1 Ann. Hist. vi. 530, 532; Gordon, ii. 11, 14. 91. March and March 17. June 26 to July 3. and taken post near the convent of St. Lue, 18, 20. of 50,000 men; but they were so irregularly paid, and dispersed under separate leaders, that they resembled rather guerrilla bands, each acting on its own account, than regular troops all obeying a common direction; and nothing but the most imminent common danger could bring them to combine in any plan of united operations. By sea their armaments were more effective. With such vigor were their preparations then made, that by the beginning of May they had 98 vessels of war at sea, bearing 1760 guns, and manned by 10,560 admirable seamen.1 The first events of the campaign were favorable to the Greeks, and seemed to Early suc- presage successes not less decisive cesses of than the last. In Epirus, the heroic the Greeks. Mark Bozzaris was at the head of five thousand men, with whom, after the raising of the siege of Missolonghi, he kept the Turks in Arta in check, and defeated a large body of Albanians, whom he chased to the edge of the Ambracian Gulf, and menaced Prevesa itself. In Euboea and Thessaly the insurgents drove the pachas into the fortresses of Negropont and Carystos, and spread the insurrection to Volo, and through the plains around that place. But the completion of the Ottoman armaments, which went on very slowly, at length put a period to this auspicious state of things. In the middle of May the Turkish fleet, composed of sixty sail, set out from the Dardanelles, and passing within sight of Samos and Ipsara, on which it did not venture to hazard a descent, disembarked five thousand Asiatics in the island of Euboea, who speedily raised the blockade of Negropont and Carystos, and forced the Greeks to seek refuge in the mountains. The entire population of Athens, on the approach of the Ottomans, took refuge, as on the approach of Xerxes, in the island of Salamis; the Acropolis alone, garrisoned by Ghouras with eight hundred men, still held out. After this success, the Capitan Pacha made sail for Volo, where he landed another body of five thousand men, which, uniting with the troops collected by the Pacha of Larissa, severely avenged the previous successes of the Greeks in that quarter. Odysseus, however, had taken post in Thermopyle, and barred any passage that way into southern Greece; upon which the Turks made sail for the coasts of the Morea, and revietualed Patras and the castles of Morea and * Ann. Hist. Coron, the only strongholds still vi. 532, 533; held by the Turks in that quarter, Gordon, ii. and which were reduced to the last extremity from want of provisions. Soon, however, a more serious danger await- More glorious operations, and a more heroic ed the Greek cause. The grand Ot-spirit, signalized the campaign in Victory of toman army destined for the inva- Epirus and western Greece during Revolt of the the Greeks sion of the Morea, having received this eventful year. Notwithstand- Albanians, and on Mount intelligence of the arrival of the ing the successes of Mark Bozza- advance of the Turkish fleet in the bay of Patras, ris in the beginning of the year, dra. put itself in motion for the Isthmus of Corinth. and the revolt of the Albanians in August 12. Menaced by so great a danger, the Greek August, which delivered him from seven thougovernment issued a proclamation calling on sand of his most formidable enemies, he was all Greeks to take up arms to defend their reduced to such straits before the end of August country; and Mavrocordato, nobly sinking his as to render it extremely doubtful whether he superior rank, followed the army in the qual- should be able to keep the field. The Pacha ity of secretary to the council. Niketas, Colo- of Scodra, a man of uncommon energy and reeotroni, and Odysseus had united their forces, solution, had, in obedience to the orders of the 15, 22. 92. Helicon. 2 93. the Morea. So great were their successes that, had they been duly improved by unanimity and vigor, the Greeks might have Divisions entirely delivered their territory from among the their oppressors; for the remaining Greeks in fortresses held by the Turks, deprived of all chance of being relieved, would have become an easy prey. But the unhappy divisions which had arisen among the Greeks, from the consequences of their success, now rose to such a pitch in the Morea that the rival captains, instead of bearing their united strength against the enemy, took up arms against each other. Civil war aided in the desolation of a country afflicted by so many disasters, threatened by so many dangers. Blood was shed in the streets of Tripolitza between the adverse factions; the president, Mavromichaelis, despairing of being able to carry on the government, resigned his office, and retired to Hydra; and Colocotroni, in whom the real authority now centred, withdrew to Napoli di Romania, from whence he directed the whole military oper- vi. 535, 536. ations of continental Greece. 2 Ann. Hist. 94. Pacha of Sco 539. 