The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-04 00:00:00

REPOIT OY MARSHAL VALLEE TO THE MINISTER

OF WAR.
Algiers. Nov. 15, 1839.
Sir—Since my return to Algiers my attention has
been specially directed to the political position of Al-
tl giers, in conjunction with the Emir Abd el-h.'ader.
( During my provincial tour in Constantine, Abd-el-
Kader's treachery towards France, and his insatiable
I ,rebition, manifested for two years, were apparent be-
yond doubt.
i On my arrival at Setif, the Caliph of the Mejana in-
formed me, that for nearly a month Ben Amar, Ca-
liph of Ahd-el-Kader, overran the western portion of
the province ; that everywhere he had levied taxes, and
i luthorised hateful contributions ; arid that entire po-
pulations were compelled to fly before him, and to
take refuge in the mountains. Your Excellency
is aware that Ben Amar, repulsed by the French
troops, had taken refuge in the Desert, where he is,
perhaps, awaiting a fresh opportunity to penetrate
rote the Mejana. At Setif, as well, the chiefs of
: the different tribes have remitted to me soma let-
ters recently addressed to the poor populations by
the Emir to recall them to him. I forward to your Ex-
-1 cellency a translation of one of them. It demonstrates
the wish of the Emir to bring to bear against us, in
every part of the province of Constantine, religious
fanaticism. These attempts have happily up to the
ni escnt time been rejected by the good sense of the
I:k. • eople The fidelity of the chiefs assures to us still,
•
in this portion of our possessions, the continuation of
pod order established since the conquest.
After having passed the Biban, the advanced guard
f tae army succeeded in capturing two of Abd-el-
r:iader's couriers. The letters with which your Excel-
lency is acquainted, and of which besides a copy is here
annexed, could not leave any doubt of the probability of
the rupture of peace, and of the exertions of the Emir
to drag on the people to a holy war. These letters
caused me to make a forced march to be the more
readily in the centre of the colony, in order to be pre-
pared against any event that mieht take place.
Oa arriving at Algiers, I found the correspondence
of General Guehenauc, which I hastened to peruse, in
order to know the result of Abd-el-Kader's journey in
the western parts of the province. You know, Sir,
that since the peace, the Emir had constantly kept
himself aloof from that part of Algiers where his power
has been so long concentrated. With such views, his
journey was necessarily to conceal his policy.
The first effect of the arrival of the Emir in the
environs of Oran was the cessation of commercial re-
lations between the tribes under his authority, and
those parts occupied by us. His orders were so for-
mal, the punishment inflicted upon delinquents so ter-
r:lde, that the markets were no longer supplied. Gene-
ral Gueheneuc being of course alarmed, solicited me to
prohibit the exportation of corn. I issued a decree to
that effect, which more favourable circumstances after-
wards induced me not to proclaim. After Abd-el-
Kader's departure, the tribes resorted to their former
habits, and the markets of Oran and Mosteganem were
found to be better supplied at the time of the last
post.
Abd-el-Kader, during his tour to the west, showed
himself, both in words and deeds, very hostile to France,
When he arrived at Mascara, he had a conversation
is ,th M. Daumas, our consular agent, in which he de-
veioleed his sentiments, and which appear to denote that
lie has ;:he intention of giving trouble, and of ultimately

resorting to arms.
At Hemsem he dispersed the miserable population
of Coulouglis, which bad returned to that city. The
destruction of .Mechouar was distinguished by the com-
mission of horrible crimes. In approaching. Oran he
' uncle the greatest efforts to gain the Douairs and the
Smelas ; the fidelity of General Mustapha Ben Ismael
has prevented the desertion which the example of
Hemsem could not but encourage.
Arrived at the Habra Abd-el-Kader showed that he
i had the intention of conveying into the interior those
populations which had relations with us, the tribe of the
Aledjars in particular. This very one having shown
a disposition to resist, several of its chiefs were deca-
pitated, and further atrocities are anticipated in the west
against it.
However, Sir, in order to furnish you with a faithful
,;-scription of the position of the west, I herewith an-
nex some extracts of the correspondence of Lieutenant
General Gueheneue

