The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-06-08


The victors seized the horses that were still
tit tor service, pillaged the dead and wound
ed, and then begun to cut off their heads
and put them into sacks, which they had
brought expressly for the purpose. My
situation was not very enviable. In the re-
giment OF Seeker we in general understood
| the Turkish language. | heard them en-
courage each other to finish the business be-
fore any succours should arrive, and not
leave single ducat behind, adding, that
there ought to be two hundred. Hence it
appears that their information must have
been very accurate. Whilst they were pass
ing over me, while legs, arms, and balls were
flying over my head, my horse received one,
which caused him to make convulsive mo-
tion. My leg was disengaged, and Instant
ly conceived the idea of throwing myself, if
possible, among the reeds Of the morass. I
had observed that several of our men who
had attempted it were taken ; but the firing
had slackened, and the darkness inspired
me with hope. had only twenty yards to
go, but had reason to apprehend that /
should sink in the morass. I nevertheless
leaped over men and horses, knocked down
more than one of the Turks, who extended
their arms to catch me, and made several
blows with their sabres; but my good for
tune and agility enabled me to reach the
marsh. sunk in first no higher than my
knees; in this manner | proceeded about
twenty PAGES among the reeds, and there
stopped with fatigue. heard Turk ex-
claim, an inhdel has escaped let us look
for him 1t is impossible he can be in
the morass,' replied the other. know not
whether they continued their conversation,
but | heard nothing more; tainted away
with the loss OF blood, and in this state re-
rnained several hours; for when / came to
myself the sun was already high.
| 81 had sunk into the morass up to the
waist; my hair stood erect when recol-
lected the image Of the night, and the Goth
OF August was one of my first ideas. count
ed my wounds, which were eight in number,
but none OF them dangerous /; they were Civ
en- with sabres, on the arms, the breast, and
the back. AS the nights were very cold in
that country, I wore very thick pelisse,
which deadened the blows. / was, howev-
er, extremely weak listened the Turks
had been long gone. From time to time l
heard the groans of wounded horses ON the
field Of battle as to the men, the Turks
had taken care of them.
81 attempted to extricate myself from
the place in which then was and this
accomplished in about an hour. The foot
steps had left behind me on entering, gui-
ded me out again. Though war with the
! Turks blunts the edge of sensibity, felt
an emotion Of fear, when cast my eyes be-
! yond the reeds. | however advanced-my
eyes were directed towards the scene of
massacre but words are inadequate to ex-
press my terror, on feeling myself suddenly
seized by the arm. | turned my head, and
beheld an Arnaut, six feet high, who had
come back to see if he could pick up some
/ 1ttNr~
disappointed. addressed him in the Turk
I ish language: Take my watch, my money,
my uniform, but spare my ife.' 'All those
belong to me, said he, and your head into
the bargain He Immediately united the
string Of my hussar cap, and then my era
vat | was unarmed, and incapable of de-
Tending myself; at the slightest movement
he would have plunged his cutass into my
bosom | threw my arms round his body,
| supplicatng his compassion, whilst he en-
deavored to uncover my head. Have coub-
passion on me- said !. my family is rich;
make me your prisoner, and you shall have
a large ransom 1t will be too long to wait
for that replied he only hold yourself
still that may cut; : and he was already
taking out my shirt pin. Meanwhile hung
round him; /; he did not prevent me, because
he relied OH his weapons and even, per-
maps, iioih d iholtVt OI compassion, WHICH
was not strong enough to counterbalance the
hope of a ducat. While he was disengaging
my shirt pin, felt something hard at his
girdle. 1t was an iron hammer. He again
repeated, Hold yourself STILL
"These would have been the last words
should ever have heard, had not the hor-
ror of such a death inspired me with the
idea of seizing the hammer: he. did not per-
ceive what l was doing, and already held
my head in one hand and his cutlass in the
other, when, disengaging myself by sud-
den movement, gave him blow on the face
with the hammer, with all my strength.
The Arnaut staggered repeated my blow,
and he fell, at the same time dropping his
weapon. 1t is unnecessary to add, that T
seized it, and plunged it several times into
his body. ran to ouradvanced posts, whose
arms | perceived glitterng in the sun, and
at length reached the camp. Our people
Stunned me as they would spectre. The
same day was attacked with violent fe-
yer, and conveyed to the hospital.
9. In six weeks recovered from NV fever
and wounds, and rejoined the army. On my
arrival, the gipsey brought me her Tokay:
and | was informed that, during my absence,
different circumstances had come to pass
exactly as she had foretold, and had procur-
ed many consultations and many legacies.
All this was very extraordinary.