The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-07-20

4
cha.
ZANTE, MAY 9.
Private correspondence.-''I gave you,
in one of my preceding letters all the
details of the enterprise of the Egyp-
tians in the south of the Morea, to the
18th of April, inclusive. informed you
then, that lbrahim Pacha, son of Me-
hemet Ali of Egypt, marked his first pro-
ceedings with desolation. After having
burned the villages of olives, which had
been abandoned by the inhabitants at
his approach, he prepared to march or-
ward to take Nayarin, weak fortress,
which was then guarded only by seven
hundred Greeks. He had scaling lad
ders made, to carry it by assault, and
entrusted this part of the expedition 10
Col. Seiye, renegade, while he him.
self advanced with his army, dragging
his heavy artillery, commanded by some
European vagabonds, and followed by
pioneers placed under the orders of en-
gineers. Having arrived before Nava-
rim, he pro6led by the darkness of the
night 10 make his preparations for an
assault, on the success of which he de-
pended so much, that, in an intercepted
letter addressed 10. his father, he an
nounced to him without hesitation, that
the conquest of the PeIoponnessus was
at hand-on which account rejoicings
were made at Smyrna and Constantine
| pie. The Greeks, informed of the de-
signs of their enemy, suffered him to adj
vance, make his preparations, place bis
scaling ladders, aud did not begin TO fire
gpnn the barbarians until they reached
tne parapet. In a moment the terror
became general-the cannon were load
ed with canister shot The firing so
completely crushed the assailants, that
very few of them returned TO their Pa
cha to acquaint him with their defeat
AT the foot of the ramparts were more
than four hundred Egyptians, negroes,
and strangers, killed, or struggling with
death, for the Turks were not able 10
take away any Of their wounded.
lbrahim, furious at this defeat, order
ed second assault for the next morn
hing, which was Easter, and which the
Greeks were preparing to celebrate
with the suitable solemnities. During
the night, a Greek officer, who occupi-
ed the island of Sphacteria, with seven
hundred men, sent good reinforcement
OF troops to the garrison of the place. -
Four Hylriot vessels, completely equip
ped in warlike manner, landed great
part of their marines and soldiers, and
the Turks having made furious attack,
were received by well kept up FIRE,
and very few escaped the carnage
Those who were made prisoners were
carried to Navarin, and became the
sport CT the Greeks, who have since
embarked them ON board ships to serve
under the sailors as slaves.
lbrahim, convinced that il was i'm
possible to succeed in third assault,
began The siege, by causing three bate
riss TO be formed within half gun shot
These fired so constantly, that "A breach
was made in three days, and one of the
fronts being broken, the scaling might
have been successful A decisive at
tack was now anticipated, but the Greek
garrison, which was now twelve hun
dred men strong, without suffering
themselves to be discouraged, labored
with so much success during the night,
that they filed up with bags of earth the
opening made BY the Turkish artillery.
Working night and day, they built case
mates, and the city assumed an aspect OF
defence, which seemed impossible, by
the activity of the Christians, who were
again TO conquer by themselves alone,
and to coDfouDd the plans that an enemy
had formed against them. Il was after
taking these measures Of safety that they
celebrated the funeral of John Mauro-
Michalis.
"The 23d Of April, eight thousand
Greeks, sent by the Senate, appeared
on the surrounding mountains. They
were commanded by Constantine Botza-
ris. The 24th, Peter Mauro-Michalis,
father of the young hero who died some
days before, arrived with three thousand
warriors from Laconia, and placed him
self under the orders Of Botzaris, as did
several captains who Joined the army