"September, 30,

" Here is the last news I have received respecting
Abd-el-Kader. The Emir has left Hemsem, in order
t..) get nearer to us. He is expected to day or to-mor-
row in the plains of Moleta, which border partly on
;i,e lake of lleserghin. He is preceded by letters and
promises, iud wishes to put to the test personally, by
every means in his power, the fidelity of the Douairs
and the Smelas. Being aware of the match and inten-
!ions of Abd-el-lithier, General Mustapha had ordered
into the field his most: active and faithful chief. I am
also careful of accrediting the news which is in circula-
tion respecting Abd-el-I:ader's barbarous conduct to-
wards the Coulouglis of LTemsent—four chiefs strangled,
property pillaged, women violated.
" Our. 14.—Ahd-el-Kadcr has encamped for ❑bout
a dozen days (from the 29th of September to the 10th
or October) in the midst of the tribes which inhabit
from the Rio Salado to the Sig. The happy results of
this trip amongst the Arabs of ti:e west has, it is said,
inuch increased the Emir's pride, Fron► information
which has reached me, the tribes which border upon the
desert earnestly desired for war to commence. But we
have reason to believe that the Arabs who arc on our
side, without appearing to diverge from war, showed
themselves much more reserved upon this great ques-
tion. Respecting Abd-el-Kader, according to circum-
stances and his own interest, he holds a different opinion
for each, and it is difficult to find out what he really
means.

‘• Our markets have been absolutely deserted since
tile 4th till to-day (the 14th of October). Such a state
of things has, of course, from its origin, demanded my
serious attention."

(Extracts of letters from M. Daumas.)
" MASCARA, SEPT. 30.
" The Emir is still at Hemsetn. He has levied a
special contribution upon the Coulouglis, the Hadjars,
and the Jews of this city. He has exiled in the Tess
70 families. He has sent to Tasaraoua 50 families of
the Hadjars, and has given orders to disperse the re-
mainder of this unhappy people, as well at Frenda as
at Suyda, on the borders of the Desert, where he would
no further care about them. Hemsem presents the
aspect of a city entirely abandoned, and, if reports are
to be credited, the demolition of the Mechouar was to
be commenced. Notwithstanding the latter, Abd-el-
Rader talks about nothing but war, and promotes
fanaticism in the mosques by discourses, wherein we
Christians are very far from being well treated. He
has just made himself known to the Garabas, &c.
The Etnir has written to Hadj Labib (his Oukil at
Oran) to wind up speedily his commercial and money
transactions, and to send back to Mascara his heaviest
baggage, because when at Si he would get it again.
Now, is it for war? That isg what nobody knows. The
Oukil of Mostaganem is doubtful on it.
The Garrabas, the BenAmmer, the Medjaers,
"lave received orders not to frequent our markets any
longer, and no other interpretation can be put upon the
,itter than the appearance of war.
" I am just informed that the
Aga Miloud Ben Ar
j. ,ch, who was to go to Dabliara, has received orders
to place himself, with his army, upon the Habra."
CTOBE
" The Emir Ahl-el-Fader is at O
Helatß 7
since.
yesterday, under the prextext of an interview with
the son of the King. Ho has commanded around
him all the hachems of the plains of Eghres, Teem
mending them to conic well armed and mounted.
Everybody knowing here that his Royal Highness the
Duke of Orleans is at Algiers, no conjecture can bo
formed as to the motives which bars suggested these
measures.
" Last week there arrived from Morocco a hundred
charges of powder, some English muskets, sulphur, and
steel. Abd-el-Ka:eier assuming modestly the title of
Mu!ey-Abherrharoan, it results that it is the Emperor
of Morocco, with whom we are at peace, that wages
war against us."
In the province of Algiers the Emir's dispositions do
.ot appear the less hostile. Several recent cases prove
Lat the moment is at hand when we shall be called