96. Sultan, effected a levy in his pachalic, and ap- I Like Epaminondas, he had the satisfaction of proached Missolonghi at the head of twenty-five seeing the enemy fly before he breathed his thousand men. Bozzaris had not more than last, and he died exhorting his countrymen to three thousand at his disposal, for the revolted shed every drop of their blood in de- 1 Gordon, ii. Albanians had all returned home. With forces fense of their religion and their coun- 32, 33; An. so inferior it was evidently impossible to effect try. The annals of antiquity con- Hist. vi. 538, any thing by open force; but Bozzaris and his tain nothing more sublime.1 brave companions resolved on a nocturnal attack, by which it was hoped the enemy, who kept a very bad look-out, might be surprised. He went to a Souliote battalion, well known as one of the bravest in Greece, and after unfolding to them his design, asked them if they would accompany him in his enterprise. They all expressed their determination to conquer or die. Out of them Bozzaris selected a hundred and fifty of the bravest and most active, whom he proposed to head in person, and attack the centre of the enemy's camp, while the re1 Ann. Hist. mainder of his troops were divided into three columns, to distract him by simultaneous assaults in other quarters.1 vi. 537, 539; Gordon, ii. 30, 33. 95. and death of Mark Oct. 18. This gallant action postponed, but could not avert the stroke of fate. The Pacha of Scodra, having recovered from the Commencedefeat experienced at Carpenitza from ment of the Bozzaris, forced with great difficulty siege of Anthe defiles of the mountains which atolico. separated him from Omer-Vrione, and having effected the junction of the two armies, their united forces, twenty thousand strong, sat down before Missolonghi. Its garrison consisted only of three thousand regular troops; but to these were added double that number of armed inhabitants, who were inspired with the utmost resolution, and were confident in their means of defense. The strength of Missolonghi, situated below the level of the In the night of the 19th August, Bozzaris re- sea, depends chiefly on the lagunæ, which, as ceived the sacrament with his chosen at Venice, guard it from the approaches of the Nocturnal adherents, and assigned as their ral- enemy. The Capitan Pacha had left three surprise of lying point, if they lost sight of him large frigates and twelve brigs in the bay, the Turks, in the dark, the tent of the pacha. which blockaded it by sea; and the Turks, as The column selected for attack was it was now sufficiently garrisoned, resolved to Bozzaris. the Turkish advanced guard, five commence the siege with an attack on the fort Aug. 20. thousand strong, which was encamp- of Anatolico, a small town built on a low islet ed in the bottom of a valley, intersected by vine- at the entrance of the lagoons, and garrisoned yards and ditches. The action which ensued by five hundred men, with thrice that number exactly resembled the nocturnal enterprises of armed inhabitants, commanded by Constanwhich have been immortalized in the Iliad. tine Bozzaris, brother of the fallen hero, who Buried in sleep, without either sentinels or in- had inherited the mantle of his glory. The trenchments, the Turks were suddenly surprised chief apprehension of the inhabitants was from by the swords of the Souliotes which gleamed failure of water, but a bomb from the besiegers among them. Above all the roar of the con- having broke through the pavement, discovered flict was heard the voice of Bozzaris, who never a spring; which, being regarded as a divine inceased to exhort his companions to conquer. terposition, inspired the garrison with the most Knowing the voice, the Mussulmans, in the sanguine hopes of success. Thus elated, the dark, directed all their shots to the quarter from whole population worked with incessant vigor whence it came. One took effect, and wounded in repairing their fragile ramparts and battehim severely below the girdle. He concealed ries; and although the Turks kept up an incesthe wound, however, and continued to head sant fire, and threw in two thousand shells, the his comrades, who were making the utmost place still held bravely out. Meanwhile the carnage among the Ottomans. The attack of rainy season commenced, the Turkish camp was the other divisions completed their confusion, flooded; some convoys of provisions were interand before daybreak they fled in all directions. cepted by the mountaineers in their rear; a Eight hundred men were slain on the spot, a few additional guns arrived by sea at Anatolico; thousand prisoners, eighteen standards, seven the garrison refused to capitulate, and the Paguns, and immense military stores taken by the cha of Scodra, despairing of success, raised the Souliotes, who did not lose one hundred and siege, and returned home, with the loss of half fifty men. But they sustained an irreparable his army, after cutting down six thousand loss in Mark Bozzaris, who was shot through olive trees, destroying his ammuni- • Gordon, i. the head as day began to dawn, and soon tion, burying his cannon, and leav- 35, 37; Ann. after expired. He was borne off the field by ing all his provisions to the en- Hist. vi.542, the weeping Souliotes, interred with the high-emy.2 est military honors at Missolonghi, and the government published a decree in his honor.