The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-19 00:00:00

FO.i.tEIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRANCE.

ritc. 16.--The Ministry of the. 22d of Feb.,
accused by the Doetrinaire press of having been niggardly
in inen, and delayed the expedition to Constantine:, replies
this morning in the Journal de Paris by the most formal
contradiction. That Journal says—" That the Ministry of
the 22d of. February had resolved on the expedition to
Constantino from the month of September. That the
number of men which it placed at the disposal of the Mar-
shal was much superior to that mentioned in the Ministerial
Journals. Lastly, that that Ministry was fully determined
not to refuse the Marshal any thing necessary to ensure the
success of the expedition, without diminishing at other
points the.force requisite to give a grand ensemble to the
military operations in ,Africa."

DEC. 17.—The Semaphore of Marseilles is the
first journal that ventures to mention the amount of our
loss of men in the affair of Constantine. " Our losses,"
it says, " amount to 2,000 men, among whom may be in-
cluded those who perished from fatigue, disease, and cold,
and those killed by the enemy."
The application of Mademoiselle Grisi to the Tribunal
was not what it appeared to be. She wished for a refusal
of her suit, and she has obtained it. Her marriage with
the young Gerard de Mercy, which took place five or six
months ago in the county of Middlesex, in England has
been declared valid, though it was not provided by the
usual public notices in France. M. de Gerande, King's
Advocate, explained that Mademoiselle Grisi being alarmed
at the apparent singularity of her marriage asked for the
opinion of the Court. The Court has given it to the
satisfaction of all parties, but it was not gratis, for M.
de Mercy, her husband, and his mother, are condemned
each to pay a fine of 500 francs, according to the French
civil code, which the young couple consulted too late.—
Journal du Commerce, Dec. 17.
PARIS, DEC. 17.—The Semaphore, received to-day, ex-
plains in a different manner the disorder occasioned in one
of the corps by the pusillanimity and cowardice of General
de Rigny. It says :—" What contributed to render the
rout of the army more complete was the want of succour
from the cavalry. General de Rigny, who commanded the
cavalry, being deceived by the appearance, mistook at a dis-
tance the tall and closely planted stems of the thistles of
Africa, surmounted with long white flowers for band of Be-
douins invested in their beurnuas and ordered a charge to
be made on this harmless camp ; the cavalry being once
engaged among these tall plants could not arrive in time to
relieve our troops, and attack the enemy. General de
Rigny has been deprived of his command. It is, however,
affirmed that his command has been restored to him in an
order of the day, in which the Marshal assigns his reasons.
The Duke de Nemours and the Governor are now in the
capital of the Colony."

This version of the Semaphore, if correct, would he so
far of advantage to General de Rigny, as it would clear that
officer in a certain degree of an infamous stain, and would
only leave him subject to the reproach of an incapacity for
which it is difficult to find a name.---Messager, Dec. 17.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE EXPEDITION TO

CONSTANTINA.
The llfoniteur of this morning contains the following offi-
cial Report from Marshal Clause', addressed to the Minis-
ter of War, dated Bona, Dec. Ist

" I had the honour of informing you, before the departure
of the expedition, how much difficulty I had in collecting at
Bona the troops and stores which contrary winds and storms
had dispersed in all directions. While the troops embarked,
suffering from being kept so long on board, abundant rains
were falling at Bona, and the different corps as they ar-
rived, not being able to recover themselves from the effects
of their voyage, I was obliged to leave in the hospitals 2,000
out of the 7,000 infantry I had succeeded in atsembling.
The weather having become fine on November 12, I left
Bona on the 13th, and set out on my march against Con-
stantina with 7,000 men of all arms. The army had
scarcely settled at its first bivouac when the rain fell again
with the greatest violence, and the small rivulet, upon the
borders of which we were encamped, having soon become
a torrent, I could not get the troops over till mid-day
on the 14th. At this hour, the sun having re-appeared;
we were encamped at Moulhelfa, and on the 15th,
after having passed, not without great difficulty for the bag-
gage, the Col de Mouard, we arrived at Guelma; and I
made the army encamp on the left bank of the Seyhouse.
There are at Guelma numerous ruins of old Roman build-
ings, and particularly of the ancient citadel, which were in
a sufficiently good condition to establish there a military
post, perfectly safe from the attacks of the Arabs. I took
advantage of this to leave, under a sufficient guard, about
200 men, who were already fatigued. by the march, and un-
able to go on to Constantina. The weather continued to be
favourable, and we resumed our route on the 17th at day-
break. We halted at an early hour at Medjaz Amar,
where we again met with great difficulty in crossing the
Seyhouse. The shores being very steep, the engineers
passed the night in establishing rails and clearing the ford,
which was encumbered by enormous stones.