upon to put an end to a situation which becomes every
every by more intolerable. I have often given an ac-
count to :,.our Excellency of the thefts and assassina-
tions committed upon our territory by the Hadjoutes,
crimes for which, notwithstanding all my reclamations,
I have never been able to obtain satisfaction. The
Bth of October, a portion of our tribes wished to re-
venge themselves upon the Razias, whom they had
subjected, and succeeded in carrying a considerable
flock of sheep from the Hadjoutes, at the head of
whom was a noted brigand named Beehir. This chief
penetrated into our territory, but the chief of batta-
lion Raphel, commanding the camp of the Ouad Lal-
leg, lent his aid to our Arabs, who brought back
their prize. Beehir succeeded on the 10th of No-
vember in entrapping in an ambuscade upon the Chiffa
the unfortunate Raphel, who was killed, with an
officer of the Chasseurs and two troopers, before the
infantry, which they had not the prudence to wait for,
could rejoin them. This unhappy event was followed
by other robberies, which has placed us in a state of
hostility upon the Chiffa, which seriously occupies my
attention.
In the mean time Abd-el-Kader had arrived at Me-
deab. A correspondence, the terms of which, at first
hostile, seemed to abate, was established between him
and me. I shall, by the next post, make your Excellency
aware of the results of the letter I have written, and
of those which shall reach me in the interim. It remains
for me to acquaint you with the line of conduct which
I propose to the Government to follow.
I desire to throw back war in order to consolidate
our establishments in the East (Constantine), and at
the same time I desire to unite all my means of defence
and attack, I shall make to the Emir every concession
consistent with the honour of France. For a long
while we have had to complain of the non-execution of
the conventions, but, I repeat, we require to augment
our influence. The only fear I have at this moment is,
that Abd-el-Kader has not yet comprehended the wisdom
of the measures adopted by the King's Government, and
that he wishes to create a holy war in respect of them.
The King may be convinced that all my efforts will be
directed to the prolongation of peace, which has been
for some time uncertain, but which I think still useful.
Respecting the crimes committed by the Hadjoutes, if
I succeed in expelling Abd-el. Kader from the province,
by creating for him new difficulties, I shall prepare for
him his punishment, which will be more severe than he
would expect. _

Receive, Sir, &c.,

The Marshal Governor-General of Algiers,
Count VALEE.
P. S. ALGIERS, NOV. 19, 1839.

The despatches of Lieutenant-General Gueheneuc,
of which the arrival has prevented me from sending
the present communication by the last courier, an-
nounce war as inevitable. Here is an extract from a
letter of General Gueneheuc, dated Nov. 15 :

" Captain Daumas is still here ; he was preparing to
return to his post five or six days ago, but the Arab
escort disappointed him. I have since heard that the
Oukil of Abd-el-Kader had caused his heavy baggage
to advance on Mascara, and that he expected every
moment letters from the Emir. At this conjuncture,
while intimating that Captain Daumas was about to
set out in a few days for Mascara, I have thought it
prudent to keep him till we know what to think of the
warlike projects attributed to the Emir.
" A sure informant, rrrived from the interior, de-
clares that a holy war has been preached in the Mosque
of Moscara, and that all good Mussulmans are com-
manded to purchase horses, arms, and military stores.
Abd-el-Kader was furious, the same individual relates,
on hearing of the escape of Leon Roche."
" I have myself seen and questioned M. Boche ; he
has declared to me that for a long time the Emir has
been resolved to make war upon us ; that he has never
had any intention of observing the convention of Tafna ;
that since his return from Ain-.Madi (February, 1839),
Abd-el-Kader preaches war everywhere, and that ac-
cording to every probability, he will attack us th;s
winter. The fact appears to me certain, and the King's
Government must henceforth seriously occupy itself with
a struggle which ought to decide the preponderance of
France in Algeria.
" Receive M. le Ministre, the assurance of my very
hie' consideration,
The Marshal Governor-General, Count VALLEE.

" October 22, 1839, at Setif.
" Praise be to God. (The seal of Abd•el-Kader
" TO THE HON. MAHMOUD BEN ZOUADI.

" The salvation, mercy, and blessing of God be upon
thee.

.4 Thou art a Mussulman from father to son. How
does it happen that thou ahandonest Islamism without
experiencing remorse % Thou knowest, nevertheless,
that I love and honour thee, and did nothing to offend
thee. Cease all intercourse with the impious, and the
protection of God and of his Prophet will be extended to
thee. I shall soon visit thee, if it please God. The Seid
Ahmed Razouck, the bearer of this message, will serve
as a medium of communication between us. He will
assure thee that thou shalt obtain from me whatever
thou desirest. Greeting."
I certify the translation to be correct,
The Principal Interpreter, Z ACC AR.
(Seized on the 29th of October, 1839, in the pos-
session of a native, who was repairing to Djigelly.)

" ADD SL-KADER TO T;IE SEIDS ABDEREAYMAN EL FOR-
/CAW, FORMER CHIEF OF DJIGELLY, AND EL MA-
CAAUD COUSMAA, AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE

COUNTRY.

