Memorials and Other Papers — Volume 1De Quincey, Thomas
General
Memorials and Other Papers — Volume 1
De Quincey, Thomas
English essays
The immediate consequences were disastrous. The Greeks retreated; and
the Pacha detached Kihaya-Bey, a Tartar officer of distinguished energy,
with near three thousand men, to the most important points of the
revolt. On the fifth of May, the Tartar reached Corinth, but found the
siege already raised. Thence he marched to Argos, sending before him a
requisition for bread. He was answered by the men of Argos that they had
no bread, but only powder and ball at his service. This threat, however,
proved a gasconade; the Kihaya advanced in three columns; cavalry
on each wing, and infantry in the centre; on which, after a single
discharge, the Argives fled. [Footnote: It has a sublime effect in the
record of this action to hear that the Argives were drawn up behind a
wall originally raised as a defence _against the deluge of Inachus_.]
Their general, fighting bravely, was killed, together with seven hundred
others, and fifteen hundred women captured. The Turks, having sacked
and burned Argos, then laid siege to a monastery, which surrendered upon
terms; and it is honorable to the memory of this Tartar general, that,
according to the testimony of Mr. Gordon, at a time when the war was
managed with merciless fury and continual perfidies on both sides, he
observed the terms with rigorous fidelity, treated all his captives with
the utmost humanity, and even liberated the women.
Thus far the tide had turned against the Greeks; but now came a decisive
reaction in their favor; and, as if forever to proclaim the folly
of despair, just at the very crisis when it was least to have
been expected, the Kihaya was at this point joined by the Turks of
Tripolizza, and was now reputed to be fourteen thousand strong. This
proved to be an exaggeration; but the subsequent battle is the more
honorable to those who believed it. At a council of war, in the Greek
camp, the prevailing opinion was that an action could not prudently be
risked. One man thought otherwise; this was Anagnostoras; he, by urging
the desolations which would follow a retreat, brought over the rest to
his opinion; and it was resolved to take up a position at Valtezza,
a village three hours' march from Tripolizza. Thither, on the
twenty-seventh of May, the Kihaya arrived with five thousand men, in
three columns, having left Tripolizza at dawn; and immediately raised
redoubts opposite to those of the Greeks, and placed three heavy pieces
of cannon in battery. He hoped to storm the position; but, if he should
fail, he had a reason for still anticipating a victory, and _that_ was
the situation of the fountains, which must soon have drawn the Greeks
out of their position, as they had water only for twenty-four hours'
consumption.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account