The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-07-25
Fac Civil War I'm Syria-.The Christian
Defeated.

Zahleh, the last stronghold Of the Christians
In Syria, has fallen, and they are now In a
fair way to be destroyed. A letter in the Bos-
ton Ira weller says:
The last stronghold Of the Christians has
been taken plundered, and burnt and it's sur.
viving Inhabitants are flying like sheep from
the wolves that are now on their track The
Christian army has been annihilated, and the
Christian power, which has for ages com peted
with the Drusee, has been crushed. The fleet
lay quietly at anchor In the harbor of Beirut,
while Zahleh was besieged, sacked and laid
In ruins and the Consuls General, who have
hitherto been so potent and mighty, have
held daily and nightly consultations in vain.
The desolation Of the "goodiy Lebanon ~ was
decreed, and the besom OF destruction has laid
1t waste.
The Consuls were in secret conclaye all
night, after the news of the sacking of Zahleh
was received, to devise ways and means for
the rescue Of the surviving Christians of the
country from general massacre. What they
have done has not transpired, but the butch
cry OF the remainder Of the one hundred and
hiiy thousand Christians is a sad thing 10
outemplate. We had hoped that the steamers
OF this week would have brought authority
from the powers that be to land marines for
an armed interference, but in this we were
dNappointed. True the Consuis were in
structed to stop the war as soon as possible,
but no power was placed at their disposal to
conquer peace. Moral suasion has not, in
thissoarharuns land, the Influence it Joys in
iAiOic StfikiLcu CifHleSs ana only III dTlneu iu-
teryention can convince these blood thirsty
Druses that the European Powers are in
earnest.
The United States Consul has repeatedly
warned the Americans of their danger, and
informed them that residence in the noun
tains is no longer safe. Many have come
down. To-day the mission at Beirut passed a
vote requesting Rev. Mr.. Calhoun. OF Aleeip,
gether with Mr.. Bird, of Deril Kenir, to come
20 Beirut at once.
The Christians throughout this war have
been most cowardly treated, but the defence of
Zahleh, the most warlike town in Lebanon,
was conducted with much spirit. As an IL
lustration OF the manner in which the desper-
ate foriorn hope of the Christians behaved in
this last battle, in which about seven thou
sand Druses and Arabs were engaged in the
siege, will refer to one case only at present.
The Druses had gained the suburbs of the
town, and had succeeded in setting fire to
about score Of houses, when the Christians
rallied and drove them out upon the plain
The Druses were led by most ferocious and
blood thirsty chief, Range ell Amad. In the
Chris tan army was lad OF fourteen years of
age, who determined TO die in defence of h is
home. He rushed in TO the ranks of the enemy,
and shooting the chief, fell pierced by spears
and bullets. The chief was killed. and the lit
tie hero shared his grave.
The destruction of Sidon has Just been re-
ported. Two Thousand and five hundred
Christians are said to have been killed by
Moslems and Druses. This Intelligence re-
quires confirmation, and is not generally
credited.
The following dispatch is of the same date
as the above letter:
MARsEILLEs, Wednesday.-Adyices from
Beirut to the 2lst ult. state that the Druses.
reinforced by hordes of plundering Kurds and
Bedouins, had attacked the town OF kahleb,
the last refuge of the Christians. The town
was ntirely burnt down, and 1000 Christian
were murdered. Dheir ell Kamar, in conse-
qence of the inhabitants having been unarmed,
was plundered and deserted. Other acts OF
incendiarism, pillage and murder, had been
perpetrated in the Anu-Lebanon. 1t was
said that the children at the school Malahala
had been killed, notwithsta landing that they
were under the protection of the French flag
and the French Consul had sent 70 withdraw
the children from the Catholic colleges. The
Turkish military reinforcements had not ar
rived at Beirut