" Know ye that we are no longer in peace with the
impious, and that we shall expel them from the coun-
try, with the help of God. We shall soon be with you,
hold yourselves ready for the holy war. God has
elevated us for the mere sake of causing his religion to
triumph, and to combat his enemies, who adore several
gods. The Mussulmans must be like thorns in the
eyes of the Christians. Greeting."

" ADD-EL-KADER TO HUSSEIN BEN ABDERRAKMAN.
" Your letter reached us, and we learned that you
had left your country on account of the impious. May
God exterminate them You are in distress, and you
express a wish to see us. You must have patience :
God will soon relieve you, for peace no longer exists
between us and the Christians. War is the only al-
ternative left, and we shall harrass them on all sides,
with the aid of God. Hold yourselves ready, and unite
all the Mussulmans, for we shall soon be with you. Let
us but drive the Christians from your country, and you
may then return to it, for God has always promised us
victory.
" October 17, 1839."
I certify the translation to be corect,
The Principal Interpreter, ZACCAR.

MARSHAL VALLEE TO THE MINISTER OF WAR.

" ALGIERS, Nov. 24, 1839.

" Monsieur le Ministre,—The events foretold in rey
despatch of the 15th of November have come to pass.
Abd-el-Kader has commenced the war ; he has suc-
ceeded by means of his preachin;s during the last six
months, to stir up a portion of the natives placed under
our domination. Within these three days he has caused
our advanced posts to be attacked, and hereafter France
can only obtain by the force of arms satisfaction for the
numerous grievances which the system of policy pursu. d
for the last two years in Africa has had for its object to
attenuate or redress by peaceal)le means.
" I had written, on my return to Algiers, to the Emir.

to comp Lin of his encloachnients on the Kalifats. I
received, a few days afterwards, a letter from
Kader, breathing irritation and hostile designs. I re-
plied to him with calmness, and he himself', either
through cunning, or because he st;11 hesitated, wrote me
in such a manner that I could not conceive the rupture
to be imminent. But he has been long intent on war.
He merely wished to gain time in order to assemble his
horsemen, and on the OtII of November I received the
letter annexed.

" On my side, I had taken the necessary steps to be
prepared for the struggle. The line of the Chiffa, and
that of the Oued-Kaddara, had been reinforced ; large
magazines had been established on different points, and,
as my intention was to remain at first on the defensive,
I hail recommended everywhere the utmost circum-
spection. Unfortunately, the ardent courage of some
officers prevented them from complying strictly with
my instructions.
" The European and native population in the plain
ought necessarily to excite my solicitude in the highest
degree. The army could not protect all the points oc-
cupied by the colonists and Arabs, and was obliged to
order all the inhabitants to retire under the protection
of the camps. I had, at the same time, an under-
standing with the colonists who possess stone houses; I
placed arms and ammunition at their disposal, and
sent soldiers in various directions to participate in their
Lefence.

---------
" I could not expect to ward off all misfortunes by
those measures. The Arabs, particularly, whose care-
lessness is so well known, should necessarily suffer from
their want of foresight.
On the 17th and 18th some attempts made by the
Hadjoutes were vigorously repelled ; our soldiers ob-
tained a success, which filled them with too much con-
fidence.
" On the 00th of November, at the very moment
when Adb-el-Kader apprised me of his resolution to
wage war upon us, his troops crossed the Chiffa. The
commander of Bouffarik unfortunately sent out, about
the same time, two convoys frcm the blockhouse of
Mered and the camp of Ouad Lalleg, and only gave
thirty men as an escort to those convoys. They were
attacked within a league of Bouffarick, each by 1,000
Arabs. The commander of the convoy of Mered
formed his waggons into a square ; his soldiers defended
themselves vigorously behind them, and afforded time
to the garrison of Bouffarick to come to their assistance,
The commander of the detachment alone perished ; he
rve,caa,s,ilsbV,erhodeuliohinalt musket ball,
eibnrat
001 lf,
tthwhele, killeditee.ohownri;o him. The convoy
le" skillful, and perished with hisy ofen?irueaddeLtattailleigrp:o.at:
He must have either been taken by surprise, or wanted
presence of mind, for he did not make a rampart of the
waggons for his men. His detachment was accordingly
cut to pieces, and when the column which marched'

