Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-04-20
THE BATTLE OF NAvARINO.
ny An oFFIcLR Enc AGEp

-gie details OF naval actions have seldom been pre-
s-i,ted to the public eye, with the same minute and
striking descriptions which have of Tito years charac-
terzod the glowing narratives of military warfare.
The battle field with all its imposing array and glorious
incident; its hopes and fears, and doubts; the attack
and repulse; the reckins bayonet and the flashing
blade, and the eafening buzzas of victory;--all these
and more have become iamliar household tales, while
tircsiie readers ponder over them with wonder, ad-
DiIratiop and even envy OF their felow-countrymen
who have rubbed shoulders with Death in his most
dreadful shapes, and have passed through the mos,
fiery ordeal which the spirit OF nlsn could brave.
We had been cruising Of the
cp1st OF tire Morea, for the protection of trading ,cs-
sris, anu 70 watch the motions ofthe numerous Greek
plratcs inlesting the narrow seas and adjacent islands.
For fourteen months we Ind boon thus actively en-
rloycd, when the arrival of the Albion and Genoa,
from Lisbon, limited TO US, that some cocrcivc mea-
sj'res We're about to be used against the Turks, to
cause thoin to discontinue the eXterminating war they
carried on against the Greeks, and to evacuate the
country pursuant TO the terms of the treaty of Jnly,
lS2L The prospect of h collision with tho Turkish
tect appeared, to be very agreeable to the ships
crew. as they had got a little tired of their long con-
tnenient On board, aud anxiously looked for a spec
dy return to Malta 60 get ashore, which they had
hot been able to do for upwards OF a year. We
asuin proceeded on our protecting duty, and partcd
company with the Admiral i'll the Asia. In about six
weeks we returned, and found that many other Bri-
tlsn vessels had Joiued the Asia, whilst tire s~quadrons
OF France and Russia added To the number OF the
feet, which aitore,hcr presented nm inuDSiug ,,,i.
tudc.
Tho Turkish and Egyptian fleets had arrived from
the unsuccessful ATTEMPT in the Gulf of Patrns some
tilhe before, and lay off the b,y of Navarino, before
they finally entered and took a position within the har-
bonr. While the Ottoman fleet lay Off the bay, the
1urSfsh troops were said to have mmitt many
unlistiiablc outrages on the delencelcss inhabitants
OF toe Country adjacent TO Navarino; information OF
these oppressive acts was convened to the British Ad-
inir1i, and, it is believed, formed the grounds OF a
strong rcnlonstr1ncc on his part, addressed to the
,tusHl7i commanders, which hastened the collision
iT't"ecl tho Two armaments. These facts were re-
morally known throughout the fleet, and Il "i'4p" was
eagerly expected.
About the beginning Of October we had returned
rom our crui1c; the men, ever since VIC had been
IN comnlSs!"n, had been daily exercised at the
gins, and by firing at marks, they hal much
improved in their practice. They were fire.
1uentiy overheard expressing their anxious wish
Tor the settlement of the question With the Turks in
Gao shape or other that they !night have snn,e leave
on 81; jrc. Many shrcvd and pithy remarks were
ntide OH The Greek question. Some talka;iv1 tar
nuuid go on expnunding his ideas TO a listening
group on tue main deck. Our scamen certainly
Thought lightly OF thc sGamanship of the Turks aud
Egyptian. 1t seems also, that 4 socrcl spirit ofemu-
IatIon animated the whole of them in the event of n
c-'ntcs'; they were anxious the French and Russians
should bear testimony to what Old England was able
TO accomplish In her usual style: and ihcv had ano-
tiier anxiety, lc' their allies should o%utstiip them in
eIeTgy or seaDanship, or even approacA an equality
villa them. In fact, thoy seemed determined not
even to DE riva'l2d, and the ~pre-cmincacc of The Bri-
- 49, W No lCNGi uAIIC ZEGiDurlN EONFnt 10 De IN
taNne'i D. csOry individual in tho neoS-
Before entering the bay, the Ottoman fee. lay at
the Distance Of ter or twelve miles from the Allies.
1iIcy appeared numerous with many small Graf.
Most OF them bore the crimson flag living a. their
peak, and OH coming closer, n crescent and sword
were visible on the flags. Their ships looked vel.
and in tolerablc order: the Egyptians were evidently
sDnerioc 10 The Turks.
Little communication took place bc,wccn the Ali.
cd aud Turkish fleets. The Dartmouth had gorc
INTO the bnytwicc, bearing the terms proposed by the
Allied commanders TO lbrahim Pacha. No satislac-
tory answer had been returned b. the Ottoman Nd
mlra!; whose conduct appeared eyasive and tridinn.
Implying a contempt for our proves, and daring IL
10 do our worst.
The Dartmouth having proceeded for The last time
into the bay, with the final roquisitions. and having
brought back no satisfactory reply, on Saturday, the
EDth OF Oct, 1927, about noon, Admilal Codrington,
favored by n gentle sea-breeZe bore MP under all sail
tor the mouth Of the bay of NavarinO. \ buzz ran
INSTANTLY through the ship at the welcome intelligence
of tire Admirals bearing up; aud | could easily per-
ceITo the hliarity aid exultatio1 Of the snamen, and
their impotence for the contest. There was n look
or grave determination on most of their countenan-
cEs; and I could overhear their phrases OF cucourapr-
ment to each other. Orders were given that dinner
should be got ready earlier than usual that day; and all
ST to heartily at their prog, rs If nothing particular
We're going to happen. Our ships crew wac chiefly
composed OF young men, who had never seen n shot
fired; yet to Judge from their manner, one would have
Thought them familiar with the business Of fighting.
The decks were then cleared for action, and the
snip was quite ready as we neared the mouth Of the
bay.
Tho Asia lei tho fleet, aal vas tfr fir. to enter
tho bay, followed by the ships in two columns. This
LAS about ono O'clock, Dr rather later. Abreast Of
Sir Edward Codrington was the French Admiral,
distinguished By the large white flag Mt the mq:Zen.
Tjen came tho Genoa and Albion, foiiowel by the
Dartmouth, Talbot, and briggs, along with the French
md Russian SquadTons. in more distant succession.
h.yery s1li was set, 50 that tho vast crowd Of canynss
'ftlt looked more ble1chcd and glittering in tho rays
II The Sun, and contrasted with the deep blue uDcloii-
led sky, presented a magnificent and spirit stirring
spectacle. The breeze WIS just powerful enough =
carry the Allied fleet forward at "a gentle rate, arr
Ns the wind ireshcncl Il little at times, it had the of.
iast nf car5lng the ships 10 heel to one side in a grace
i. undaiaung mamer-thc various flags aud pen
dtnts ofthe united nations putting ont Uccasionallr
from the'mast- heads. The sea was smooth. fhe rcath-
&c rather warm, aud the air quite clear. As we near.
81 the entnucc Of tue bay, the land presented Oh
trolnd a rugged s.ee? Appearance towards the ee1.
II tie distance. tbs UlountGias were visible. n lic't
b.ue, ngLh UAitish clouds apparently rce,nr one