DR. SANDWITH'S NARRATIVE OF THE SIEGE OF KARS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 387, 19 July 1856, Page 7

DR. SANDWITH'S NARRATIVE OF THE SIEGE OF KARS.

(From the " Guardian.") Dr. Sandwith is one of that half-dozen brave Europeans whose gallantry and command over the minds of Asiatics in the most trying circumstances have made the siege of Kars as glorious as any action in the last two years ; while the terrible history is here relieved, more than anywhere else, by circumstances which compensate for the inevitable miseries of war. Set free by the courtesy of the Russian General, who throughout showed himself an opponent as generous as he was able, Dr. Sandwith gflves the account of the seige in the plain, Unstudied form of a diary kept on the spot. There is no better way of bringing home to the imagination the impressions and feelings of such an ordeal. The military history must probably wait the pen of one of those accomplished officers whose skill was brought to light there; but we owe to Dr. Sandwith a clear and manly and very touching record of those long days of selfdevotion and cheerful energy, of anxiety and sickening hope, finally disappointed by the folly and inertness of more famous men|; a record which we wish that he had not encumbered with some very commonplace observations on the plague, consuls, and things in general in Turkey and Armenia. The journal of the siege of Kars did not want a formal introduction.

The preparation which the Turkish garrison of Kars had received for the trials of the siege had been a disgraceful defeat, and a complete disorganisation in consequence, . rendered apparently irremediable by the indescribable villainy of the Turkish officers both on the spot and in Constantinople. The soldiers were brave, patient, and docile; they had some good artillerymen and sharpshooters, some regular cavalry which could neither charge nor escape, and some Bashii Bazouka. On the 7th of last Ju.e Dr. Sandwith arrived, with General Williams, to take their chance against MouraviefF, who was known to be advancing against Kars. The prospect was not an encouraging one:— " Our provisions are insufficient fur a siege of any duration; the exact amount is as yet unknown to any of us ; s>me say we have three months' food, some two : while others, more hopeful than tlie rest, firmly believe that the soldiers have, with due economy, bread enough to last even four months; but this is all conjecture. I consult one of my friends >n the subject, and he thinks that there is no fear mi the score of provisions. . . . 'But, 'he went on to say,' we have a greater evil to dread—something more imminent still—low he it spoken. 1 dare scarcely whisper the secret into your ear ; we have but three days' ammunition. If MouraviefF advances by approaches, and we fire liberally, in three days we shall he disarmed.' ' God is "Tfat,' was my answer ; ' where ignorance is bl:s«\ 'iis folly to be wise.' " We now get a closer sight of General Williams : a man whom other men actually feel delight in working under, and working for; whose good humour and cheerfulness, and elastic resolution, united with dauntless sense of duty and quickness of resource, were contagious even with European comrades,but were absolutely irresistible among men to whose expeiience the combination seemed something superhuman. He was " the first officer admitted to the Sultan's service with his European name, it having been hitherto the custom of the Turks to name all foreigners in theirservice much in the same manner as we name our negrots in the West Indies ; and as these are distinguished by the names of Csesar, Castor, Pollux,so theFranksin the Ottoman employ are distinguished as Wisdom Bet/, Councillor Effendi. " But, he only became Veeliams Pacha. Veeliams Pacha soon astonished his Eastern associates ; the snug and comfortable jobbers, by the vigour with which he 4 hunted up and disposed of their arrangements, whether they were little men or big ones; the gravity of the public mind generally, by the extravagant alacrity which all his proceedings displayed. With a few words—which we hope may prove not too sanguine—he electrified the Christian population of and got them to join in working on the fortifications, to the extreme amazement of the Turkish bystanders:— " tie called together the city council, and requested that the Bishops ami duels of the Christians should also attend. . . . Turning to the Christians, he said, ' hut we look to y<m also. The time has come when you may shake oft your thraldom, and take your place as free citizens; Cor the Sultan has granted yuii privileges, and declared all his subjects equal in the eye of the law. You will light, then, for us : take your spades. ;uid come and dig with us at the batteries ; we will welcome ymi as brother.