffa, Sept. 29th, 1840. SIR. In addition to my letter of this day's date, I have to inform you that the Turkish frigate detained a brig of the Pasha's, and by her I send these letters. I have put on board her our consulate agents of Acre and Caiffa, with their families, and others, who by remaining here after the cannonading we have given Çaiffa, would not be safe. The inhabitants are certainly favourably disposed to the Sultan; but the Emirs and Sheiks will not expose themselves without the appearances of a protecting force. To Admiral Sir R. Stopford, &c. I am, &c., EDWARD COLLIER, Captain. H.M.S. Castor, Tsour, Sept. 26th, 1840. SIR.-I have the honor to inform you, that her Majesty's ship Castor, under my command, accompanied by the Pique, anchored here on Thursday evening last, the 24th. We succeeded in driving out the Egyptian troops, said to amount to 500 men, that evening; the following morning we took possession of the town, which we still hold. A further detail of my proceedings shall be forwarded by the next opportunity. I cannot, however, resist the occasion of informing you that all have nobly performed their duty. A great quantity of grain has been found in the Government stores, as well as ammunition; part of the former and all the latter have been brought off. I have the honour, &c., To Admiral Sir R. Stopford, &c. EDWARD COLLIER, Captain. H.M.S. Castor, Tsour, Sept. 27th, 1840. SIR.-I have the honor to acquaint you, that agreeably with the arrangements I had made, the Castor appeared off Jaffa on the 22nd; the following day, calling again off Caiffa, whence proceeding in the further execution of your orders of the 14th instant, the Pique and Ottoman frigate Dewan in company, I beg to acquaint you that her Majesty's two frigates took up their positions off this town about noon on the 24th instant, (having ordered the Ottoman frigate to take a position in the South Bay, which the badness of the anchorage pre vented her doing, and from calms and light winds she did not rejoin until yesterday,) the town was summoned by an officer, bearing a flag of truce, to surrender to the Sultan, to which the civil authorities readily consented; but as 500 Egyptian troops still kept possession, I directed the inhabitants to be warned to quit the town immediately, as it was my intention to dislodge the soldiers, and having given them sufficient time to do so, a fire was opened by both ships, at the distance of about 500 yards, which soon accomplished the object. At daylight the following morning, Captain Boxer, having gallantly landed and reconnoitered, to prevent surprise, the marines of the two frigates, with a few small-arm men, under the command of Lieutenant Patey, senior lieutenant of this ship, landed and took possession of the town, which we still hold. Two guns were found mounted on the works, the trunnions of which were knocked off. Also a vast quantity of grain in the public stores, and some munitions of war. A brig has been loaded with part of the former, and the latter brought off. The arduous duty of levelling large sandbanks, ten feet high, thrown up by the enemy, to cover the approach to the town from the fire of ships, loading grain, and in gunboats by day and night, all in the full view of 1,500 of the enemy's troops, who are two miles off, will, I hope, sanction my recommending to your notice every individual officer and man of the two ships, for each one has nobly performed his part in like manner as at Caiffa. To my gallant friend Captain Boxer, I am deeply indebted for the assistance he has afforded me on every occasion in the execution of this service; but particularly for his vigilance each day in preventing surprise on the troops landing. He speaks in the highest terms of Lieutenant Curry, senior lieutenant of the Pique, who had charge of the party employed levelling the approach to the town. It affords me much pleasure to say we have not lost a man on this service, and I am much gratified in being able to state that none of the inhabitants have been hurt. I feel myself called upon to recommend especially to your notice Lieutenant Patey, of this ship, as an officer of great merit, who has highly distinguished himself on this service, as well as at Caiffa. To Admiral Sir R. Stopford, &c. I have, &c., EDWARD COLLIER, Captain. Princess Charlotte, D'journie Bay, SIR.-In forwarding you the enclosed copy of a letter from Commodore Napier, I have great satisfaction in drawing their lordships' attention to the rapidity and gallantry displayed by the Turkish troops, under his Excellency Selim Pasha's personal command, and of General Jochmus, the Chief of the Staff, and Lieutenant Bradley, who were at the head of the skirmishers in this brave attack, which was crowned with complete success, between 400 and 500 out of 700 of the enemy, posted on a most advantageous position, on the crest of the mountains, having been killed, wounded, and taken prisoners, and the others dispersed, most of whom have since come over, as deserters, to the standard of the Sultan. To R. More O'Ferrall, Esq. I have, &c., ROBERT STOPFORD, Admiral. Head-Quarters, Army of Lebanon, D'journie, SIR-In obedience to your directions to drive the enemy from the position they had been fortifying for some days on the left