* "Beloved Greeks! Lo, another Leonidas figures in your history. The first with three hundred companions faced the universe, and, resolving to die in obedience to the laws of Sparta, fell in the night upon myriads of foes. Our modern one, at the head of eight hundred brave soldiers, charged sword in hand and determined to conquer, and vanquished ten thousand. Eight hundred Turks, and among those Pliapa Pacha, lay dead: few of our heroes fell a sacrifice to their faith and country. In this glorious battle died the immortal General Bozzaris, and went to the regions of eternity, to darken by the rays of his exploits the lustre of former heroes."-The President MAVROMICHELIS, Salamis, Aug. 31, 1823. 543. The plague, which raged with great violence in Canea during the whole winter of 97. 1822, and carried off five thousand of Operations the crowded population of that for- in Candia tress, suspended all military opera- during 1823. tions in Candia during that period. In the end of May, Tombazi, who was invested with the command, landed in the island with fourteen pieces of cannon, and a large quantity of arms and ammunition. With this aid he compelled the governor of Kipamos, a fortress which had hitherto remained in the hands of the Turks, to capitulate, on condition of the garrison being con Jan. 29. in confusion to the Dardanelles. In fine, as the result of the naval campaign, Carystos was relieved, Toikari reduced to subjection, and a few brigs and schooners of the Greeks taken; and with these trifling prizes the Turkish admiral re-entered the Dardanelles in the end of November. No sooner was the sea cleared than a Greek expedition of eighteen sail set out from Napoli di Romania, bearing a reinforcement of three thousand men, and large subscriptions in money from the Greeks in the Morea for Missolonghi, evidently threatened with a second siege. In their way they met the Algerine squadron, which had been left by the Capitan Pacha, and long infested the Gulf of Lepanto, 1 Gordon, i. defeated it, and drove a vessel laden 61, 63; Ann. with treasure on the coast of Zante, Hist. vi. 541, which they made prize.1 544. The domestic dissensions which had during the year paralyzed the operations 99. of the Greeks in the Morea, pre- Increased disvented them from taking advant- sensions in age of their glorious successes. To the Morea. ducted to Canea, which was accordingly done | ron by the sight of the flames, that they fled in safety, by the honorable humanity and courage of the Greek chiefs, who discharged a twelve-pounder into the middle of their own men, in the act of rushing on fifteen hundred of the captives for a massacre. This success extended the insurrection into the mountains around Khadeno, which had hitherto remained quiet; and five thousand men soon environed the Turks there, who with much difficulty, and after bravely cutting their way through the Greeks, effected their retreat, though with very heavy loss, to Canea. The Greeks disgraced themselves by the massacre of two hundred sick who were left behind. Stimulated to exertion by these disasters, the Turkish government sent orders to the Pacha of Egypt to send succor to Candia, and in the end of June he disembarked five thousand troops in Canea. This great reinforcement revived the drooping spirits of the Turks, and at first diffused great consternation among the Christians, insomuch that the Sfakiotes talked of surrendering. Dissensions broke out among them; they were defeated in a decisive battle at Armou-such a length did they arise before Christmas, ghi, from whence Tombazi himself escaped with that the different members of the government difficulty. Six hundred women and children were at open war with each other. Mavromiwho had taken refuge after this disaster in the chalis and Colocotroni, the leading members vast natural grotto of Stonarambella, were, after of the executive council, had drawn the whole being blockaded for a month, inhumanly smoked real power into their own hands at Napoli di to death like bees by the Turks, who piled up Romania, while the legislative assembly at Arwood against the entrance, to which they set gos paid no regard to their orders. Like Nafire. The Egyptian general followed up his poleon, Colocotroni resolved on a coup d'état to successes with equal vigor and cruelty; six-and-get quit of his opponents. For this purpose he thirty villages were reduced to ashes, the de- dispatched two hundred men under his son, to files and inmost recesses of Mount Ida forced, whom Niketas afterward added a band of his and ere long three thousand Cretans were put own. The united body reached Argos when to the sword, and seven thousand women and the senate were sitting, but they were so overchildren sold as slaves. So great was the de- powered by the majesty of the legislature, and struction of human life, that Tombazi published overawed by the firm countenance of the prea proclamation, that as great part of the lands feet of the town, that they did not venture on in the island were without persons to cultivate a dissolution, but contented themselves with an them, they would be allotted to the first occu- attempt, which proved ineffectual, on the arpants: a temptation which attracted three thou- chives, which were removed on board a vessel sand persons from the neighboring islands to in the night. Foiled in this manner