-.' On hearing thei-e strange and soul-stimnir words, the Arch-bishop Marled uj» and exclaimed, 'O! English Pacha, we are your sacrifice. We will work, dig, fight, and die for you ; since we aie no longer dugs and Ghiaours, but though Christians, free men.' The next morning the Turks were astonished at the crowd of Christians assembled with spade and mattock, and still inure at, the good- I will will) which they worked. Dming this time I often heard Turks remark that Williams Pacha worked as no Piu-ha ever worked before. They admired him extravagantly, but they could not understand him. Was he not a Pacha ? Was be not tberelou- rich ; and by his rank and wealth entitled to place, decorations, and everything else ? Why, theu, should

lie work like a hammal —a common porter ? Tin's was incomprehensible.'' He worked almost single-handed, by dint of good sense, indomitable perseverance, and good-humoured patience, even with pilfering and peculating pachas. But he could not do everything. Nobody would attend to Kara. He provisioned it as well as he was able, and then took his chance. On the 10th of June he is waiting for the Russians. The people of Kars are full of fight, and come to offer their services : — " ' liisliiilla.il !' exclaims Osmau Aga, a fine old gentleman (the spokesman of the civilians of Kars), • Jnslnillali ! we will bring scores of Ghiaours'heads ami lay them at your feet, VeeHams Pacha!' on which VeeViams Pa elm holds up his finger menacingly, and teils the old man that if any heads were cut off be should le.ive the place in disgust. But be applauded highly the spirit of patriotism shown l>y the people, to!:l Osman Aya to assemble all the fighting men before tlie Miishir'stent,aud that lie, General Williams, would take care that they were organised, encouraged, and paid. ' Wallah !" exclaimed Osman Aya, ' we want no pay. . . . »ive us ammunition and chiefs, and show us what to do, ami, Inshallali! you will not find a coward among us.1 " The troops, too, fkd that they have got a real General at last:— " The iroops are certainly full of enthusiasm, and Williams Pacha, or Engleez Pacha, is already a great favourite. They see him everywhere; he is with the sentries at the menaced point ere the the morning has dawned ; anon he is tasting the soldiers' soup, or examining the bread, and if anything is wrong here, his wrath is terrible. His eyes are everywhere ; each soldier feels that he is something more than a neglected part of a rusty machine, he knows that he is cared for and encouraged; nor must I omit to say that the Mnshir Va.-sif Pacha, though unused to war's alarms, behaves well, and is only too anxious to follow the advice of General Williams." After some days' waiting, and a skirmish, with the approaching Russian outposts, and pressing letters for assistance to one of the fourteen pachas who are comfortable at Erzeroum, on the 16th of June, the Russians appear before the lines, and tn the strength of the place and the temper of its defenders. Then, day by day (heir army is watched, moving round it, and gradually hemming it in, yet. at a respectful distance ; and the siege begins. June ends, but without any serious incidents. July comes and goes ; the investment becomes tighter : post-bags are captured, alarms given, flags of truce and little courtesies are exchanged : oxen begin to be scarce ; irregulars and deserters still pass in and out; on the 4th "we march a few regiments from the camp and raanoeuver a little. But I feel convinced that the General is determined to fight with the spade, since any military manoeuvres with our troops or ly end in a muddle." There is news of relief: but the troops are in. excellent health, only one a day dying out of IS,OOO. The beginning of August brings a brisk little skirmish, and the uncomfortable report that Mouravieffhad taken Erzeroum ; but Dr. Sand with takes a look at his comrades, and finds yet no cause for being disheartened :— " August S.—We are most anxiously waiting for news from Erzeivum. Ii that city be taken, then is our doom certain; fur the vast amount of .-iegeguns and ammunition whirl! can be brought from thence will soon silence our 3d-pounder.-*, and three days' tiling v. ill put us hurs dc combat. Then again, our provisions may possibly hold out two mouths longer, but there appears no movement at Constantinople towards our relief, and ere two mouths are. over may we not expect iire.it horrors .amonis' 'he townspeople? Eveiy one feit these facts wei^h lieaviiy on his mind, anil all looked k> th.v Gi-norai, to the liigk-ez I'aeha. No sign of despondency clouded that iiotn sr face ; his ' Good morning ' *■■>- lutaiion \v;is as cheerful as on the morrow of our first little victory. He was tiiin certainly ; he could not well be thinner; but no wonder, for lie never seemed to sleep. Long ere daylight broke he was with the sentries of Tahniasp, the point nearest ihe Russian camp, and his glance learned every movement ; then lie was by the side of the Jlusbir during