of Keibson (Dog River,) I marched out of our cantonments at daylight, of the 24th, with four Turkish battalions under his Excellency Selim Pasha, the 2nd battalion of Royal Marines, under Captain Fegan, and an Austrian rocket detachment under Alfiere di Vasielli Baldisirette. The ground on either side of Keibson is very high and precipitous, and offers great advantages to the defending, and very considerable danger to the attacking party; to secure against this, a Turkish battalion descended unseen near the entrance of the gorge through which Dog River runs, and gained the heights on the other side; the marines and Austrian rocket detachment, covered by this battalion, crossed higher up, crowned the heights, and advanced on the enemy's position about two leagues off; the Turkish battalion remained in position to cover our right, in the event of Soliman Pasha advancing from Beyrout to disturb our operations. Three Turkish battalions, who descended into the gorge before the marines, pushed their way up the river, and advanced in a mountain path to turn the enemy's left; this being perceived, they abandoned their intrenchments and occupied a new position on the heights of Ornochojeuen, about a league to the right of their intrenchment. The Turks arrived with great rapidity and gallantry. General Jochmus, the chief of the staff, accompanied by my aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Bradley, of the Powerful, put himself at the head of the skirmishers, and showed a noble example, which was as nobly followed by his Excellency Selim Pasha, at the head of a battalion; the country people also joined and were not the last advancing. The enemy's skirmishers were speedily driven in, and their main body, consisting of about 700 men, fired two volleys and retired in great confusion, the Turks following them up with so much vigour, that between 400 and 500 prisoners were made, and the rest dispersed. The enemy moving from their first position on which the marines advanced, threw them out, and the work was done entirely by the Turks; the marines were, however, most anxious to try their strength, and I hope an opportunity may soon offer. This operation opened the whole district of Kata, and the mountaineers who had been driven from their homes, flocked down in great numbers, and were immediately armed. I have great reason to be satisfied with the conduct of his Excellency Selim Pasha, and with General Jochmus, who fearlessly exposed himself in front, accompanied by my young friend Lieutenant Bradley. We have had a Turkish officer wounded, and two men killed. Enclosed is a list of Turkish officers who particularly distinguished themselves, and who I trust will meet with some mark of favour from the Sultan. To Admiral Sir R. Stopford. I have, &c., CHARLES NAPIER, Commodore. A List of Turkish Officers, &c., Deserving of Promotion. Mahmed Aga, 1st Major of the battalion of Cyprus, to be Chef de Bataillon commanding it. Mustafa Coloya, Sergeant 4th battalion, second regiment, first company, to be Ensign. Achmed Monashola, private 4th battalion, 2d Regiment, first company, to be corporal. To Admiral Sir R. Stopford. CHARLES NAPIER, Commodore. Princess Charlotte, D'journie Bay, Oct. 4, 1840. SIR. Considering the possession of Sidon as of great importance to the success of the Sultan's cause, by giving confidence to his faithful subjects, and very much embarrassing the measures of Ibrahim Pasha, I directed Commodore Napier to proceed thither, and, after summoning the place, to make the attack. I have great satisfaction in communicating, for their Lordships' information, the most complete success of this enterprise, as detailed in the Commodore's letter herewith sent. Our loss, as their Lordships will perceive by the return herewith transmitted, has been comparatively small, but still much to be regretted; the only officer killed was Lieutenant Hockin, of the Royal Marines, a young man of great promise, who had only arrived in the Stromboli, with a detachment of Royal Marines, in time to take part in the enterprise. The place is still ia our possession, and its capture seems to have been an unexpected blow to Ibrahim Pasha, and has much paralyzed his measures. It is a very pleasing duty to me to call their Lordships' attention to the excellent and judicious manner in which the plan of the attack upon Sidon was laid by Commodore Napier, and the spirit and gallantry with which it was accomplished. The ships employed upon this expedition were as follow:-Thunderer, Capt. M. F. F. Berkeley; Guerriere, Austrian frigate, his Royal Highness Prince Frederick of Austria; Gorgon, Capt. Henderson; Cyclops, Capt. Austin; Wasp, Commander Mansel; Hydra, Commander Robinson; Stromboli, Commander Williams; Gul Sefide, Turkish corvette. The Commodore expresses himself much obliged to Commander Mansel for his intelligent and active services. Amongst several individual acts of bravery, it appears from every account that the most prominent one belongs to Mr. Cummings, inate of the Cyclops. After the Commodore left Sidon (Capt. Berkeley has been left for its protection, with as many other vessels as can be spared, including the Guerriere Austrian frigate), much skill and judgment have been displayed in putting the place into a good state of defence against an attack by Ibrahim Pasha, who is in that neighbourhood; and Capt. Berkeley mentions the ready assistance he at all times receives from his Royal Highness Prince Charles Frederick of Austria. I have, &c. To R. More O'Ferrall, Esq. ROBERT STOPFORD, Admiral. Head-Quarters, Army of Lebanon, D'journie, Sia.