in both the scene of devastation. But notwithstanding objects, they returned to Napoli. The legisla this, it was evident that the insurrection in tive body, after this insult, retired to Cranidi, Candia had received its death-blow; and it had a strong fort on the Gulf of Corinth, where it already appeared, what was so fatally proved declared its sittings permanent, and fulminated in the sequel, that however capable of with a decree dismissing the whole executive from standing the tumultuary levies of their situations. Part of the Morea, Misso46, 59; Ann. the Turks, the Greeks could not re- longhi, and the islands, adhered to Mavrocorsist in the open field the disciplined dato and the legislature, part to Colocotroni battalions of Egypt.1 and the executive. But meanwhile the collecThe naval campaign of the Turks during this tion of the revenue entirely ceased; the public year, for which such vast prepara-treasury was empty; the chiefs levied contribuNaval cam- tions had been made, and from which tions on their own account, with which they so much had been expected, did not maintained their troops; and Greece, while yet at all redound to the honor or advan- in the cradle, and painfully strug- 2 Ann. Hist. tage of their arms. Being not in sufficient gling for its existence with a power- vi. 549, 550; strength to engage them in open fight, the ful enemy, was exposed to the hor- Gordon, ii. Greeks were reduced to the necessity of ob-rors and the weakness of civil war. 72, 73. serving them at a distance, and keeping them in a constant state of alarm by the terror of their fireships. They did this, however, so effectually, that the Ottomans derived very little advantage from their naval superiority. So far from it, Miaulis, with a small Greek flotilla, engaged the Turkish fleet, on its return from the Gulf of Patras, off Lemnos, set two frigates on fire by means of his fireships, and excited such consternation in the whole squad 1 Gordon, i. Hist. vi. 546, 547. 98. paign of 1823. 2 Greece abroad. While Greece was thus in its interior undergoing the convulsions and para- 100. Iyzed by the weakness incident to Increasing inevery state emerging into freedom terest in from former slavery, the interest Arrival of Lord of the nations of western Europe Byron at Misin her behalf was daily and rapid- solonghi. ly on the increase. The learned and the reflecting were charmed with the resurrection, fraught with such recollections and bearing March 18. such names as Greece; the religious watched | sess the military faction from this stronghold, with interest the efforts of a gallant people to resolved to transfer the seat of government to shake off the Mohammedan yoke, and restore Napoli di Romania, which, in every point of the Christian faith; the revolutionists sympa- view, was the proper place for it; and they thized with the revolt of any people against accordingly embarked on board the Hydriote their government, and beheld in the deliver- fleet, which was entirely at their devotion, and ance of Greece the first step toward the eman- arrived on the 18th March in the bay cipation of mankind. The effect of this general of that fortress, and summoned the interest and sympathy appeared in numerous garrison to open the gates; but the governor, public meetings in several places in England, Kanos Colocotroni, positively refused to do so. presided over by persons of high rank and great Upon this the assembly declared him a rebel, consideration, where resolutions, expressive of and ordered the siege of the place by sea and the deepest interest in their behalf, were pass- land. Matters had proceeded to the like exed, and large subscriptions made in their be- tremities in Tripolitza, where Colocotroni himhalf.* Similar subscriptions were made in self held out with the whole garrison against various places in France and Germany; and a the central government. But Niketas and other number of ardent youths in all the three coun- chiefs deserted his cause; the garrison of the tries enrolled themselves in battalions, styled Acro-Corinthus declared for the legislature, and "Philhellenes," in which they proceeded to the the garrison of Tripolitza itself exhibited sympMorea to share in the dangers and glories of toms of wavering. Discouraged by these deGreek independence. The unsuitableness of fections, Colocotroni agreed to surrender Tripthese corps for the guerrilla and partisan war- olitza and retire to his country estates, which fare, which was alone practicable in Greece, was agreed to, and the senate returned to Arrendered them of little real service in the con- gos; but Kanos still held out in Napoli, and test; but the subscriptions in money were of the country was so divided that it was hard to great moment, and powerfully contributed to say where the government really resided. uphold the resources of the infant state. At length, however, as Napoli was closely blockthis time, also, several individuals went to aded by sea and land, the garrison began to Greece to tender their services in its behalf, see that the sense of the country was against eminent alike by their rank, their courage, and them, and by degrees came round to the central their genius. Among these must be reckoned government. The governor of