TRAVELS

TO THE

SEAT OF WAR IN THE EAST,

THROUGH

RUSSIA AND THE CRIMEA,

IN 1829.

WITH SKETCHES OF THE IMPERIAL FLEET AND ARMY,

PERSONAL ADVENTURES,

AND CHARACTERISTIC ANECdotes.

BY CAPTAIN JAMES EDWARD ALEXANDER,
(LATE) 16TH LANCERS.

K.L.S. M.R.A.S. COR. MEM. S.A. E. & M.G.S.

AUTHOR OF TRAVELS IN AVA, PERSIA, AND TURKEY.*

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

HENRY COLBURN AND RICHARD BENTLEY,

NEW BURLINGTON STREET.

1830.

BODI

PRINTED BY A. J. VALPY, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

CONTENTS

OF

THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

Order received to join the fleet-Entrance into Sevastopol

-Its defences-Batteries constructed by Turkish prisoners-

Embarkation on the Black Sea in the transport Alexander—

A Russian Praperchick-Pleasant anticipations-Colonel

Ivan Ivanovitch Basoonoff and his officers-Scene of confu-

sion-An under-officer-Pusillanimous major-Custanjee in

Bulgaria-The food of the soldiers of the Rilsky Polk or

battalion-Alarm of the colonel-Appearance of the coast

of Turkey-The celebrated Varna-New and interesting

particulars regarding its siege and surrender-Sizeopoli-The

Russian fleet-Embarkation on board the head-quarter ship

-Strength of the Black Sea fleet-The admiral-in-chief-

His officers and men

CHAPTER II.

• p. 1

Anapa-Varna-The Sizeopoli expedition-Description

of the town-The attack-Flight of the Albanians-Halil

Pacha is deceived and surrenders-Hussein Pacha ordered

to retake Sizeopoli-Colonel Burnot strengthens the works

-Desperate assault by the Turks-Gallantry of a Turkish

officer-The Turks repulsed and take refuge in Burgas—

State of affairs in the Theatre of War, May, 1829-Block-

ade of the Bosphorus-The movements of Admiral Greig

narrowly watched-False attacks-The towns on the coast,

how defended-The Penderaclee expedition-Imprudence

of Captain Skaloffsky-Strength of the Turkish fleet--The

Sultan orders the Capitan Pacha to attack the Russians—

He frames excuses-Russian squadron arrives at Pen-

deraclee-Attempt to destroy a sixty-four-gun ship-Bra-

very of the Turks-A Russian midshipman sets fire to the

enemy's ship—Difficulty of making descents on Anatolia-

Armed population-The Mingrelian pirates-The Capitan

Pacha sails with his fleet into the Black Sea-Falls in

with a Russian frigate-A council of war-Dastardly

behaviour of the second captain of the Raphael - He sur-

renders the ship-Admiral Greig despatches another squa-

dron to blockade the Bosphorus-The squadron is chased

by the Turkish fleet-The brig Mercury attacked by two

line-of-battle ships-The Russians refuse to surrender- -

The action-The Turkish vessels disabled-The Mercury

escapes-The officers are rewarded
. 23

CHAPTER III.

The fall of Silistria-The disastrous retreat of 1828

-Erzroom taken by Paskevitch-The battles of Pra-

vady and Kooleffchick-The Turks shut themselves up in

Schoumla-Russians cross the Balkan-Admiral Greig at-

tacks Misemvria-Description of the town-Its wealth in

antiquities-Osman Pacha holds out till threatened with a

land attack-Appearance of the streets of Misemyria

after its occupation-The Greek merchants describe their

dread of the Turks, and how they are oppressed-Dis-

section performed by the side of the grave-The occupa-

tion of Ahielo-A fine town-The picturesque Monastery

of Anastasia-Taken by the Admiral-An old acquain-

tance-The Bin-bashee describes his movements-The

absurdity of contending with one's destiny-Burgas taken

CONTENTS.

by General Nabel-Description of the town-The grand

magazine for provisions-Violation of the tomb-The

insalubrity of the climate of Burgas-Dexterity of a Greek

barber-Dinner with a Greek merchant--Bulgarians de-

scribe their sufferings-Obliged to support a few Turks in

each of their villages-The occupations of these Turks-

The Bulgarians rise against their masters-Baron Schilling

de Courland-The desperate courage of three hundred

Turks-A Village consumed-The defences of Burgas-

A remarkable quadruped-Ferment among the captains

of the transports-Nature of the service in Roumelia-

March of a detachment -A Genoese fortress-Novel mode

of taking prisoners-The detachment attacked-The skir

mish-The Turks repulsed

CHAPTER IV.

. 46

Admiral Greig determines to clear the coast of Roume-

lia to the entrance of the Bosphorus-The Meteor steam-

vessel-Bravery of the crew of a Turkish mystico-The

Vassilico expedition-The town occupied by Turkish Del-

his-Troops are landed, and the enemy retreats-The

thanksgiving of the Greek priests in the churches -- Appear-

ance of the officers at divine service-The Agatopol expedi-

tion-Colonel Burnot marches towards the town with a

detachment-Two frigates cannonade Agatopol-An ex-

citing scene-The Delhis attack the detachment - Are

repulsed-The Turks abandon Agatopol-The Pacha's pa-

lace The works strengthened-The Pacha's baggage sur-

rendered to the Admiral-Affecting letter--The Admiral

restores the baggage-A Turkish officer, and drummer and

fifer of the Tacticoes- Behaviour of the prisoners on board

the Paris-The Iniada expedition-Great strength of the

works-A detachment sent by land to co-operate with the