The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-12-30
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE TAX
ING OF ST. JEAN D'ACRE.

II is dated at Princess Charlotte, Of St. Jean
dAcrc, November 4, le4O:
Sir,-Ysu will be pleased to acqUaint the
Lords Commissioners Of the Admiralty that
the town and fortress of Acre were taken pos
session Of by the allied forces under my com.
mand this morning, in the name of The Sultan.
The circumstances which led to this result
occurred on the Sd, when heavy cannonade
from the ships and vessels. beginning at Two p.
NJ. and ending at five. completely demolished The
town, and materially damaged The Notifications,
Inducing the Egyptians to eyacuate the place
in the night. A Tremendous explosion Of a
large magazine of powder look place at about
L. NJ. on the Sd.
The attacks were made npon the west lines,
aud the souta face OF the works, the former
composed Of the following ships viz :-Prin-
cess Charlotte, Powerful. Belerop phon Revenge.
Thnnderer and Pique, under the immediate
command Of Commodore Napier, (as thought
IT advisable to accompany Colonel Sir Charles
+. Smith in the Phenx steamer, TO be ready to
take advantage of any breach that might be made
in either Of the sea faces Of the walls Of The
place for an immediate assaut.) The south
place being a more contracted anchorage. was
occupied by the Edlnburg, Bcnbow, Castor.
Craysiort, Talbot, Wasp and Hazard The
destruction caused by The fire Of the ships on
both sides sufficiently proves its rapidny aud
decision.
Rear Admiral Baron de Bandiera, in the
Austrian irigaie Medea. and tho Gurrriere, Un-
I Ger the command Of his Imperial flighness tha
Archduke Frederick, with the Austrian corvette
Lipsta, rendered much assistance. Rear Ad-
mira Walker Bey, in the Sultan's ship Nook
uddimay-i-hIve, of II guns, took mp most Ia
vorabls position opposite TO the south lace, and
did good service.
The steamers Gorson. Vesuvus, Phanix.
and Sronbolr, fired shot and shells into the
town with much precision, and IL is generally
supposed that the shells from the Gorgos oc-
casioncd the destruction of the powder maga-
zine. a flag of truce having been offered by
the Turkish Admiral and rejected short time
before. did not think il ncce sssary or becom-
ing that the summons should be repeated, par
,icularly as hosiilites had already commenced,
and the ships and steamers had been fired upon
as they approached the walls.
i ] have not been able 10 ascertain the num-
Der of troops in the town Of Acre at the com.
msocoment OF our hre, they have been esiinna-
ted M $500, besides q body of cavalry outside
The town Of S00 many lives were lost by the
explosion Of the magazine; 700 Egyptians and
. officers Of rank came in this morning with
their arms, and surrendered themselves as pris-
lUners.
TO Colonel Sir Charles Smith devolvcs the
task of putting the town and Notifications INTO
posture of defence, and am happy to find that
his health enables him TO perform this duty with
his usual Intelligence.
A great quantity Of arms and ammunition
were found at Acre, and the notifications were
fast getting into state OF preparation against
! attack.
am much indebted 10 Captain Edward Box !
er, Of the Pique, and Captain Codringron of
the Talbot tor the excellent surveys which they
made OF the shoals round Acre. which enabled
the ships TO co iu without the risk Of getting a.
shore.
/ return list Of the killed and wounded in
the allied squadron; but the damage to the
masts and rigging can be made good witheui
! the ships being sent Off the station.
/ The success of this enterprise, so important
in its results, has called for my acknowledgements
IN general orders TO the officers and men Of the
combined squadrons. whose united exertions
had so much contributed TO its attainment.
! have the honor to be, SC.
iSigned)
ROBERT STOPFORD, Admiral.
r. More o Fenall. Esq. &c. &c. &c.
"On the lst day of September we were de-
spa,ched from Beyront, with three steamers
under our command, to bomb,rd this devoted
I place for three days before the general attack
was made. which we commenced on the lst of
. OF October, BY standing in within range, and
: hrlng shells as fast as we could pelt, and they
, returning two for one. They fell around us liLe
nail, but strange 10 say, not shot struck US;
+. our bonbnrdment was no, very successful, as
I more than halt the shells burst before they
{ reached the shore, owing TO the fuses be-
= ing badly bored all the shells from the steam
ers Jailed alike, a circuulstaece not very credta
I N ihpsr who Io ~
= pointing TO MS. Ii is not likely they were ever
=. tred at such distance before, 1000 Yards
AT hall past o'clock, (how shall describe thisl
r as u by one consent all firm. ceased, and oh,
e Heaven what sight! The whole town ap.
y pcared as II IT was in the air f, SO avfully grand
n a sight no one can describe. We saw noihiur
n but one dense cloud extending thousands OF
c yards in the air aud on all sides aud then We
j felt m awful shock which gave the line of bat.
e tie ships heel Of two degrees so that you NAV
, Judge from the moment Of explosion, all trinc
$ from the town ceased. The Turkish ADMIRAL
a Walker Bey, was boarded at one O'Clock in the
j.. morning by an Egyptian colonel, who informed
E HIM that they were evacuaiins the town rs last
4 as possible.
1 Walker Bcy Immediately landed with 500
u men. aud took possession of the town max ing
5000 prisoners. Thus fell this rrcmen endous ler.
+ trcss, which has not been overraied by report,
d for really think 1t is the strongest place (ue,t
TO Gibraltaf) 10 the world. and think We sho nd
Il never have taken II but for the explosion, which
d was caused by one OF our shells bursting ia the
j main magazine Of power, by which, 10 SPEAK
d within bounds, 20o0 souls wcre blown to al.
IS toms, besides beasts Of burden of every descrip
:, ton. in all, the loss Of the Egyptians is com.
= pulsd at 5000 killed and wounded. At daylight
q what a sight was exposed 10 our view The
II stupendous tsrtifcation. that oply twelve hours