The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-06-24
The Fignling tn AIgerIa.


The following is complete account from the
Paris Moniteur Of the recent French fighting in
Algeria
The last news from Algeria informs us that the
expedition against Little Kabya has been accom-
plshed Just as we had right to expect from the
energy of army and the skill of the officers in
command of it. From the 1lth to the 2lst the
day to which dates come down, there had been
several engagements. On the 1lth, General Saint
Armand in his advance found three heights by
which he had to pass, strongly fortified by the Ka
byes who had thrown up entertainments of stone,
and which were defended by 1000 men. 1t was
necessary, in order to dslodge the enemy from
their position to make considerable circuit over
very bad ground and under heavy fire. General
Saint Arnaud formed his force into three columns,
each consisting of three battalions with two NOR
tars. The column on the left, commanded by Gen.
Luzy, was composed of two battalons OF the Goth,
one native riflemen, and sixty-six cavalry, under
the orders of Commandant Fourier. The right
column, under the command of General Bosquet.
was composed of battalion of Zouaves, another
of the Sth Of the line, and third of light infantry
of Africa supported by seventy cavalry under Col.
Bonscarn The centre column under the
command of Lieut.. Col Espnasse and formed of
three battalions. The division started at daybreak.
At o'clock the village of Kasen carried at
the point of the bayonet by the native infantry.
At o'clock the three columns had driven the en-
emy from all his positions While Gen. Luzy,
front with the bayonet, Commandant Bataille and
the native rifemen attacked the left and threw the
enemy into disorder Commandant Fourner
rived with his cavalry the summit of the hill at
the same time as the infantry, and the combat be-
came very severe. Commandant Valicon was
killed. and Captain Faucon, of the Goth of the line
and Captain Jollivet, of the rifles, were both
wounded. Gen. Bosquet, the right, mad his
shoulder grazed by a ball, but did not stop, and
reached the heights with his Zouaves. The col
II .rr Ill
the top Of the heights at the same time the
other columns. In this action of the 11th, the
peditonary column had eleven killed, and eighty
one wounded The whole of the 18th was series
OF combats, in which the enemy alone met any
rious loss. On the 18th and 14th, our troops had
to perform difficult and perilous march, The road
was through wooded country on the sides Of
mountains, where the enemy had positions which
had to be successfully carried. Two companies of
the 10th of the line suffered heavy losses on the
18th. Full of ardor, but inexperienced in a kind
of warfare which they were now engaged in for the
first time they allowed themselves to be surrounded
by enemies, who advanced under of the
wood, and lost number of their men. They were
at length relieved by battalion of the 9th. On
the 18th, the enemy made an attack but were de-
feated with great loss by the Zouaves under
Commandant Laure and the traeurs under
Commandant Bataille and compelled to retire,
leaving number of dead in the ravines.
On the 18th, Col Marulez penetrated into the
mountain and severely punished the Kabyes op-
posed to MS. On the 18th we biouacked before
DTjelli without having further engagements. The
rear guard, which was formed of two companies oi
the Foreign Legion, under the orders of Comman
dant Mayer, acted with great energy and skill. Ii
word, il may be said, that from Fedj Benem t.
DIUelii, the march of our army series of Wig
orous and successful actions. The troops arrived
full of confidence at the place where they expected
a few days repose. On the 10Th, Gen. Saint Ar
maud left D jelli, and on that very day had an en-
gagement, in which our troops gained signal ad
vantage, with but trfng loss. At noon, Gen
Arnaud established in the centre of the BENZ Am
ran, having Beni-Ahmet on his right and the Beni
Khtel on his left, formed his division into thre
columns each, composed of two bataions in ligh
marching order, and commanded, one by himself
and the TWO others by Gems. Luzy and Bosquet
His object was to drive the enemy, who were post
ed in considerable force on the heights which com
manded the camp Our infantry were irresistible
and when they had driven the Kabyles at the poin
of the bayonet from their position, they We're at
tackled by the cavalry, who completed their roui
The enemy, who were in number about 1000, lei
100 dead on the field our loss was only kille
and 81 wounded On the 20th, still more mpor
tant action was fought. Gen. Saint Arnaud LEI
mortars, and all his cavalry. After clearing, o.
the previous day, the heights which commande
his Hanks, he proceeded to attack the positio
which the Kabyles occupied in front of him, a
about league distance. The enemy were range
along the crest of a wooded hill, having on thei
left deep ravne and on their right wide plain
Gen. Saint Arnaud sent his cavalry into the plair
while the infantry assembled the hill, and attacke
the kybes on all sides, and on their descendin
the hill they were attacked by the cavalry, wb
thus cut of their retreat More than 1900 kabyls