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

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

and we began to perceive that the number of our enemies had
decreased considerably. At the moment whe• we were break-
ing up this bivouack, 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 Captain de la Tour Dupin, my
aide-de-camp, and Lieutenants Dree and Baichis, my orderly
officers, took a distinguished part. Captain Morrice, of the
Chasseurs, who commanded one of the squadrons. and who had
in previous instances snade himself remarked, left half 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 ( ordered Colonel de Rance 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 re_pulsing 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 alt,,gether. The Kabyles, having
endeavoured to close this passage on us, were charged at the
summit of the gorge by the Saphis, and many of the former
were soon put hors de 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
compelled to make a precipitate retreat. On this occasion Cap-
tain Macmahon, aide-de-camp to his Royal Highness, and
Lieutenants Baichis and Bertrand, my orderly officers, behaved
most nobly. The latter had his horse killed under him. We
encamped at the foot of the hill on the right bank of the Soy-
house.
• • •

I have not yet been able to collect the reports furnished by
the cornmandess of corps • but as soon as they shall have reached
my hands, I shall make them the subject of a second despatch,
which I shall have the honour of addressing you by the next
courier, directing your attention to those who, among so great a
number, merit being particularly designated. I shall at the
same time make known to you the number of killed and
wounded. To conclude, the various corps of the expedition di-
rected their march upon Constantine without having ally act of
hostility to repress. During fifteen days they suffered under
fevers at Bona, which detained 1,800 men in the hospitals; and
near and around Constantine they were overwhelmed by rain,
snow, bail, and mud. The loss was inconsiderable from the fire
of the place and the enemy when they followed us upon Itazel
Akba ; whilst the Kabyles, who prevented themselves in order
to oppose our return, had more than 400 killed. The various
corps brought back all their artillery and ammunition waggons
which were not broken up; all the soldiers, whether enfeebled,
sick, or wounded, were assisted or transported along; and, in
short, a garrison has been established at Guelma, where every-
thing necessary for another expedition may be collected toge-
ther previous to its being carried into execution. I have given
orders to the Commandant de Rance to communicate to you all
the details which the limits of this report do not permit me to
enter on ; and I particularly direct my aid-de-camp to describe
to his Majesty the manner in which the Duke de Nemours par-
took of the fatigues and dangers of the army, and the lively and
enlightened solicitude he expressed for our soldiers under the
painful and difficult circumstances in which we found ourselves.
I have the honour to be, Monsieur le Ministre, your very
humble and obedient servant,
Marshal CLAUSEL,
Governor-General of the Possessions in the
North of Africa.
(From the National.)
13osta, Dac. I—The steamer Chimera, which is conveying to
France the intelligence of our disastrous expedition against
Constantine, will also bring you this letter, which has been
written under the impression of the disasters of our poor army.
The journals must have informed you that the advanced
guard, under the orders of General de Rigny, had left Bona on
the Bth. On the 13th the army commenced its march. We all
remarked that there was very little order in the disposition of
our columns, much confusion in the convoys' very sew means
of transport—such as waggons or beasts of burden, but particu-
larly a scanty supply of provisions. Imagine only 15 days'
rations to undertake an expedition 40 leagues in the interior, in
an unexplored country, and for the conquest of a city whose
resources and state of defence were completely unknown.
In the evening of the 14th the bad weather began. A very
cold wind set in from the north-west, which was soon followed
by a heavy rain, accompanied with hail and snow; in a few
hours we were up to our knees in the mud. These were the
first fatigues our troops had to encounter.
Notwithstanding this sad prospect, we continued our march,
and on the 16th the army, which had already left behind 160
stragglers, arrived at the camp of Clause), at the distance of about
20 miles from Bona. The bad state of the roads, and the rain,
detained for a short time a part of the expedition in that camp,
which had been selected by the Marshal as the point of depar-
ture. After a great deal of hardship, the slimy reached, on the
18th, the camp of Guelma, distant about 70 miles from Bona.
We then only had provisions for 10 days.
In the evening of the 17th an excessive degree of coldness
succeeded to the rain, hail at intervals, sometimes snow—such
was the state of the weather. It was not possible to commence
the march before the 19th, and on the 20th all the soldiers had
quitted the camp. Up to this time the army had encountered
no obstacle, excepting what arose from the inclemency of the
weather. Indeed, tribes of natives here and there approached
the troops, bringing with them provisions, and promising to
remain completely inoffensive. On the 20th and 21st the army
marched without meeting an enemy, or discovering any trace
of habitation or vegetation; it was not even possible to get
wood with which to make a fire and boil the soldiers' soup. On
the evening of the 21st the army bivouacked at the opening of
the defile of Mansour, about 20 miles distant from the camp of
Guelma, and consequently 110 miles from Bona (upwards of 30
leagues )
On the 22d the army penetrated into the defile. All traces of
the road were vow lost. The mud was frightful, the waggons
every moment sinking in it; and the surface was so undulated
that the troops could not see further than 10 feet before them.
It was here for the first time that a detachment of about 400
Arabs made their appearance, and began to fire upon the sol-
diers of our flank, decapitating all who became separated from
the corps. The too great distance of the columns from each
other, the difficulty experienced in marching over ground which
yielded at each step, and the cowardly conduct of a General
Officer, were the first causes of the disaster.
This General, a man of fashion, and not of war, affrighted at
the sight of this destructive conflict, abandoned his position.
Quitting the head of his brigade, he advanced to the ambulance
(moving military hospital,) crying out that the army was being
massacred; that-, Achmet was coming up with his troops, and
that it was necessary to return ; observing to all who chose to