THE StIN, 140

out of Bouffarick, on hearing the report of the musketry,
arrived on the field of battle, the Arabs fled, carrying
with them the mules of the convoy.
" This misfortune, which ought to have rendered
our officers more prudent, unfertunately had net
that effect. On the olst a column of 1,500
mounted Arabs passed the Chin in the mern-
ing. General Duvivier was watching their move-
ments from the superior camp of Belidah, when the com-
mander of the camp of Oued Lalieg incautiously marched
against them at the head of about 200 infantry, and
committed the still greater imprudence of disseminating
those men as sharpshooters in the plain. The Arabs, who
were far superior in force, attacked them with the utmost
vigour. The French commander endeavoured to form
his men into a hollow square and retreat on the camp,
but this movement, executed with indecision, was at-
tended with still more fatal consequences ; they were
completely overpowered, and 105 officers and soldiers
remained on the field.
" The artillery of the camp opened its fire on the
Arabs the moment they came within reach, and made
considerable havoc k among the dense ranks of the as-
sailants. At one time 20 horses were seen wandering
about without their riders, and the remains of the French
detachment were enabled to re-enter the camp. The
Arabs then directed an attack against one of our block-
houses, but, received with a lively fusillade, they re-
crossed the Chiffa.

" On the side of the east a column of the enemy de-
bouched on the 20th by the mountains of Beni Moussa.
The garrisons of the camps of the Aracht and the Arba
marched against them, and protected the retreat of the
inhabitants, who sought refuge in the camps and in the
fortified houses. A carbineer and a colonist were killed
on that day. More to the east some cattle were cap-
tured, and three colonists who offered resistance to the
marauders were brought off prisoners. In the moun-
tains, the tribes residing on the French territory were
plundered, several men lost their lives, and many fami-
lies were compelled to emigrate.
" My despatches, dated yesterday, inform me that
the enemy has retired on all points.
" I have given orders to the different administrations
to assist all the sufferers. The colonists, who called for
arms and ammunition, received supplies of both, and
they are everywhere engaged in putting their houses in
a state of defence. The Arab tribes have taken refuge
under the protection of our camps ; those of the west
are under the camp of Bouffarick. In the east, the
Arabs have lodged their families in safety in the Fort
de l'Eau. The Oned Zeitoun are in the redoubts of
Boudouaou, and their families under the protection of
the camp of Foudouk.
" Lieutenant-General Rulhieres, whom I sent to
Bouffarick, has organized, by my order, a flying column,
composed of 400 cavalry, 2 pieces of artillery, and 1,500
infantry, which is now manmuvring between Belidah,
Coleah, and Bouffarick. I recommended him to act
with extreme prudence, and with a respectable force.
I am now forming, at the Maison Carree, a second fly-
ing column to operate against the enemy in the east.
The defence of the camps of Salel is secured, and the
militia has been called out by the authorities in all the
districts in which the European population is most nu-
merous ; in a word, the people are everywhere in a con-
dition to defend themselves.
When the troops shall have rested and been rein-
forced, and the weather shall be more favourable, I
mean to chastise the Hadjoutes, our most skilful as well
as our most ardent enemies."

The Marshal Governor-General of Algeria,
Count VALLEE.
The next is the document above alluded to :
" Praise be to God.
" FROM SAID lIADJI ARD-EL-KADER, WHOM GOD AIDS
AND RENDERS VICTORIOUS, TO HIS EXCELLENCY
OF ALGIERS, MARSHAL VALLEE.

" Salvation, mercy, and blessings be upon him who
follows the truth. Your first and second letters have
reached us. We have understood their contents. I

have already written to you that all the Arabs of Beni-
Hieznass as far as the Kaf were agreed, and that they
have no other words to utter than the holy war. I
have employed all my efforts to change their ideas, but
nobody will consent to the duration of tha peace. They
are all agreed to commence the holy war, and I can find
no other means of being faithful to our dear law which
prescribes it, than to listen to them. Thus Ido not be-
tray you, and inform you of what really is. Send back
my Oukil of Oran, in order that he may return to his
family. Hold yourself prepared to see all Mussulmans
commence the holy war against you, for if anything
happens I will not be accused of being a traitor. lam
pure, and never shall anything proceed from me contrary
to the integrity of our law.
Written Monday evening, the Ilth of the Rama-
dan, 1255, at Mcdcah, preserved by God (18th No-
vember, 1839.)
" The King, when I wrote to him, caused it to be
replied, that all things were in your hands, whether in
pence or in hatred. I and all believers are inclined for
hatred. Hold yourself warned, and reply as you please,
for the words are with you, and with nobody else."