-I embarked at sunset of the 26th inst. in obedience to your directions, with a Turkish battalion under Commandant of Battalion, Homchild Aga; and the first battalion of Royal Marines under Capt. Morison, of the Princess Charlotte, in the two steam-ships Gorgon and Cyclops, and proceeded off Sidon: at daylight the Thunderer and Austrian frigate Guerriere, Gul Sefide, Turkish Corvette, and Wasp joined, as also the Stromboli, from England, with two hundred and eighty-four marines, under Capt. Whylack. The wind being light, the Cyclops towed the Thunderer to her position, previously fixed by Captain Berkeley; the Stromboli towed up the Guerriere, and the Turkish corvette, who were placed by Capt. Berkeley abreast of the town. The Wasp and Stromboli anchored more to the southward, to flank it. The Gorgon, and Cyclops, and Hydra, who joined from Tyre, with Walker Bey, took up their positions both northward, close to the castle. The enclosed summons was sent to the Governor, which he refused to comply with. The Turkish battalion was now put into the boats, and rendezvoused round the Cyclops; a few shot and shell were fired from the Gorgon at the castle and barracks, and shortly after the whole of the squadron opened their broadsides to drive the troops from the houses and the intrenchments they had thrown up to prevent a landing; in half an hour the firing ceased, and Capt. Austin landed the Turkish battalion in the castle, which is joined to the town by a narrow causeway; this was effected with some loss: as the enemy still stuck to their intrenchments, the fire of the ships was again opened, and the houses in front battered down. Commander Mansel, of the Wasp, was directed to seize the first favourable opportunity of throwing the detachment of marines, brought out by the Stromboli, and the Austrian marines, into the castle, abreast of him, which he did with great gallantry and judgment. Lieut. Hockin, of the Marines, and several men, were killed and wounded. They were directed to work their way to the upper castle, which commanded the town. The 1st battalion of marines were now landed by Capt. Henderson, of the Gorgon, on the beach to the northward of the town, when they formed and advanced to the walls. All being now ready, the Turkish battalion, headed by Walker Bey and Capt. Austin, pushed along the causeway, and entered the town. I put myself at the head of the British marines, and broke into the barracks. Capt. Henderson and another party lodged themselves in a house above the barracks; this done, I marched the battalion along the wall to the upper gate, broke it open, and seized the castle. All seemed now quiet below, and, leaving a guard in the castle, we descended through several streets arched over, where occasional skirmishing took place with detached parties of Egyptian troops, who were easily driven, and finally took refuge in a vaulted barrack, where we found upwards of 1,000 men lying ready for a sortie, should occasion offer, or to lay down their arms, should they be discovered-the latter was their fate. I congratulate you, Sir, on the success of this enterprise; the garrison consisted of nearly 3,000 men, and not one escaped: our force was under 1,000. Our loss, which I enclose, has been trifling; one marine officer and three seamen killed; two mates, a boatswain, and thirty seamen wounded. I have much reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the captains, officers, and men under my orders; all showed the greatest zeal; English, Austrians, and Turks, vied with other. Commander Mansel is an old officer, and well deserving of promotion. Messrs. M'Guire and Price, old mates, are both severely wounded, and behaved most gallantly, as did Mr. Cummings, mate of the Cyclops, whose conduct was seen by Capt. Berkeley, who wrote him a strong letter on the occasion, and I trust their Lordships will promote them. My aide-de-camp, Lieut. Bradley, was also forward on all occasions. The Archduke Frederick placed his ship well, and kept up an excellent fire; Walker Bey, Turkish Rear-admiral, who was there by accident, was the first who advanced along the causeway. My thanks are due to the Hon. Capt. Berkeley, who assisted me on all occasions, as well as Captains Henderson and Austin, Commanders Robinson and Williams, and to the Captain of the Turkish corvette, to Captain Morison, who commanded the marine battalion, and to Capt. Whylack, who commanded the marine detachment. I am much also indebted to Captain Lane, of the Prussian service, who is attached to my staff. To Admiral Sir R. Stopford. I have, &c., CHARLES NAPIER, Commodore. P.S. Since writing my public letter on the capture of Sidon, it has come to my knowledge that there was a complete race between Mr. James Hunt, midshipman of the Stromboli, and Signor Dominica Chinca, midshipman of the Austrian frigate Guerriere, who should first place the colours in the part of the town they were landed at. |