The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 4, March, 1836Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 4, March, 1836
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
enemies.
The results of this action were highly important to the French, and
indeed it rendered their success certain. The Arabs began to
disappear, and the Turkish and Moorish soldiers retreated to the
city, from which it was not easy to bring them again to the field;
symptoms of insurrection among the populace also manifested
themselves. In this situation, it has been considered possible that
had Bourmont advanced immediately upon Algiers, the Dey would have
found it necessary to capitulate; there was however no reason to
believe that the disaffection would extend to the garrisons of the
fortresses, and the city could not have been reduced while they held
out.
On the 23d the vessels from Palma began to come in; the horses were
immediately landed, and two small corps of cavalry were added to the
troops encamped at Sidi Khalef. The fortifications of the peninsula
were also by this time completed, a line of works fifteen hundred
yards in length, having been drawn across the neck, and armed with
twenty-four pieces of cannon; by this means the whole of the land
forces were rendered disposable, as two thousand men principally
taken from the _equipage de ligne_[3] of the fleet, were considered
sufficient for the security of the place. The provisions, &c. were
all landed, and placed within the lines, in temporary buildings which
had been brought in detached pieces from France; comfortable
hospitals were likewise established there, together with bakeries,
butcheries, and even a printing office, from which the _Estafette d'
Alger_, a semi-official newspaper, was regularly issued. The
communications between Sidi Ferruch and the camp, were facilitated by
the construction of a military road, defended by redoubts and
blockhouses placed at short intervals on the way.
[Footnote 3: A certain number of young men are annually chosen by lot
in France, for the supply of the army and navy, in which they are
required to serve eight years. Those intended for the navy, are sent
to the dockyards, where they are drilled as soldiers, and instructed
in marine exercises for some time before they are sent to sea. The
crew of each public vessel must contain a certain proportion of those
soldier sailors, who are termed the _equipage de ligne_.]
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