Middletown transcript., 1877-09-08
AN AMERICAN TURK.

AN AMERICAN TURK.
There is an officer in the Turkish
army who has caused a good deal Of
speculation recently as to who he is
and where he went from. At first he
was thought to be Marshall Bazaine,
once Of the French army, but it is now
claimed that he is an American, and a
Trustworthy gentleman has written
to the Louisville Commercial that he
knows all about him, and can tell who
and what this general, who has sud
denly become so famous, is and where
he went from. He says that Osman
Pacha is a native of Hawkins county,
Tenn. His name is r. Clay Crawford
and he was colonel Of regiment Of
artillery during the late war between
the States. He afterwards entered the
service Of the Liberal Government of
Mexico and was made general of di-
vision. He created considerable sir
by the capture of Bagdad, Mexico,
passing his forces over the Rio Grande
from the Texas shore. He finally
quarrelled with Juarez, the Mexican
President, and returned to the United
States with large fortune. He resi-
ded for several years at beautiful
country seat on the Delaware, near
Philadelphia. His restless disposition
caused him to seek excitement, and he
entered the service Of the Khedive Of
Egypt. was soon after transferred to
the service Of the Sultan and com
manded the Turkish army at Plevna.
The letter is signed ''L. B. Witkliffe. "
His sketch of the American pacha
is confirmed by Gen. Joseph +. Rey-
nolds, of Chicago, who claims to have
been intimately acquainted with Col.
Crawford, and knows that he joined
the Khedive's army, and says he last
heard of him as in the Sultan's army
under the name of Osman Pacha.
In the fall of 1859 Crawford went
- C,bos+ortovn Nc. where he cut a
tremendous swell. He bought what
was known as the Chambers property,
and fitted it up in splendid style. He
bought a yacht which he sailed upon
the river and bay, and lived and en-
tertained like prince. For while
the people were carried away with him
and thought they had secured a great
addition to their town. But he soon
ran through his money, and started q
faro bank, and also began the manu-
facture Of ink and perfumery. At
these, however, he did not succeed very
well. He then tried politics and stump
ed the county for the republican ticket,
making the most violent and bitter
harangues against the democrats and
endeavoring to stir up enmity between
the whites and blacks. This was con
tinued until he was recognized by q
gentleman from Virginia as a former
convictin the penitentiary of that State,
and it was then discovered that he had
been convicted in Federal court Of
robbing the mails, and sentenced to
the Virginia penitentiary, from which
he escaped after few weeks confine-
ment. On this exposure Crawford left
Chestertown and went to Egypt where
he joined the army of the Khedive /;
was transferred to Turkey, and being
a bold and reckless adventurer arose
to the position which he now occupies.
His recent gallant bearing at the bat
tie Of Plevna, which the Turks won
mainly through his efforts, and which
has gained him his great notoriety,
causes no surprise among them who
know him best, as they say that that is
Just what might have been expected Of
him.