The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-05-31
MJSSOLONGHI.


A history of the siege of Missolcnghi, has
been published at Paris. by M. Auguste Fa-
bre, French writer of considerable celeb
rity. 1t contains number of most inter-
esting details with respect to that memora-
BILE event The bravery and selt-devotion
of the unfortunate Greeks are painted with
very mastery pencil. 1t is well Known
that after having been disappointed in all
their hopes of aid, feeling their ramPartA
crum5ling under their feet, seeing their IA
theirs, their wives, and their children, per-
ishing by famine, the garrison sent c"mmu-
nication to the only corps that was able to
give them any succour, that OF AairaskaKip
requiring it to attack the rear of the enemy
an certain day, and to announce its arri-
val by general discharge of musketry, at
which moment the garrison would make q
sorte, and endeavor to cut their way thro'
the besieging army. On the appointed day.
the population of Mssolonghi was assem-
bled, There remained three thousand SOL
diers, (includng those who, although SICK
or wounded, were capable OF marching VITA
the assistance of their comrades,) thou
sand artiGccrs or other men unused to hight
ing, and about five thousand women and
children. The Grecian women who fancleo
themselves strong enough to brave the IA
tigue and danger OF the sortie, dressed them-.
selves IN mems clothes. in order that II tney
were unable to escape the enemy, theysl
might be mistaken for soldiers. and put to
death instantly. Many ofthem hung around
their necks, and their children, as protect
, ing talisman, the revered relics of their an
4 cestors; and wore concealed daggers, with
which either to strike the enemy, or secure
their not being taken alive. Those whose
weakness forbade them to follow the trospss
E Joined the desperately wounded, the sicks
=. -. the aged, and the infants, resolved to bury
themselves in the ruins of the town. 1t was
a terrible moment.
Almost all the families Of Missolonghi
we're divided into two parts; those who re"
manned in expectation of death. and those
who were OF the point of rushing forth to
!, vengeance and to new dangers. The hardi.
est warriors were subdued to tears; and the
bravest hearts quailed at the approaching
: separation All these preparations we're,
however, rendered abortive by the infa-
. nous treachery of Bulgarian soldier, who
y had deserted to Ibrahim, and disclosed the
- whole plan. The Turks suddenly attacked
u the town, and bathed themselves in Chris
> tian blood The scene that followed was
hideous. "But one voice was heard among
I the despairng women" says M. Fanre:-
. TO the sea to the sea Many precipitat-
' ed themselves into the wells, into which
tney first threw their children. But the
! wells at ipngth became full, and twas long
:, way from the rampArts to that part OF the
g harbour which was sufficiently deep for the
D purpose of death. The conquerors anxious
o for slaves. followed close OIL their victims
c Several women, and seven children, had the
address and the good fortune to free them
u selves on the naked swords of the Arabs;
> others plunged into the flames o. the burn-
VI ing houses; twelve hundred, who could dis $
l. cover no way of destroying themselves, tels
"a into the hands Of the enemy.
% "The attention of the conquerors was soon
Is drawn to the powder magazine. The size
and sodity OF the building induced them to
~ believe that the wealth Of the inhabitant:
y had been there deposited. 1t contained,
;" however, only women and children, and
- Capsalis Cone Of the primates OF the town.
~ who having obstinately refused to accompa-
% nv the garrison in their projected sorties
:" conducted to the powder magazine. crowd
g of women aud children. saying, come and
Y be still; I myself will set fire to it) They
~ wept not, they had no parting to apprehend;
'e the grave was about to unite them forever
y, The mothers TRANQUILITY pressed their infants
~ !. to theit breasts, relying on CaPsahs. in
- the meanwhile, the enemy crowded round
u y. their asylum; some attempted to break open
u, the doors; some to enter by the wiDdows;--
y some climbed the roof, and endeavored te
~ ~ dcmolish it. At length, Capsalis percevins
70 that vast number had assembled, uttered
" " brief prayer familiar to the Gree
~ remember me! and applied the match
~ The explosion was so violent, that tht
~ neighboring houses were thrown Dawn
~, large ehasuis we're produced in the earth
.e and the sea moved from its bed, inund ,tet
= :, one part of the town. Two thousand baroa
\ II ,ians were blown up with Capsalis.n Sucl
y" was the catastrophe of this terrible drama