listen Mars.Kbld,..nrPateSldun't"dif aseepab le.
which consisted of 57.1 waggons, a great number of mules and
horses, carrying with them 70,000 rations and the ambulance
loaded with the sick and wounded, was thrown into disorder.
The Arabs fell upon the convoy, massacred the men without
mercy, pillaged the waggons, and thus deprived the army of its
last resource. This took place at 4 o'clock in the afternoon of
the 22d. From that moment the army was compromised. To
return was impossible. The distance from the position then
occupied by the army to Bona was 35 leagues, and to Constan-
tine only 'live leagues. Jusseuf, too, had told us that the peo-
ple were waiting impatiently at Constantine to deliver to us the
keys of the city. The army continued its march with no more
provisions than what each soldier carried with him,—that is to
saw, four day's portion.
'We will here interrupt the regular course of this narrative, in
order to recur to the case of the General who had fled from his
post. When summoned before the Marshal, he flung himself
at his feet, supplicated him not to notice his conduct in the or-
der of the day, and to afford him an opportunity of seeking
' death in face of the enemy. "Sir," replied the Marshal, "you
gained your epaulettes in the drawing-room : that is still your
proper place, and not the army. You shall be mentioned
with dishonour before the whole army in to-morrow's order of
the day. Retire."
On leaving the Marshal's presence Colonel Boyer said to this
officer, " Go and let the enemy kill you, or slow your own
brains out." This wretched individual, incapable of any cou-
rageous act, went in search of M. Melcion d'Arc. and persuaded
him to intercede with the Marshal in his favour." " At your
solicitation," said the Marshal, " the name of the infamous
poltroon shall not be given in full length in the order of the day;"
and in point of fact the order of the day which I happen to have
read only contains the following announcement :—" I am happy
to be able to state, that in this struggle
pusillanimity and cowardice."
'1 he army consumed thirty hours in passing the defile ; on the
evening of the 23d all the troops had effected the passage of the
Iron Key. The army then bivouacked. The troops, worn out
with fatigue, enjoyed a short repose. On awakening, the sol-
diers were much astonished to find their coverlets more than
usually heavy. The snow had fallen during the time the soldiers
slept, and lay upon the ground to the depth of a foot. Nearly
60 soldiers were discovered to be dead from cold. Even the
horses fell victims to the inclemency of the weather, and were
cut up by the soldiers for food.
On the morning of the 24th the promised city was observable,
and the troops felt fresh vigour at the sight. Success was con-
sidered to he so certain that the order of the day indicated the
manner in which the entry into the city was to be made, and the
precautions which were to be observed for the preservation of
property. To reach it several fords, where the water reached
up to the horses' bellies, bad to be passed.
On the evening of the 25th all the necessary positions were
taken in view of the city. In order to reconnoitre the gates a
company of sappers, with artillery, went round the walls under
a shower of balls. Insults uttered in French—shouts at the fall
of every soldier—such was the reception we met with from the
inhabitants of Constantine. The city is large, fine, and com-
pletely fortified. It is defended by nature on one side, where
projecting rocks, surmounted by a strong and well-built wall,.
render it impregnable; on the other side, a large and deep
river serves as a fosse to it. A stone bridge placed over this
river had been destroyed. The city is commanded by a height
to the left, of a very rapid ascent; and the ground was so soaked
with rain that it required 48 horses to raise up a 12-pounder (a
six-inch howitzer,) intended to be used to effect a breach. From
this height the whole interior of the city was observable; it is,
like Algiers, built in the form of an amphitheatre, but six or
eight times larger; houses with roofs of tiles—in short, a city
quite in the European style.
The Marshal immediately perceived that a regular siege was
necessary, and that the force he had with him was far from be-
ing sufficient; but before retiring he was anxious to make an
attempt to carry the place by stratagem.
A part of the infantry swam across the river; and in the night
Colonel Duvivier burst open the gate at the head of a battalion,
and carried the faubourg. It was then thought that the troops
would enter the city immediately; hut a second enclosure was
observed ; it was only the barrier which had been passed, and it
became necessary to retrograde. In this coup de main, which
did not last an hour, 120 men were killed. General Trezel had
his neck pierced through by a shot. Colonel Duvivier received
two shots in his face, which proved mortal.
On the
2i
n a
6 th
frightfulth e number
degree, o f t h ea
n d
arrangements were made
wounded, and sick especiall)•,
increased
for retreating. The regiment of the Chasseurs formed the van.
In the morning of the 27th the Arabs, seeing our manceuvre,
came and massacred the unfortunate wounded soldiers, who
were left at their mercy. Become snore bold, the Arabs ap-
proached our sharp-shooter", and, seizing them by their belts,
flung them down the precipices. Every moment the troops were
squares, and sustain perpetual attacks.
For to ball, to form
For twenty-four hours the troops ci ha not a regular supply even
of horse flesh, and the provisions which they had carried with
them were almost entirely consumed.
The waggons, full of ammunition, were left behind, and plun-
dered by the Arabs. On this circumstance being known, a great
confusion took place in our ranks. The 2cl Light Infantry, then
formed into a square, bore alone the shot of the enemy, and thus
saved the remains of the army. From that moment (27th at
until the 28th in the evening, when the arm •re-entered
noon) was
the camp of Guelma, it was no longer a retreat, it a real
and complete rout,
All those who were unable to follow were mercilessly left be-
hind; the wounded were likewise abandoned. Captain Pexoni
by fatigue, asked him if he had
seeing a poor soldier overcome .
" h 1.
" C a p ta in, e rep ied, "in
not sufficient strength to proceed ?
an in off; but take my cartridges
instant my head will be cutcartridges, I
you!" As-
tonished would be sorry the enemy had them to fire against , _
at so much courage. the Captain alighted from his
lona to the
horse, placed the poor devil on it, and brought camp
of Guelma, having walked a distance of seven leagues on foot,
holding his horse by the bridle.
On the 29th the army reached the camp of Clauzel, and re-
entered Bona on the 30th
The :11arshal re-entered Bona at the head of 1,200 men only,