" On the 17th I effected the passage, which occupied a
great deal of time, and about four in the afternoon
we reached the famous summit over which the Col de
Raz el Akba is passed, and which 'is called by the Arabs
the " Cut-Throat Pass." Ruins still remaining on, the
tops of all the smaller hills, attest that the Romans
erected, at the distance of half a league from each other,
numerous towers and forts, in order to secure the mastery
of this military point. Some of these ruins lead to a
conclusion that many of the grandees of Rome constructed
spacious and beautiful palaces in this picturesque country.
This pass has always been considered so difficult, that the
Arabs were convinced that I should never get the materiel
of the army over it. I had the mountain and the gorges
reconnoitred by several officers, and was myself six hours
on horseback, ascertaining personally the numerous difficul-
ties we had to encounter. While the army passed the
night at the foot of the mountain at Akbet al Achari, the
engineers, assisted by numerous working parties, undertook
to trace out a road by which, at six o'clock in the evening
of the 18th, we succeeded in passing the Col, without losing
any part of the materiel of our army. On this *day (the
18th) the troops encamped in the territories of the tribe of
Ouled Zenati, a league beyond the Col of Razel Abka.
Thus far while the weather was favourable we marched
through a friendly and pacific people. The Arabs cultivated
their fields, and the numerous Hocks and herds were some-
times even on the road by which we were passing. We
were then only two days' march from Canstantina. On the.
19th we encamped at Raz Oned Zenati, and here com-
menced the most cruel, unexpected, and unparalleled hard-
ships. We were in the most elevated regions, and during
the night rain, snow, and hail fell so constantly, and in such
abundance, that we were exposed to all the rigours of a
winter at St. Petersburgh, while the ground resembled in
the eyes of old officers the mire of Warsaw.

We were within sight of Constantine, and yet began to
despair of reaching, its walls. We, however, continued our
march on the 20th ; and the army, with the exception of
the baggage and "the rear guard, reached the Monument of
Constantine, where it was forced to halt. The cold be-
came excessive ; many of the men had their feet frozen, and
many perished in the night ; for sinch we left Raz el Akba
there was no more fuel to be obtained. In fine, the bagiago
--the horses to which were doubled and trebled----:jotned
us, and we crossed, on the 21st, the Bon Mt.lzroug, one of
the tributary streams of the Oued Rammel, which, increasd
by the torrents, had overflowed its banks. The infantry
were up to their wastes in water, and many of them would
have perished but for the cavalry, who saved them at the
risk of their own lives. Several of the draught horses were
drowned at this difficult passage. The army, however, suc-
ceeded in reaching the opposite side of the river, and in a
few hours afterwards, we were in position under the walls
of Constantina. The baggage of the administration, how-
ever, was left about two leagues in the rear, fast bound in
the mud, but making every effort to join us.
Constantina is admirably situated, and at all points,
except one, is wonderfully defended by nature. A ravine,
sixty yards wide, and of an immense depth, at the bottom
of which runs the Owed Rammel, presents, as a scarp and
countersearn, a perpendicular rock, equally unassailable by
bombardment:or undermining. The plateau of Monsora
has communication with the town by a very narrow bridge,
terminating at a double gateway, of great strength, and
well defended by musketry from the surrounding houses
and gardens.
Under the circumstances in which we are placed I had
no leisure to invest the place regularly. I, with the troops
of General Trezel, was in occupation of the Plateau of
Mansoura. I had directed the brigade of the vanguard to
take possession of the hillocks ofKoudiat Ati, and the
Marabouts and burying grounds opposite the gate of Er
Rahbah, and to blockade it without loss of time.
It was easy at a glance to perceive that the town was to
be attacked on this point, but it was also utterly impossible
to convey the field artillery to the spot, as it was already
buried up to the naves of the wheels on the platform of
Mansoura. Colonel Tournemine was unable to effect the
transport of two eight-pounders to the other position. It
was at that moment hostilities commenced ; they were an-
nounced to us by the firing of two twenty-four-pounders, di-
rected against our artillery, and by the red flag of the Arabs,
which was mounted on the principal battery of the place.
The Bey Achmet had not ventured to shut himself up in
Constantina, and had confided the defence of that town to
his Lieutenant, Ben Haissa. As he placed no dependence
upon the inhabitants, he had introduced into the town a
garrison of between 1,200 and 1,500 Turks and Kabyles,
who were resolutely determined to defead the place. After.
crossing the Oued Rammel the vanguard brigade
I.:javanced
upon the heights, which though defen`h"a icy the Kabyles,
who issued in considerable fe7-ce trona the place, were suc-
cessively carried by our troops. The latter established their
position under the guns of the Arabs,„ whilst I disposed
my artillerp the #ro of wklcll 4irce4ed against the gate

