The Sun.
London, England, 1837-10-30 00:00:00

OFFICIAL ACCOUNT of the TAKING

OF CONSTANTINE.

LETTER OF GENERAL VALLEE TO THE MINISTER OF WAR.
" Constantine, Oct. 13, 1837.
" Sir—On the lamented death of General de Darnre-
mont I took upon myself the command of the army, and in
that quality have the honour of transmitting to you a sue
tint report of its operations since its arrival before this place,
until a detailed report shall make you ..:cquainted with t.Ill.
conduct of each corps, and of such individuals as have most
distinguished
,themselves. My telegraphic despatch in-
formed you that the tri-coloured flag was floating over the
walls of Constantine, and the preceding despatches of the
Governor have made known to you the progress of the arm
as far Soumah, where we arrived on the sth. On that day
the army took a position about two short leagues from Con-
stantine, on the banks of the 13on Merzon,?-. nn tin
following, day it pined ih. ,1., tod •l
a little later th,,, of I .01iiiidt , it

opposition from I enemy. 11..
~ •
,•oonnanj of the ;it
the he,-1 of the • o first brigade,:, the attack of Salo
311,1 4 ;eneral at tie head of tvlo
other I,l.;:,kith rh it of 4 7moliat Ate'. 1, afterwards, with
General discOcrcd the rozition at. each point for
placing the batteries, and the works were immediately com-
menced ; but scarcely had the army established itself when
it was assailed by a most violent tempest of wind and rain.
This weather continued, almost without cessation, until the
10th. It changed the ground of our bivouacks to pools of
mire, into which the horses sunk up to their bellies, and
the soldiers were unable to lie down. However, after the
most unremitting exertions, the artillery succeeded in mount-
ing three batteries at Sala Mansourah, and prepared one
at Coudiat Aty. The fire against the town opened on the
9th, and continued for a part of the lOth. The enemy's
defences were then nearly destroyed, and the breaching
battery was able to begin playing on the 11th, at about
400 hundred yards from the walls in front of Coudiat
Aty. A breach was effected in the evening, but was not
yetfpracticable. In the night the pieces were advanced to
about 150 yards, and the breach was completed. The
enemy offered a lively resistance to us at every point ; his
batteries continued to fire as long as they could, and with
great obitinaey. Foot soldiers kept up also a continued
firing with good aim from behind the ramparts and from the
houses. At the same time daily attacks were made upon
our two positions of Sala Mansourah and Cottdiat Aty.
The summons sent into the town the day before yester-
day by the Governor-General not having produced any
satisfactory answer from Achmet Bey, who required, ba-
fore he could enter into any parley, that we should sus-
pend our works, 'the assault was made this morning with
the most determined courage, and the inhabitants were
successively dislodged from every quarter of the town, after
defending themselves with extreme obstinacy. We have
to deplore numerous losses. My next despatch will con-
vey to you the exact amounts of killed and wounded, with
the names of the officers who are in one or other of these lists.
Chefde Bittaillon De Scrigny, of the 2d Light Infantry, died
in the breach, as well as Captain Hakett, of the Engineers.
Among the wounded are General Perregaux, Colonels
Combs and Lamoriciere, Chefs de Battaillons Dumas, one
of the .King's and Vieux, of the Engi-
neers; and Captain Richepanse. Fortunately the wounds
of several are but slight. A part of the distinguished in-
habitants and the authorities 'remained in the town. I
issued a proclamation, inviting them to remain quietly in
their dwellings, and i•equiring them to provide for the sub-
sistence of the army. Achmet has fled. It is reported
that he has retired to the desert, where t.?. has family con-
nections. His Calif has left him, and has requested to be
re-admitted into the town. I shall send you immediately
the standards taken in the town.—l am, with repcct, Scc.

(Signed) " COUNT VALLEE."
EXTRACT OF A REPORT ADDRESSED FROM LONSTA ,TINE ON
THE 16TH INST., BY LIEUT.-GENERAL COUNT VALLEE, TO

THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL. OF MINISTERS :-

" I am about to forward to the Minister of War a report
of the operations of the army from the Ist to the 13th of
October. A copy of my report will no doubt be laid be-
fore your. Excellency, and will enable you to judge of the
ensemble of the siege in the conducting of this operation,
which was entirely performed by the artillery, and of the
measures adopted for the storming which rendered us
masters of the city. Whilst we were still before the place
some attempts were made to renew negotiations. On the
11th inst. Gem Damremont addressed to the inhabitants of
Constantine the subjoined proclamation marked No. 1.
The flag of truce returned next day without having been
ill-treated, but with an offensive answer, announcing the
intention of the inhabitants to bury themselves under the
ruins of the place. On the 12th, a few hours after the Go-
vernor-General's death, an envoy from Achnset presented it-
self before our outposts, and on being brought, before me, de-
livered to me, on the part of the Bey, the letter of which I
send you a copy, marked No. 2. In this proceeding Achmet
appeared to me to have no other object than to gain time;
in the hope, perhaps, that our provisions would b speedily
exhausted, 'and that the .army,- obliged to execute a diffi-
cult retreat in presence of the enemy would perish from
famine and privations, and afford the Bey a favourable op-
portunity of attacking it with success. Under this impres-
sion I readied to the 13g, that, disposed as I was to enter
into a convention for putting an end to the war, I consi•
dered it necessary to exact, as an indispensable preliminary
to any negotiation, the surrender of the place, and that
till I could receive his answer I should continue to urge
on the attack with unremitting activity. The Envoy took
his departure with the letter, a copy of which I forward to
you, marked No. 3, and from that period we heard no
more of Achmet. At the moment when 1 refused to sus-
pend the fire of my batteries, a breach had already been
made in the main body of the place, and on the evening of
the 12th it appeared to me in a sufficiently advanced state
to lead to the hope that on the following morning it would be
completely practicable. In consequence 1 gave the neces-
sary orders for the formation of the storming columns, which
were to be under the direction of the Duke of Nemours, who
cemmanded the besisegine. troops. The batteries continued
to fire during the whole of the night, and at daybreak every-
thing
iwas disposed to enable us to penetrate into the place,
the gates of which the enemy in their blind fury still refused
to open to us. I shall enter into no details of the attack,
which was conducted by our troops with the most brilliant
valour ; it was one of the most remarkable actions which
I have witnessed during my lengthened career ; and it is but.
justice to our soldiers to declare that all of them proved
worthy of the exalted mission confided to them. As
soon as tranquillity was re-established in the city I pro-
ceeded with the Duke de Nemours to take possession of
the palace of the By, and my first care was to disarm
the inhabitants, and to put an end to the disorder, which
must always prevail more or less in a town taken by storm.
I have named General Rulhieres Commandant-in-Chief of
Constantine, and have ordered him to take every measure
calculated to inspire with confidence the few inhabitants
who have remained in the city. 1 have announced to the
people that we engage to respect the manners and religion
of the country. The French troops have been forbidden
to enter the mosques, and from this morning the Mus-
stilmans attend prayers at the hours prescribed by the
Koran. Assisted by the local authorities, whom I hare
maintained in their functions, the Intendant of the army
has commenced an investigation into the state of the pub-
lic and private stores, and has already found a quantity of
wheat, and warehouses stored with barley, sufficient fir
the first necessities of the army. But we have not yet
been able to find -any cattle, and the troops arc living
upon the provisions brought with them from Mjez-Ainiat.
I am in hopes, however, that the neighbouring tribes will
ere long supply us with provisions. I have ordered a mar-
ket to.be opened at the gate of Babel Oued, which, ac-
cording to all appearance, Kill soon be frequented. I have
ordered the track of the Bey to be followed as closely as
possible ; and, according to the last information which I
have received, he has retired to a distance of several days'
march from Constantine, after having been stripped by
the Arabs of the treasures which he had carried away with
him. I have. clespatched some emissaries to ascertain his
exact position." (Here follow some political considerations
on the Beylick of Ccnstantine.)
. No. 1.

LETTER FROM THE COM:rIANDER-IN-CIIIEF TO THE INIIA

ISITANTS of CONSTANTINE.

" Inhabitants of Constantine l—My cannon are planted
at the foot of your walls, which are about to be thrown
down, and my troops will enter your town. If you wish to
avoid the unfortunate consequences you will surrender while
it is yet time. I swear to you that your women and chil-
dren will be spared, and your property respected, and that
you may continue to live peaceably in your houses. Send
men of probity to confer with me, so that every thing may
be arranged before I enter the town. I declare, under my
seal, that what I have promised I will strictly perform.
(Signed) " " COUNT DE DAMREMONT."
-No. 2.

LETTER FROM ACIIMET lIADJI, BEY OF CONSTANTINE, TO
THE COMMANDER-IN-EIIIEF OF THE EXPEDITION.
" On the part of the most powerful our Lord and Master
El-Sid-el-Handjy-el-Ahmed Paella, to the Governor of Al-
giev, Commander-in Chief of the army—We learn tint you
have sent a messenger to the inhabitants of the town, who
has been detained by the principal chiefs, for fear Ile might
be killed by the populace, who follow their own igaorance.
The same chiefs have sent me this intelligence in order to
know my sentiments. If you really wish to make peace
cease your firing and restore tranquillity ; then we will
treat for peace. Wait 24 hours, in order that a person of
intelligence may come to you on my part, and by means or
a treaty we may bring to an end this war, which cannot
produce any good: Do not be alarmed for your
senger ; he is in safety in the town."
No. 3..
REPLY OF GENERAL VALLEE TO ACIINIET HEY.

"I see with pleasure that you are tlisposeti to make peace,