the fort of VourM. Blaquière and Colonel Leicester Stanhope, toi, one of the outworks of the place, suddenly whose talents and address proved of the utmost declared for it, and Colocotroní, despairing of value to the Greek cause; while Lord success, surrendered the fortress on the Byron, who arrived in Árgostoli, in 19th June. Colocotroni himself soon the bay of Cephalonia, on the 3d after sent in his adhesion; Odysseus did the Ann. Hist. August, brought to the cause the re- same; the government, with prudent moderaAnn. Reg. sources of a fortune generously be- tion, accepted all their offers of sub1823, 276, stowed, and the lustre of an immortal mission. On the 24th June the seat of name.1 government was transferred to Napoli di Romania, and on the 14th July a general amnesty was proclaimed, which at length put a period to these disastrous dissensions.' August 3. 1 Gordon, ii. 78, 81; vi. 405; 279. 101. of the Lord Byron, on his arrival at Missolonghi, whither he bent his steps, as the place Continued threatened with the earliest danger, divisions found the community so torn with internal divisions, that nothing short Greeks. of an entire dissolution of society was to be apprehended from their continuance. It was no easy matter, however, even with the weight of his great name and liberal power, to accomplish this object, for the divisions of the Greek leaders had reached the point of civil The legislative body, in order to dispos war. 1 At June 19. June 24. Ann. Hist. vii. 405, 409. loan. 102. While these divisions were paralyzing the strength and darkening the prospects of Greece, the affairs of the Contraction infant state were much more pros- of the Greek perous abroad. The English cruisers now, in obedience to orders received from government, admitted the Greek blockade—a step, not an unimportant one, in the recognition of their independence; and they were "In England, where the sublime spectacle of a nation highly elated by the intelligence that the Enawakening into light and freedom could not but be regarded with sympathy and admiration, a thousand proofs glish government, in consequence of some dishave been given of the interest their cause has excited. putes with the dey as to an infraction of the At length an association has been formed to give a prac- subsisting treaty with that power, had declared tical and efficient direction to these feelings, and they now make a solemn appeal to the nation in behalf of a country war against Algiers. More substantial benefit associated with every sacred and sublime recollection, for was derived from the contraction of a loan of a people formerly free and enlightened, but long retained £800,000, which, by the exertions of the Greek by foreign despots in the chains of ignorance and barba- committee in London, was obtained by rism. While the attempts of the Greeks were limited within a narrow circle, and it seemed probable that they the government at the rate of £59 sterwould be instantly crushed by the Ottoman power, it ling paid for £100 stock inscribed. Although might be doubtful how far it was prudent to encourage a the conditions of this loan were altogether so struggle which might aggravate the evil it was intended to remove. But the war has now changed its character; onerous that the Greek government only obit is clear it can end in nothing but in the independence tained £280,000 for £800,000 debt contracted, or absolute annihilation of the Greek people, If the Turks yet the transaction was eminently beneficial to could not put down the insurrection in its early stages, them, and proved, in a great measwhen the Greeks possessed neither arms, nor military knowledge, nor regular government, what can they do now ure, the salvation of the republic, vii. 409, 410; against a renovated nation and the active sympathy of for in the distracted state of its Gordon, ii. 90, the Christian world?"-Address of the Greek Committee, Lord Milton in the chair, May 3, 1823. Annual Register, government the collection of the re- 93; An. Reg. 1823, Appendix to Chron., 73. GORDON, ii. 85, 86. venue had almost entirely ceased;2 1824, 129, 131. Jan. 1. 2 Ann. Hist. 103. Preparations the Turks. bore arms. and but for this seasonable supply the arma- | fleet, with which great reinforcement he set sail ments by sea and land must have been dis- for Ipsara. The island at this period contained solved, from the want of any funds for their fifteen thousand inhabitants, of whom a third support. It is a small and sterile island, containing beyond the town only a few acres of ground; but, being the abode of liberty and independence, it had attained a very high degree of prosperity. Two hundred cannon were mounted on the island; a line of telegraphs was established round it; the inhabitants, relying on their past victories, were confident of success, and even impatient for the attack; and a beautiful flotilla of schooners, brigs, and fireships lay ready in the port to resist the enemy. Relying on these circumstances, the Psarriotes refused all offers of accommodation, and bravely determined to resist to the last extremity. Yet were their means of defense more specious than real; for they possessed no regular citadel or fort, and the defense of the island rested 1 