of EI-Cantara during the whole of the 22d. Throughout
that day the vanguard brigade also fought most gallantly
against the combined force of the Arabs and the Turkish
inantry, the latter having made a sortie from the gate
which we were unable to blockade, as we had no longer
3,000 men under arms. I sent some additional horse to ex-
tricate the lashings of the guns from the mire in which they
were imbedded, but the task was impracticable. I then ac-
ceded to the suggestion of the military intendant, who pro-
posed to me to send mules to accomplish the desired object,
but the plan could not be carried into effect, for, just as the
convoy was on the point of startim,,,-under the escort of a half
battalion, we were apprised that a portion ofthe 62d regiment,
which had accomplished and protected the lashings of the
guns, seeing the impossibility of extricating them, had
plundered the provisions in spite of the efforts of their
Colonel, staved the casks of wine and brandy, and thus de-
prived us of a portion of our resources.
" The weather was still horrible ; the snow fell in thick
flakes, and the cold was excessive. It became necessary
for me to take the place by storm, and, in the event of ill
success, to march back with the army without further
delay. The first gate battered by the artillery was carried,
and, if our engineers could only succeed in blowing up the
second, there was still a hope that we should be able to
penetrate into the town.

" I now made the necessary preparations for quartering
the sappers and the companies, that were to follow them.
The cngineers, who had remained behind, with part of the
waggons, having arrived at eight o'clock in the evening, I
ordered Colonel Lemercier to prepare to reconnoitre the
state of the gate of El Cantara, in order to blow up every
part of it that might remain standing, and to force a passage
for five picked companies of the 59th and 63d Regimnts,
which I placed under the orders of my Aide-de-Camp, Co-
lonel de Rance. These instructions were but slowly exe-
cuted by the engineers, who were exhausted with fatigue,
having passed thirty-six hours in the mire without fire or
rest. The gate was reconnoitred only a short time before
daybreak, and the engineers required the following day to
make the necessary preparations for the operation.
" On the 23d, while the artillery continued to batter the
town, the vanguard brigade was vigorously attacked, but
the enemy was defeated on every point, our cavalry cutting
down a great portion of the BO Turkish infantry. The
Chef d'Escadron, Torigny, directed this charge in the most
brilliant manner, and throughout the whole of the cam-
paign gave constant evidence of his courage and determined '
coolness. On our side we were also attacked, and by Ge-
neral Trezel's orders the Arabs were vigorously driven back
by the 59th regiment of the line, which covered our head-
quarters.

" In the hope of diverting the attention of the garrison, and
terrifying the inhabitants, I ordered two simultaneous attacks
for that night—the first, against the gate of El Cantara,
was to be under the direction of Colonel Lemercier—the
second, on the side of Koudiat-Ati, was to be attempted by the
troops of the vanguard. On the approach of night General
Trezel himself posted the 59th and 63d regiments, which
were to second the engineers. Colonel Lemercier ordered
his men and his makriel to advance, under the orders of
Commandant Morin, and Captains Ilackaott and Ruy. The
garrison immediately commenced, and kept up a brisk fire.
An injudicious order for the advance of the free company of
the Bougie, which was at the head of the column, threw into
disorder the sappers, who had just commenced their la-
bours. Our losses were considerable, and the men who
carried the ladders were killed or wounded, Captain Ruy,
of the engineers, had his leg and wrist shattered, and Ge-
neral Trezel, who exposed himself to the hottest of the fire
to encourage and rally his troops, was felled to the ground
by a ball which struck him in the neck. Colonel Lemer-
cier insisted upon the necessity of abandoning the attack
and withdrawing the troops, and immediately gave orders
to that effect.

'The attack on Koudiat-Ati was equally unfortunate,
and led to the loss of several brave officers, among whom
was Captain Grand, of the Engineers, an officer of the
highest promise, and Commandant Richepanse. Lieute-
nant-Colonel Duvivier on this occasion gave fresh proofs of
his bravery and skill. Lieutenant Bertrand, of the Artil-
lery, who was wounded, also displayed the greatest courage
and energy.

" The attempts which it was incumbent on us to make
previously to our retreat having failed, I judged it advis-
able to profit by the remainder of the night to assemble the
army and to make every preparation to march. I accord-
ingly sent Colonel De Rance to the vanguard brigade, to
give immediate orders for breaking up its encampment, and
for its recrossing the Oued liammel before daybreak, in
order that it might take the position which I occupied.
This movement having been promptly and successfully exe-
cuted, I pointed out the order in which the different corps
were to station themselves, and the army having commenced
its march with all the baggage and artillery we encamped
at Soma.

