The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-12-23 00:00:00

FOREIGN ISTTELLIGENCE.

. FRANCE.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE EXPEDITION TO CONSTANTINE.
• (From the Moniteur.)
BONA, Dec. I.—l had", the honour of informing you, before
the departure of the expedition, how much difficulty 1 had in
collecting at Bona the troops and stores which contrary winds
and storms had dispersed in all directions. While the troops
embarked suffered from being kept so long on board, abundant
rains were falling at B ma; 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 1 had succeeded in assembling. The weather
having become Fine on November 12th. 1 lett Bonaon the 13th,
and set out on my march against Constantine, with 7,000 men
i-if all arms. The army had scarcely settled at its first Invonack
when the rain fell again with great violence, and the small rivu-
let, upon the border of which we were encamped, having soon
become a torrent. I could not get the ti-ops over it till mid-day
on the 14th. At this hi.ar, the sun having reappeared, we were
encamped at .111ouhelfa, and on the 15th, after having passed,
not without great difficulty for the baggage, the Col de Mourard,
we arrived at Cuc inn, and I made the army encamp on the left
bank of the Seynnu,e. There are at Guelina numerous ruins of
o,cl Roman buildings, end particularly of the ancient citadel,
which were in-a sufficiently good condition to establish there a
unlit pry 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; unable to go
on to Constantine. 'l'he 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 Seybouse. The shores being
very steep, the engineers passed the night in establishing rails,
and. clearing the ford, which was encumbered by enormous
stones. . _

Ou the 17th I effected the passage, which occupied a great
deal of time, and about 4 in the afternoon we reached the fa-
mous summit over which the Cal de Raz el Akba is passed, and
which is called by the Arabs "the Cut-throat Pass." Ruins
stilt remaining on the tops of all the smaller hills attest that
the Romans erected at distances of half a league from each
othet 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 difficulties we had to encounter. While the army
passed the night at the foot of the mountain at Akbet el 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 pa'Siing the Col without losing any
part of` the materiel .our army.• On this day, the 18th. the
• troops etiCarnped in the territories of the tribe of Ouled Zenati,
a league beyond the Col of Raz el Akba. Thus far while the
weather was fav;iurable we marched through a friendly
.and
pacific people. The Arabs.cultivated their fields, and the nu-
merous flacks and herds were sometimes even on the road by
which we were passing. We were then only two days' march
from Constantine.
.On the 19th we encamped at Raz Oned
Zenati, and here commenced the most cruel, unexpected, and
unparalleled hardships. We were in the most elevated region,
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 Constantihe, and yet began to de-
spair 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 because excessive; many
of the men •had their feet frozen, and many perished in the
night; for since we left Raz el Akba there was no more fuel to
be obtained. In fine, the baggage—the horses to which were
doubled and trebled—joined us, and we crossed, on the 21st, the
Bon Mezroug, one of the tributary streams of the Oued Ram-
mel, which, increased by. the torrents, had overflowed its banks.
The intently were np to their waists in water, and twiny of them
Would have perisned, 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
honrs afterwards we were in position under the walls of Con-
stantine, The. baggage. of the administration, however, was left
about two leagues in the rear, fast bound in the mud, but mak-
ing every effort to join us. . . .