Gordon, ii. entirely on a number of detached 133, 134; An. batteries, the loss of any one of Hist. vii. 416, which would endanger the whole.1 417. And, in truth, never had Greece stood more in need of vigorous efforts for its defense, for the forces which the and plan of the Ottoman government was preparcampaign by ing to bring against it were immense. Noways discouraged by the bad success of the preceding campaigns, the Sultan made the utmost exertions for the proseeation of the war; and, taught by its reverses, the government laid their plans with much more skill and judgment for the future. They had learned by experience to appreciate the value of the Egyptian troops, who were armed and disciplined after the European fashion; and they held out to the pacha of that country the most tempting lure to induce him to engage heartily in the contest, by the promise of the revolted provinces as an addition to his pachalie when they were subdued. The plan arranged was this: IBRAHIM PACHA, who already had all but subdued Candia, was to transport a large force of regular troops to the Morea, while his powerful fleet was to blockade its harbors and secure the subsistence of the troops; the fleet from Constantinople was to muster in the Dardanelles, and make a descent upon Hydra and Ipsara, which, it was hoped, might be subdued; while the Pacha of Roumelia and Omer-Vrione were to march with the whole military strength of continental Turkey against western Greece and Missolonghi. In all, above one hundred thousand men were directed by sea and land against the infant state; and as nearly twenty thousand of that number were to be the disciplined battalions of Egypt, 1 Gordon, ii. it was easy to foresee that Greece 91; An. Hist. had never run such dangers as she vu. 412, 413. was now to incur.1 ago. 104. The Capitan Pacha set sail from the Dardanelles in the middle of June, with a Operations of fleet of forty sail, having on board the Turks in a large body of land troops. He the Archipel- first reinforced with three thousand men the garrisons of Carysto and Negropont, which Odysseus and Dramantis had reduced to the last extremity, in Eubea, and enabled the Turks to resume the offensive; and, passing over to Attica, compelled the Greeks under Ghouras to shut themselves up in the Acropolis. While these successes were gained in that quarter, still more important operations were in progress in the southern parts of the Archipelago, where Ibrahim Pacha brought the redoubtable battalions of Egypt into action. He first proceeded to the isle of Casos; and though bravely repulsed in a first attack, he succeeded in a second, and very soon completed the subjugation of the island.2 The great effort of the Turks, however, in their naval campaign, was directAttack on Spez- ed against the islands of Spezzia ria and Ipsara. and Ipsara. The Capitan Pacha, July 1. Chosrow, had lain a month in Mitylene, where he collected twenty thousand fanatical Asiatics, thirsting for the blood of the Christians, whom he embarked on board his June 8. * Ann. Hist. Gordon, ii. 125, 129. 105. 106. Un On the 1st July the armada of the Turks hove in sight, and soon surrounded the island. It consisted of an eighty- Capture and gun ship, two of sixty-four guns, six destruction frigates, ten corvettes, and twenty of Ipsara. July 3. brigs, with thirty transports having on board fourteen thousand regular troops, besides a crowd of fierce Asiatics. When this immense armament was seen, a council of war was held, at which Canaris, like Themistocles, strongly advised them to combat by sea. fortunately his advice was overruled; and the magistrates, afraid of being deserted by the sailors, not only doomed the navy to total inaction, but landed part of the crews to make them co-operate in the defense of the place. The consequences were fatal. The Turks, on the 3d July, drew in their vessels to the mouth of the harbor, where they commenced a furious cannonade on the town, which was returned with great spirit and no disadvantage by the islanders, both from their ships and batteries. It was obvious from this sea-fight that, if the principal defense had been made there, the Greeks would have had the advantage; but as the rudders had been taken out of the vessels by order of the magistrates, to prevent the sailors deserting, they could not manoeuvre at sea, which deprived them of their principal advantage; and meanwhile, under cover of the smoke, the Turks unobserved landed a body of troops on a little cove at the northwest angle of the island. They then stormed a redoubt with three guns, and, rushing forward with frightful yells, gained possession of the rocks which overlook the town, on which they immediately hoisted the Ottoman standard. At the sight of this a cry of horror rose among the more timid of the islanders, and several batteries were abandoned. The bravest now saw that the fate of their country was decided, and a general rush took place toward the boats, where multitudes perished by drowning, through the number crowding in, or the boats being sent to the bottom by the Turkish guns. All resistance then ceased in the town, 2 Ann, Hist. which was sacked and burnt, and vii. 414, 415; the whole inhabitants put to the Gordon, ii. sword. 135, 137. |