"On the first day the retreat was extremely difficult, as
the entire garrison and a number of mounted Arabs at-
tacked us, arid particularly our rear-guard, with the most
determined, perseverance. But the 63d regiment, and the
battalion of the 2d infantry, under the Commandant
Changernier, supported by the mounted African chasseurs,
repulsed every attack, occasioned much loss to the enemy,
and kept them in check. At a moment of so much diffi-
culty, Commandant Changernier covered himself, with glory
and attracted the admiration and esteem of the whole
army. Although almost surrounded by Arabs, charged with
great vigour, and losing a great many of his men, lie in-
spired such confidence into his battalion, formed into a
square, that at a moment when he was most warmly at-
tacked, he made his men shout Vive le Roi ! ' with such
animation that the Arabs were astounded, and marle.a sod-
den turn to the half-face within twenty yards of two of the
fronts of the square, both of which fired upon them ; three
of the fronts were soon strewed with men and horses killed.
Captain Moliere, my orderly officer, who of this critical mi-
nute had taken an order from me to the Commandant
Changernier, was in the midst of these brave men, and
took part in their brilliant resistance. Throughout this day
and those which followed, the battalion of the 2d Light
Infantry served in the rear-guard with the same distinction,
and was gallantly imitated, particularly at the passage of
the Seyhouse and at Medjaz-el-Amar, by the Lieutenant-
Colonel Duvivier, Commandant of the African batallion,
and the Free Company of Bugia.
" On the 25th we were encamped at Oued Talaga, still
repelling successfully the reiterated attacks of the Arabs.
" On the 26th the army halted for the night at Sidi Tam-
tam, and we began to perceive that the number of our ene-
mies had decreased considerably. At the moment when we
were breaking up this bivouac, the Arabs and Kabyles, as
usual, fell upon the rear-guard, with the hope of forcing it
to abandon some of its baggage or wounded men ; but the
African chasseurs made a brilliant charge, in which CP-eiaie
de la Tour Dupin, my Aide-de-Camp, and I,eutenants
Dree and Baichis, my.orderly officers, took 'a distinguished
part. Captain Morrice, of the chassei:cs, who commanded
one of the squadrons, anti who hs.lll in previous instances
made himself remarked, eft Lalf of the blade of his sabre
in the body of an Arab •
On the 27th 'we had to pass the difficult defile which
leads to the 'pass of Raz-el-Akba, and I ordered Colonel de
Itanf!:e to open the march at the head of two squadrons. The
cavalry executed this difficult task with the utmost courage
and ability, crowning the crests of the hills, and repulsing
or keeping at a distance the cavalry of the Arabs. We
at length passed the gorge of Raz-el-Akba, and at that
point the Arabs ceased to follow us, and disappeared al-
together. The Kabyles, having endeavoured to close this
passage on us, were charged at the summit of the gorge by
the Spahis, and many of the former were soon put hors ck
combat. They were afterwards dislodged by the infantry
from the woods in which they had taken up a position to
the right and left of the path traced by us, and were com-
pelled to make a precipitate retreat. On this occasion
Captain Macmahon, Aide-de-Camp to his Royal Highness,
and Lieutenants Baichis and Bertrand, my orderly offi-
cers, behaved most nobly. The latter had his horse killed
under him. We encamped at the foot of the hill on the
right bank off' the Seyhouse.
" On the 28th we completely succeeded in driving off
the Kabyles, some bands of whom occupied the summits of
the defile leading to Guelma, where we arrived early. At
Guelma I left the sick, who will recover more rapidly there
than at Bona, and with the Military Intendant and the artil-
lery I took all the necessary steps for rendering this place a
very important military post. It affords me much satisfaction
to have to make known to you the courage, patience, and oc-
casionally the resignation, of our young soldiers. In the
midst of so many sufferings, fatigues, and dangers, they
gave utterance to no complaint, and exhibited no symptom
of discouragement. The 63d and 59th Regiments of the
line, the 17th light infantry, the battalion of Africa, the
free company of Bugia, the battalion of the 2d light in-
fantry, and the artillery, constantly. and ably directed by
Colonel Tournemine, rivalled each other in zeal and bra-
very. When a part of the 62d pillaged the stores which
remained behind, Colonel Levesque did everything in his
power to put an end to the disorder. Colonel Bayer,
Aide-de-Camp of his Royal Highness, whom the Prince
placed under my orders, rendered me great service, and in
several difficult and perilous circumstances I entrusted him
with important orders : he had a horse killed under tnim.
Lieut.-Colonel Chabanne, already known in te 3d regi-
ment of Chasseurs, distinguished himself 'in repeatedly di-
recting the movements of that °':rps, as well as those of
some columns of infantry
M. Baudens, Surgeon-Major,
attached to the
12/iike deNemours, lent his zealous assis-
tance (m. 4.1410 field of battle, and under the enemy's fire, to
tieneral Trezel and the wounded of the 63d Regiments.
The Dukes of Morternarte and de Caraman, and M. de
Sainte-Aldegonde, whom a noble feeling of interest for
the country incited to take part in the campaign along with
our troops, frequently offered ine their services on occa-
sions of the greatest danger. All the officers attached to
my staff did more than their duty. Captains Maliere,