Constantine 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
Oued Hammel, presents, as a scalp and counterscarp, a per-
pendicular rock, equally unassailable by bombardment or un-
dermining. The plateau of Mansoura has communication with
the town-by a verls, narrow bridge, terminating at a douhle gate-
way, of great stiength, and well defended by musketry from the
surrounding houses and gardens.
Under the circumstances in which we were placed I had no
leisure to invest the place regularly. I, with the troops of Gen.
Trezel, was in occupation of the plateau of Mansoura. I had
directed the brigade of the vanguard to take possession of the
hillocks of Koudiat 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 con-
vey 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
that hoStilities , commenced ; they were announced to' ns
by the firing of twti 21-pounders, directed against our artil-
lery, and by the red flag of the Afabs which was mounted on
the principal battery of the place. The Bey Achmet had not
ventured to shut himself up in Ciinstantine, and had confided
the defence of that town to his lieutenant Ben-Haissa. As he
placed no dependence upoir the inhabitants, he had introdnced
into the town and garrison betiveen 1,200 and 1,500 Turks
and Kabyles, who were resolute.), determined to defend the
place. After crossing the Oued-Raintnel, the Vanguard brigade
advanced apart, the heights, 'which, though defended by the
Kabyles„, who issued. in considerable Rote from the place, were
successively carried by our troops. The latter established their
positron under the guns of the Arab's; whilst 1 disposed env
artillery, the fire dr which I directed against the gate of El-
Cantata during the whole of the,22d. Throughout that darthe
vanguard brigade alsO fought must gallantly against the com--
birred farce of the Arabs and. the Turkish infantry, 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 horses to extricate the lashings of the grins
from the mire in which they were imbedded, but the task was
impracticable.... I then acceded to the suggestion of the military
intendant, who proposed 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 starting, under the escort
hf a. half battalion, we, were apprized that a portion of the 62d
Regiment, which had accompanied 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 deprived us of a
portion of our resources.
The weatheir 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 hack with the army without further delay. The first
gate hotel ed by the artillery was carried, and if our engineers
could only succeed iu 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
sapt,ers and the companies that were to follow them. I'he en •
stineers„who had remained behind with that part of the wag-
. guns, having arrived at S o'clock in the evening, I ordered
Colonel Lemercier to prepare to teconnoitre the state of the
gate of
.El-Caigara, in order to blow up every ota it that might
remain atanding, and-to force a passage for five picked corn-
panics 'of the-59th and 63d regiments, which I placed under the
.orders Of,ray aideAe-camp, Colonel de Rance. These instrue-
tions were bat slowly'executed by the engineers, who were ex-
hausted With fatigue, having passed 36 hours in the mire without
firttor rest. The gate was reconnoitred only a short time before
lay-break, and the engineers required the following day to
,make the necessary preparations for the operation.
. On the 231,-while the artillery continued to batter the town,
the vanguard brigade was vigorously attacked, hut the enemy
was defeated on every point, our cavalry cutting down a great
portion of the Bei's Tuittish -infantry. The chef d'Esradron
Toriariv, directed this charge in'the most brilliant manner, and
througbout the whole of the campaign gave constant evidence
of his courage and determined coolness. On our side we were
vigorously driVen back by the 59th regiment of the line, which
covered our head-quarters.
In the hopes 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 EI-Cantara, was to
be under the direction of. Colonel Lemercier: the second, on
the side of Kotoliat-Ati, was to be attempted by the troops of
the vangUard. On the approach of night General Tiezel him-
self poSted the 59th and 63,1 regiments, which were to second
the engineers. Colonel Lemercier ordered his men and his
materiel to advance under the orders of Commandant Morin,
and Captains Hackett and Huy. The garrison immediately
commenced and kept up a•brisk fire. An injudicious order for
the advance of the free cainpany of the Bougia, which was at
the head of the column, threw into disorder the sappers, who
had just commenced their labours. Our losses were consider-
able, and the men who' carried the ladders were killed or
wounded. Captain fitly, the engineers, had his leg and
wrist shattered, and 1-leenral Trezel; who exposed himself to
the hottest of the file to encourage and rally his troops, was
felled to the_ ground by a ball -which struck hint in. the neck.
Colonel Lemercier insisted upon-the necessity of abandoning
the attack and withdrawing the troops, and immediately gave
orders to that effelit.
The itttarlc nir-Ittradiat-Ati 'Was 'equally Unfortunate, and led
to the loss of several brave officers amongst whom was Captain
Grand; of the. Engineers, an officer of the highest promise, and
Commandant Richepanse. Lieutenant-Colonel Duvivier on
this occasion gave fresh proofs of his bravery and skill. Lieut.
Bertrand, of the Artillery, who was wounded, also displayed the
greatest courage and energy.
The attempts which itwas incumbent on us to make previously
to our retreat having failed, I judged it advisable to profit by
the remainder' of the night ;to assemble the army and to make
every preparation to march.. I accordingly sent Colonel de
Rance to the vanguard brigade to give immediate orders for
breaking up its encampment, and fur its recrossing the ()tied-
Hammel before day-break, in order that it Might take the posi-
tion which 1 occurr;ed. This movement having been promptly
and successfully executed, I pointed out the order in which tie
different corps 'were to station themselves, and the army having
commenced its march with all the baggage and the artillery, we
encamped at Soma.
On the first day the retreat was extremely difficult, as the
entire of the garrison and, a number of mounted Arabs attacked
us, and particularly our rear-guard. with the most determined
pet severance. But the 63,1 Regiment, and the battalion of the
2d Light Infantry, under the Commandant Chattgarnier sup-
ported by the mounted African Chasseurs, repulsed every at-
tack. occasioned much loss to the enemy, and kept them in
check. At a moment of so much difficulty Commandant Chan-
gamier coveted honself 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, he inspired such confidence into his battalion, formed
into a square, that at a moment when he most warmly attacked
he made his men shout Vire le Roi! with such animation that
the Arabs were astounded, and made a sudden turn to the half
face, within 21) yards of two of the fronts of the square, both of
which fired upon them, and three of the fronts were soon strewed
with men and horses killed. Capt. Tsloliins, my orderly officer,
who at this critical minute had taken an older from me to the
Commandant Changarnier, 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
valiantly imitated, particularly at the passage of the Seybouve
and at Medjazsel-Amar. by Lieutenant-Colonel Duvivier, Corn-
mandaut of the African Battalion, and the Free Corripauy 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 .uight at Sidi l'alutatn.