The spring, moreover, was advancing, and with it the vast preparations of the Sultan to take the field. His will, therefore, being declared, Ibrahim, on the 26th of May, ordering the generals, colonels, and chiefs of battalions into his tent, made the following arrangements for carrying the place by storm. Ahmed Bey, general of brigade, with the first battalion of the second regiment of infantry, was directed to mount the breach near the tower of Kapoo Boorjou; to the second battalion, the breach opposite NebiSaleh was assigned, and to the third, that of Zavié ; each assaulting party to be supported by a battalion in reserve. About an hour after midnight, scalingladders were commanded to be brought to the trench near the tower of Kerim Boorjou. Each officer, moreover, received particular instructions. During the night the batteries kept up a continual fire upon the city, and immediately after sunrise the order for the assault was given. The breaches of Zavié and Nebi-Saleh were at once carried; but the detachment which had been directed against the tower of Kapoo-Boorjou, meeting with some resistance, exhibited signs of trepidation, and was about to give ground. Observing this, Ibrahim, sabre in hand, advanced towards them, and succeeded by vehement menaces in arresting their retrograde movement. At the same time the reserve advanced to their support, and while a part of the men kept the enemy in check by a well-directed fire, the others threw up an intrenchment. 494 BRAVERY OF THE BESIEGED. DCCXXIV. In the city, the Turkish soldiers, whose numbers had been reduced to about two thousand, with the chivalrous Abdallah Pasha at their head, exhibited eminent proofs of bravery. In one hour and a half they made three different sallies, and though constantly repulsed, left upon the minds of the besiegers a high idea of their indomptable intrepidity. The cannonading continued all day on both sides. At the breach of Zavié, the Arabs having penetrated to the gate near the tower of the Khazné, Abdallah Pasha, followed by his staff, attacked them in person, and driving them beyond the ditch, where they were exposed to the fire of the besieged, they retired under the cover of their own battery. Ibrahim, supported by a number of inferior officers, endeavoured to bring them once more to the charge; but they again gave way, and retired before the Turks. He now ordered one of his chaooshes to snatch the colours from the standard-bearer, and advance towards the enemy. The soldier refused to deliver them. A second was sent, and met with the same refusal; but the standard-bearer himself now marching forward to the breach, was followed by the Arabs, who returned to the charge with so much fury, that they succeeded in reaching the parapet, from behind which they dislodged the enemy with stones. Such was the nature of the contest for many hours, a series of successes and disasters, more fatal, however, to the Turks than to the Arabs, since, their numbers being small, every man was missed. At length the firing ceased on both sides; and this sus pension of slaughter continued until half past five in the afternoon. DCCXXV. In this interval, the principal engineer was directed to reconnoitre a part of the wall, where Ibrahim supposed the scaling ladders might be successfully applied; and his report confirming the suspicion of the general, orders were issued to commence the escalade. As the operation was conducted in the teeth of the enemy, who maintained a constant and murderous fire, the number of men who fell in effecting it was considerable; but their efforts were at length crowned with success, and a party of orse also throwing themselves into the town, the besieged perceived that all further defence was impracticable, and demanded quarter. Immediately Immediately afterwards, a *The following sketch of the siege is extracted from a private letter: "I proceeded to the camp of Ibrahim Pasha, by the way of Tyre and Sidon. On my arrival I was treated with all possible distinction, being provided with a general's tent, servants, and every other accommodation. The next morning his Highness sent one of his aides-decamp to welcome me, and, at an audience granted shortly afterwards, requested I would remain a few days to witness his first attack on the city of St. Jean d'Acre. As this proposition coincided with my own wishes, I readily consented. My tent being situated on a gentle eminence overlooking the town, I enjoyed a full view of the entire scene of operations. At length the long wished for day arrived, and I very imprudently posted myself under cover of a small battery, about ten minutes' walk from the city. This position was, however, quickly rendered untenable, for the enemy, suspecting the Pasha was stationed there, opened a battery of four guns upon it, and a shell burst about two paces from me, to avoid which I threw myself prostrate on the ground. If any spectacle can present the mind with an idea of the horrors and fury of hell, it is that of a city taken by assault. From 496 STORMING OF THE CITY. deputation, consisting of certain officers of artillery, with the Mufti and Imam of Abdallah Pasha, arrived, imploring the clemency of the victor. They were graciously received by Ibrahim, who promised them his protection, and even allowed the officers to retain their arms. To Abdallah Pasha, life only was guaranteed. By this time the city was filled with soldiers, and those excesses and atrocities, too common on the storming of towns, took place. Women were violated, houses pillaged; but such property as could be discovered was next day restored to the owners. It has, however, been asserted, upon the authority of an European consul, then in the city, that the soldiers of Ibrahim were allowed seven days' sack of the town; but the author of this report is an ardent partisan of Abdallah Pasha; and it may be further remarked that, since Mohammed Ali aimed at gaining a permanent footing in Syria, the thing itself is improbable. Abdallah Pasha, two days after the taking of Acre, was sent prisoner into Egypt, where he was received with the honours due to a brave man, and had a palace, situated on the island of Rhouda, assigned him for his residence. my elevated position, I could perfectly distinguish all the movements of the troops; the advance of the different parties to the attack, the planting of the scaling ladders, and the hurling of the besiegers from the walls, as they vainly attempted to mount into the breach. The assault lasted four hours, during which the garrison defended themselves with the fury of lions. The batteries were enveloped in flame, and the tout ensemble presented a scene at once magnificent and appalling." IBRAHIM ADVANCES UPON DAMASCUS. 497 mascus. DCCXXVI. The tardy preparations of the Sultan at length enabling his forces to take the field, and march towards Syria, it was necessary that Ibrahim should advance to oppose them, and either effect their destruction in detail, or attack and rout them before they were firmly established in the country. In pursuance of this design he traversed the mountains of Galilee, and marched upon DaHaving descended into the extensive plain east of Mount Hermon, celebrated for its abundant dews, and approached within an hour and a half of the city, a small body of the enemy appeared, in order to dispute his advance. These, however, were quickly dispersed, principally by the ministry of the Bedouin cavalry, and the capital of Syria was left without defenders. In consequence, Ali Pasha, governor of the city, convinced of his utter inability to oppose an effectual resistance to the Arabs, collected together the few troops still under his command, and retired, taking along with him the principal Turkish authorities. Ibrahim, therefore, without loss of time, pushed on towards Damascus ; but was met, on the way, by a deputation of the inhabitants, with Mustapha Aga at their head, who came to tender their submission, and to request his Highness, since fortune had denied them the power of choice, — to take possession of their city. Their demand was acceded to; and the army, stationed within the walls, or encamped on the surrounding plains, amidst beautiful groves and gardens, watered by the Pharphar and Abana, enabled them to per VOL. II. K K |