the greater part of the day ; anon, he was encouraging the liashi-Bazouks, and settling their differences, or anxiously arranging some plan for feeding the townspeople; and in our confidential little gossips on the state of affairs, he would impress on us the duty of maintaining a bright and hopeful bearing, since all the garrison looked to us for encouragement. Thompson lived altogether on the Karadagh, and his glass ranged the* horizon from early morning till night; 1101 did he then go to a quiet couch. Teesdale lived with that gallant Hungarian and first-rate soldier, Kmety, on Talunasp. He acted as chief of his staff, and besides his graver duties, was constantly harassing the Cossacks with parties of ridemeii, or menacing and attacking the Russian cavalry with a company of rifles and a couple of guns. Colonel Lake, like the General, is doing his host to wear out au iron frame; his couch is his saddle, for all day long he is working at the entrenchments, and all night he is visiting the sentries. The Queen has had many a bad bargain during the war: but I doubt whether more admirable officers are to be found in the English army than the four I have mentioned." About the middle of August the grip which the Puissiaiis had on the place begins to te!!. ' The long blockade ami short rations" tempt ' leserlion, and General Williams has to make the Turkish Mushir issue a strong edict about summary shooting. Spies, too, begin to be troublesome,and to be hung on the gallows in the Market Piace. The jiiomh emis with a dashing exploit outside the town. But the Russians are still immoveabie. On the 3rd of September " we iiutl it impossible to pretend to keep up a cavalry force any louger.'' So about a thousand of ihe best mounted are sent away to cut their way through ; their comrades in liars anxiously listen to the firing, as they aie met by the Russian cordon; and they are seen no more. Up io this the troops have had bee:': now Dr. Sandwiili regrets that the weather is too hot to allow the horses which are Icilieil to be malted. De-ertion grows apace; forty men go in a body on the 4lh, and on the sth a poor wretch, caught hiding in a cave previous to making a run, is shot within an hour— the iirsl military execution, speedily followed by others: "a general spirit oV depression seems to have seized on the garrison." But on the Bth there is good news: Ouier Pae'na with 40,000 men is coming : and a great s;»re of hoarded com is discovered and brought i.i light. So goes on September : full of tantalising reports and tantalising Russian movements seeininsj to be connected with Omer Pacha's coining. On the 17th comes news that Omer Pacha i.cuialiy is at Bauniui: on ti.-e 23rd, that Sevastopol lias fallen. On the :28th tl-.ev are convinced that the Ensstans are going : all but the wary Hungaritin Kineiv. who moves to be ntrht: — '"Sept- 2S—Sundry preparations for departure are observed in the enemy's camp; lanterns are moving about during the night, and trains of carts j passing to and fro. We feel convinced that Mouravieifinteuds to raise the siege; but Xmety persists in the belief that i.c -.viil make an attempt before he goes The vbiliiiu-e of the sen tries, and the inoet;!tig;sbie and wakeful aciiviiy of the General ana Ir.s staff", are nut relaxed for a mom-.nt. '• Sept- "29 —About four o'clock ih..s morning one of the a;iv2T!c-d seutres on 'iahniasp heard a. suspicious i «:,■.! in the distance, something like the rumbling ■;{ wtwtAs and the measured tramp of jiilrtistry. i c.c rejiori pissed from mouth to mouth along ihe whole line; and the officer on duty leporti-u tne f«ct t:> G^u^ad Kmety. whose tent, wit-i ihac of 'IV.-sdaSe, was in the centre of this posi::--:n. T:ie latter oinct-r was going his rounds in si.'iUitr part oj'ibe cjiiup. Kmety was at once oil the yoi where iir-1 the sounds had been heard, ana ;i-_- ,:>:'::i! ; a atteuthtiy ; but ;;il was silent, and mo :;:■;■;: -..as -iurii ana !i,u'jn!'jss. Oa inquiry, it \v ; is ;.,■.;;:•! t.'i.