The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-08-09
Civil War Syria.

Accountsby american Mssioaaries-!Stote
ments writtsn for Piilaaelphians.
The following letters from w. A. Benton
and his wife, Mrs. L. G. Benton, missionaries
of the American Board at Mt Lebanon, in
the very heart of the present disturbances,
have just been received by Mr. George w.
Mesrs, the Corresponding Secretary of Yves
tern Church s. s. Missionary Society, and
promptly placed in our hands for publica
cation. They will be found equal in inter
est to anything as yet published on the pen
of a ready writer: ..z.-.
BHAMDUN, Mt. Lebanon, June 6, 1860.
DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST The existing
hostilities between the Druses and Christians
OF Mt Lebanon, commenced on Tuesday of
last week at Bel. Mir and several other
points, almost Simultaneously in the Meth
district, at the north ofoar station. 1t was
feafully sublime, and inexpressibly painful,
before morning to behold so many villages,
hamiets and insoate houses in flames; and
to hear the reports of their guns, and the
wild voices of the assailants re-echoino
around us at the midnight hour. In the
course offorty-eight hours, one hundred diff.
ferent places were reduced to ashes, and the
sad work of war and conAagration is still
raging upon the mountain.
MONDAY, June 1l.-After I had written
the above, having been called to 90 down TO
Beirut, suggested to Mrs. Benton to write
an account of the war, to accompany this let
ter. Her communication is enclosed 1t is
apalnfnl circumstance to state that a great
misunderstanding has arisen between the
Pasha of Beirut and all the consult there, on
the question of his duty and Office at once TO
interfere and terminate this mutual animos.
'ty and carnage of the contending parties-
This he declines to do, and the consult have
of course reported the fact to their respect
i've government.
1t is said that Hasbeiyeh and Rasbeieh
are taken plundered and burned, with loss
OF 600 killed to the Christians hope this
report is not true. The Christians at BERN.
Damascus, Alepeppo and .Jerus lem, are in
much fear and danger
The Dwellings of Christians in the Druse
villages are still burning Last night, Ain.
ara, two hours to the east, was set on fire
The Christians were gathering at Zaleh. and
A ire north ofus, in considerable force
twenty or thirty thousand or more. The
Druses are gathering at and from the South
and liouran. And what the state and is
sue of the existing hostilties will be, it is i'm
possible TO tell. Our comfort and conf |
dence is the blessed of Providence.
Our position here is critical and proyiden.
tial our Consul at Beirut has warned us.
as in duty bound, that he can no longer pro- I
tect us on the mountain, and has suggested
that we had better come down. A strong
order has issued from the Pasha to the Gov
ernor that we should be guarded and not
molested, or annoyed IN the least by the
contendlng parties. We do not apprehend
any personal danger, and our presence at
SUCH time is felt to be a great protection
and comfort to all the people of Bhamdun
especially to all those who love the gospel at
this station. 1t is said, indeed that orr
presence has saved the village. And # is
not our duty at present to leave, as we
think.
Lebanon is without government. nom;.
nally. 1t is divided into two districts bv
the Damascus road The northern division
has Christian and the southern division
Druse Governor and Council of twelve iudg
es But these authorities, are in actual hos. /
tllltles And the Pasha does not come with
ms army to separate them. 1t is our place
TO know that the Lord reigns.
Excuse these hasty sketches of the nre.
waning anarchy around Pray for You mis-
s'onaries, and for Mount Lebanon. and no.
lievc me- wv Wv
Ever yours in Christian love.
WILLIAM \. Benton.