and the greater part of these were ill, or suffering under extreme '
fatigue and hunger. The remainder (forming the greater part)
had died on the road, been taken prisoners, or left at Guelma.
It is also stated that almost the whole of the artillery and bag-
gage were abandoned to the enemy, who from time to time at-
tacked the army on its retreat.
( From the French Papers of Monday.)
The Eclaireur de la Mediterranee states, that the French army
in Africa has lost 1,500 men, with two pieces of artillery, 13
waggons, and all the implements belonging to the engineering
department, amounting to 1,000 articles. A portion of the hos-
pital apparatus, a large quantity of arms, boxes of rampart
muskets, 50,000 cartridges, and most of the private baggage,
were likewise left behind.
M. de Ran 6, sent on a mission to the Minister of War by
Marshal Clausel, and M. de Moray, an aid-de-camp of General
Tread, arrived in Paris on Saturday night. The former was
received on Sunday morning, by the King, the Duke of Orleans,
the President of the Council, and the Minister of War.--Coar-
rier Francon.
The Council of Ministers held on Sunday lasted until six
o'clock in the afternoon. They have not, it seems, as yet been
able to come to an understanding on the question of Constan-
tine. It is the third time the subject was brought before the
Council without any result.—Messager.
The Minister of War received a letter dated the Ist instant
from General de Rignv, in which that officer demands that his
conduct in the expedition against Constantine be investigated
by a committee of inquiry.—Moniteur.
It is stated that Admiral Nlassieu de Clerval has already set
off for Toulo❑ with orders from the Minister of the Marine to
prepare three ships for conveying troops immediately to Africa,
and which will afterwards be followed by a much greater body
of forces. We are also informed that orders have been sent to
General Castellane, who has the command of the district of the
Pyrenees Orientates, to embark at Port Vendres for Bona the
Ist Regiment of the Line and the Ist Light Infantry.
The Siecle alludes to a report that Marshal Clausel's resigna-
tion of his post has been offered and accepted, and that the
Government of Africa is reserved for the Duke de Mortemart.
" The noble Duke," observes the Steele," has since his mission
to Russia been in high favour at Court, and the rumour now
circulated, if true, may explain the object of his visit to Algiers."
The Presse says Since a new expedition against Constan-
tine has been talked of, innumerable applications have been
made to the minister of war by officers of all ranks to serve in
it as volunteers. A strong indication of an advance towards
conciliation in political parties is found in the fact that among
these applicants there are a certain number of officers who be-
longed to the Royal Guard, and who have hitherto refused to
serve under the tricoloured flag."
The Messager gives the following additional particulars of
Marshal Clausel's expedition to Constantine, particulars which,
according to this journal, have been comrnanicated by an eye-
witness of the events to which they refer :—The disaster has
fortunately been less severe than was at first apprehended. Se-
veral of the men who were left behind have successively. arrived
at Bona, and accounts from Guelma state, that a certain nnin-
ber of soldiers have taken refuge in that place. The most ex-
travagant calculations of our losses in men estimate it at not
more than 1,200, including those killed by the enemy's fire,
those who died on the road from cold or want, and, finally,
those massacred by the Arabs. As to the materiel, all the equi-
pages, carriages belonging to the administration, and artillery-
waggons, are said to have been lost. Only a portion of our guns
remained on the road. Unfortunately the whole of the expe-
ditionary corps is in a most deplorable state, and nine-tenths of
the men who have returned to Bona or Guelma will, for a length
of time, be incapable of active service. The army displayed
more energy and resignation in its struggle with the enemy, the
inclemency of tha season, and hardships of overt/ description,
than could have been expected from the young soldiers of whom
the expeditionary corps was formed. The young officers and
non-commissioned officers behaved admirably. Every indivi-
dual at Bona renders full justice to the arrangements made by
the marshal during the retreat, and to the zeal, ability, and
firmness which he displayed; but, at the same time, the pre-
vailing impression is, that he was in the wrong to place implicit
confidence in the auxiliaries, and that he ought to have sent ca-
pable men, in whom he could confide, to reconnoitre the posi-
tion of Constantine, its real strength, that of its garrison, &c. It
is even asserted that the staff was furnished with no topogra-
phical plan of Constantine. Next to the Marshal, the officer
who most contributed to the safety of the army is Commandant
Changarnier, who, on the second day of the retreat, covered
himself with glory, at the head of his battalion of the second
Light infantry, and acquired an immense ascendancy, which
he preserved till the last moment, and which he used with the
utmost discernment for the good of the service."

COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CANADA.

The Quebec papers, which have been received to the 23d nit.,
mention that a large number of outward-bound vessels had been
for some days kept in port beyond the time that they had clear-
occasioned by the difficulty experienced in procuring men—a
dfficultv that is said to result from a species of " crimping"
plan adopted by lodging-house keepers, who inveigle men just,
or about to be, engaged, and indulge them in their dissolute
courses, and prevent their quitting until captains or owners
become answerable for their debts.
The Toronto papers, quoted in the Quebec journals, furnish
the first three days' proceedings of the Upper Canada Assem-
bly. A bill had gone into committee, providing that thereafter
" all members of the House of Assembly who should accept any
office under the executive government, except that of a magis-
trate or militia officer, should vacate their seats in the assem-
bly." It was discussed at considerable length. The appoint-
ment of a committee of privileges relative to the late Grenville
election caused much angry discussion and strong opposition,
which eventually prevailed on the ground, that, as petitions
from that county against the return of Messrs. Norton and
Wells were daily expected, ample time ought to be afforded for
their arrival.

ST. ANNE'S WARD.
r HE ANNUAL DINNER of ST. ANNE'S CONSER-
VATIVE ASS9CIATION will take place on TUESDAY,
the al January next, at Mr. Bohlen's, Richmond-row.
JAS. PARKER, Esq., President.
'rickets for the Dinner ss. each. may he had at the Bar nntil
the 31st instant. Dinner on Table at 1-lalf-pas,t Five o'clock.