-it more tlitm one soldier i;ad heard the stjuinis .:i <,ut-l;u:!, ai.d tiiese were po>itiv«; und Cimfiio;>: :■; !.:'.■;r sttilt-m-nt.i. Aii the troops were i.)rt!r-.'::!> :.-;;i!td r<> a.m:<, u;ni Mood patiently listening a■;:; 4;izi:.;r !i:io the -.i,,;!;iy valley beiure them. Til i-. !!,:■ r.n :.fr ; ;!- or more, did they ht;md, while a ie'.v ,-:■:••:>';.• j-::. L ; M :i mac s-.-nt iorlfi to recorihoitre. We i:^i i.-w i.^i ,-v;., rts; our cavalry },ad disi.pptareu i.y:an,ine, or ii:,(i cut their way out on the nig;,:- ■„; the :;.•; An nour had tims" passed, when the h'ju;i.:s v. ;ii<-;. j;ist ; ; •'! :ict»d at tun tion are again lie;.]:.; X\:'j\ :::■.:■ nil :n:s!a;.eabie, Kniety applic-s his ea:' /■'■ '■■'<: v- -'.lii't, iiiid ri-.L"jg;ii.sts the rumble of art:.! :■:■•■;. v.^c.:,>; v. n i 1 -_' >riii the measured tread of inAiii'V ::-;;<_.;.'■;; ;.jv.'r:(;i,i^ isearer and nc-ar«r up t!)K viii,.-y._ ;\>£i\\\ ail ;s .-ii.-.jf; but the iistlessness of \nb tiivd hnd wearie'i a r,!ditr lias j^iven place to iiiienM; v.'j-:ii:.u«e. 'J ii:- rillemen, a splendid body of;,bout ;-. t.'ioiisaud Z •_•;,«. ks, armed with a car bin e-a-ti.^r'. i^';k v.(jil v> t!n.-ij- percussion caps, unbutton tlu-i- ■.•...•■:...■!;.■■■.■ p'.urhev, „j;d lir.-ier thtir triggers. Ait-.- •••■■■-- i . j;i .s:-d )n awjji^jftr to the artillerymen .—/-••■ •••■' :\; ' _':.ipe;— and eacii gun is charged "with

that deadly missive. The advance:! posts of riflemen creep into the lines with the ominous words, ' Ghiaour gucUur! ' (the infidels are coining). Meantime each eye is trained to peer into the darkness, and messengers fly to other parts of the camp with the warning. A sharp-eyed soldier now points to a dark mass in the valley, faintly visible in the gloom ; it is moving; it is a column of men. A gun is pointed in the direction—the match is applied—and a hissing shower of grape Hies into the mass; an unearthly scream of agony from mangled human frames follows the thunder of the gun, when boih are drowned by a loud hurrah, which arises on all sides; and soon the whole line of breastwork is assailed in front and flank- At that moment a horsemen gallops furiously from the rear, and flings himself into the most exposed battery ; it is the Yaver Bay—it is Teesdale—who has just returned from his rounds. And now the fight commences.'' They buried 5,300 Russians. Some pious Mussuhnen of Kars had seen a sacred hand of 10,000, clothed in green, fighting with the defenders. A ml,.strange to say, on ihe day and the morrow of that 'terrible crisis, the cholera intermitted. All was joy and congratulation in Kars. But still the Russians moved nut; and the cholera came again. It is true, they see carls quitting the Russian camp ; they scan the convoys with their telescopes ; '• feeling convinced '' that the Russians must retreat, "we are becoming impatient." But no movement in their camp. In Kars the deaths from cholera alone arise to 40 a day. On Oct. 6 " the troops have no anijual food." The days passed sadly, in ominous quiet, one very like another, except in two points. One is ilie increasing famine. Already, on the 17ih Oct. the garrison aie no longer' the stout ami hardy soldiers who drove back ihe Russians after a seven hours protracted fight on' Michaelmas Day. The hospitals were well tended ; there was no typhus, no hospital irangrene ; it is only that the men die, a hundred a day, of cold and hunger:—- ------" Nov. 4.—The emaciation is wonderful, yet in most cases, no diarrhoea or other symptoms of disease is observable. Their voices are excessively feeble, a clammy cold perspiration pervades the surface of the body, and they die without a struggle. Several of these men are recovered by the administration of horse-broth. Surgeons are posted in every part of the camp with broth, of horse-flesh, in the form and under the name of medicine. A search is made for surviving horses, and these are secure:! to make soup for the hospital \V e have scarcely ar.y medicines available ; castor oil and perfumes, sent us by our Constantinople purveyor, are not exactly what we should prescribe for these poor fellows. Nov. 10.—About 100 die in the hospital during the twenty-four hours. Still no epidemic or typhus, which is the usual accompaniment of cold and starvation. The men are brought in scores to the hospital, many are recovered °by horse-broth, but many die. Some military executions take place to-day. Every one seems trying to assume a cheerfulness which" he scarcely feels." [to bk cohtinckd.]