Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-07-20


The WAR-PRIvATE LETTER FROM AN
AMERICAN SoLDIER.-PARIs, Thursday,
June Is, 1854 have Just been shown
private letter from Col. Bowles of the
United States Army, dated at Constan-
tinople, and directed to a gentleman in
this city, which contains a very clear
and impartial resume of the situation of
the belligerent forces at this moment
Col. B. has received a command in the
Turkish service, and was on his way to
take his place in the army. The French
and English journals exaggerate SO no.
toriously in regard to the situation OF
affairs, in order to keep up home enthu-
siasm in favor of the war, that a little
evidence coming from an intelligent and
an impartial source is of great value.
Col. Bowles was present at Athens
when the French and English landed
and took possession of the Grecian capi-
tai. He represents the general appear
ance and bearing of the soldiers on that
occasion, as the finest he ever saw
He thinks that the submission of the
Greeks is one of eompulsion entirely,
and says that they curse the French
and English to man. The journals Of
Paris and London, on the contrary, rep
resent King Otho and great portion Of
his subjects, as overjoyed at the allied
Intervention. Col. Bowles represents
the conduct of the French and English
commanders on the occasion, as high
handed and arbitrary in the extreme.
Orders were given to the war vessels in
port, that if the queen attempted to
escape by sea, as was anticipated, she
should be seized and held as prisoner,
until the king signed the terms imposed
upon him.
He says that, up to the present time
the majority of successes have been in
favor of the Russians; that the report:
published by the Turks of the constant
immense losses on the part of the Rus
slams, and the insignificant losses or
their own part, are gross exaggerations
scarcely surpassed by the Russian bull
letins themselves. He represents the
English and French armies as being the
most perfect in their equipments, exer
cises and military bearing of any armie:
perhaps of modern times; while the
Turks, on the contrary, are sadly want.
ing in all these attributes.
There are $50, 900 Russians on Turk
ish soil, while opposed to them there
are at present but 10000 English and
French, and 10000 Turks. This force
united and strongly entrenched, can act
on the defensive; but as for acting on
the offensive, he considers it impossible
They may defend the passage of the
Balkans, but they cannot drive the Rus
SLAMS out of the Principalities.
The army of Asia he represents in a
more deplorable condition still, and
states that it occupies position so eriti-
cal that, if not relieved soon by rein.
forcement of good soldiers, it will inevi-
tably be cut to pieces. Of Sevastopol
he says that, aided by the Russian feet
it will be port so difficult to take, that
the combined fleets are afraid to attack
it.
The prospect seems gloomy enough,
but when it is recollected that Turkey
has really accomplished nothing sub
stantial thus far as the result of battle,
while, on the contrary. Russia has con-
stantly advanced, there seems some
ground for the conclusions at which Col
Bowles arrives.-N Y. Tribune.