to commence a regular siege. He took the command of the army early in
March, and on the 25th of April, a practicable breach being made, the
Imperialists advanced to the assault. They met a very unexpected
reception, being themselves most furiously charged by the Turks, which
threw them into such confusion and dismay, that they were soon repulsed,
and the garrison sallying out, without giving them time to form, drove
them headlong through their own trenches, burnt their works, and obliged
Prince Lichtenstein to cross the Unna that very night, and secure
himself on the opposite heights.
A besieged garrison routing a besieging army in so complete a style, is
such an extraordinary circumstance, that I was anxious to hear what turn
the Imperialists would give it. Their account is so curious a one, that
I shall subjoin it for you.
Vienna, May 3d, 1788.
"An attempt was made by the Austrians
on the 25th April to storm
Dubitza, but they were repulsed as
they were entering the breach they
had made. In return, the Turks,
having received a reinforcement, which
augmented the garrison to the number
of twelve thousand men, sallied out,
and attacked the Austrians in their
trenches. A general action then
commenced, which lasted three hours,
and though the Austrians were victorious,
Prince Lichtenstein thought
proper, all his works being destroyed,
to raise the siege, and on the night of
the 25th[4] he crossed the Unna, and
encamped on the heights between
Dubitza and Bacin, to cover the Austrian
territories from the incursions of
the enemy."
Footnote 4:
The day he attempted to storm the garrison.
---
Thus we see, that _though the Austrians were victorious_, their works
were destroyed, the siege was raised, and their army obliged to
retreat--to pass a river in the night--and to intrench themselves on the
opposite heights, to defend the country of the conquerors, from the
incursions of the vanquished. An odd kind of victory this.
In a subsequent account the Austrians mention Generals Klun and Schlaun
being wounded, the latter mortally; and they acknowledge to have had
five Lieutenant-Colonels, three Captains, four Lieutenants, and 508 rank
and file killed and wounded, besides horses. Some few privates they say
were missing, and two field pieces, which were advanced to the attack,
were taken by the enemy.
These are the latest accounts from the banks of the Unna.
I shall now proceed eastward, and you have only to follow me in this
direction along the frontiers, to have a full view of the Imperial
armies in the order you will find them on the map.
While Prince Lichtenstein was laying an unsuccessful siege to Dubitza,
which ended in a complete overthrow; in consequence of which we have
left him on the Austrian side of the Unna, threatened in his new
intrenchments, the Grand Imperial Army advanced opposite to Sabacz, on
the banks of the Save, about two days march west of Belgrade, where they
remained till the Emperor arrived, in order that his taking the field
might be marked by a successful enterprise. But, even according to the
Vienna account, Sabacz contained but 17 pieces of cannon, and the
garrison amounted to only 800 men.
It should seem, however, as if the Austrian Generals, in compliment to
their Sovereign, wished to conceal the weakness of the object of their
enterprise by the pomp of the attack. A regular siege was commenced,
trenches were opened, and the batteries being completed by the 23d of
April, began a heavy cannonade, which soon overpowered the fire of the
Turks. Nevertheless they kept possession of a few rotten walls, which
served by way of outwork, till a column, composed of the riflemen of the
regiment of Peterwaradin, of the free corps of Servia, and the regiment
Esterhazy, advanced to storm them. On this attack the Turks retreated
into the interior part of their works, and finding it in vain, in such a
place, to contend any longer against the grand army of the Emperor, and
a numerous train of artillery, they surrendered their post.
The Emperor gave the Turks great credit for their defence, and much to
his honour, treated the prisoners with attention, sending their wives
and children to their own country.
During the few hours the Austrian fire was kept up, their batteries were
well served, and the troops ordered to the assault, advanced with great
spirit. In short, this enterprise would have done honor to the Emperor's
arms, had it been worth the time, labour, and expence he bestowed to
achieve it.
His people boast, that among the trophies are twenty pair of colours,
but they do not inform us how the number of standards came to be near
three times that of the cannon, or why eight hundred men should have
forty colours. And the Turks say, that till the Grand Vizir can find him
better employment, they have no objection to his Imperial Majesty taking
every village on the Save on the same terms he paid for Sabacz.
The number of men the Austrians lost is not exactly known; the accounts
from Vienna only mention that Prince Poniatowski, and the Baron de
Refroy, a General of Artillery, are among the wounded.
It was supposed that as soon as the Emperor took the command of his
Grand Army, that he would have besieged Belgrade, but by the latest
accounts he was very quiet in the neighbourhood of Semlin.
The troops employed on the banks of the Danube, between Belgrade and
Orsowa, under Generals Wartensleben and Papilla, have had several
rencounters with the Turks, with various success; but the only event of
any consequence, in this part of the seat of war, was an attempt upon
Semendria, in which the Imperialists were repulsed with considerable
loss.
General Fabricius, who commands the Austrians in Transylvania, has done
nothing decisive, and several of his posts have been carried off by the
enemy.
The Prince De Saxe Cobourg, a General I much admire, entered Moldavia
early in March, with the most eastern of the Emperor's armies. This
province is governed by a Greek Prince, who is appointed by the Porte,
but who wishing to give himself up to the Germans, sent them a scheme to
get possession of his person, which was executed with such secrecy, that
in the night a detachment of the enemy carried him off from the middle
of his capital.
It should seem as if the Austrians thought the possession of his person
of the greatest consequence, since the moment they got him, they fled
with the utmost precipitation, without attempting to destroy the
magazines, or to do any other damage.
It does not, however, appear that the defection of this Chief was of any
great detriment to the Turkish cause, since the Austrian General only
passed through the north-west corner of the province, directing his
march by Suczawa and Siret, towards Choczim, the most northern fortress
in the possession of the Turks, and their chief frontier towards Poland,
distant from Constantinople about five hundred miles.
The grand exertions of the Russians are against Oczakow. The Captain
Bashaw sailed for the relief of that fortress on the 20th of May, but it
is feared that the enemy are already in possession of both sides of the
Liman, by which means their ships, covered by the batteries on shore,
may prevent the Turkish fleet from being of any use to the garrison.
The rendezvous of the Ottoman army was first at Adrianople, about 120
miles from the capital, and afterwards at Sophia, near two hundred miles
farther on the road to Belgrade. As fast as the troops were assembled,
large detachments were sent to all the garrisons on the frontiers, and
there are now 80,000 men still left at Sophia; with these, and some
other corps, the Grand Vizir will march against the Emperor; and should
his Imperial Majesty choose to enter the Ottoman territories, or attempt
to besiege Belgrade, a decisive battle must ensue.
It will be some weeks before you hear from me again from this port,
since I shall set out to-morrow on a tour to Macedonia; and before I
return, I propose visiting Lesbos, Tenedos, Lemnos, and several other of
the Greek islands.
LETTER XXVII.
TO CAPTAIN SMITH.
Smyrna, October 20th, 1788.
MY DEAR FRIEND,
In my last letter, we left the Austrian General, Prince of Saxe Cobourg,
directing his march towards Choczim. He sat down before that fortress
about the middle of March, and immediately began to invest it; but the
moment the Turks were informed that the enemy had entered Moldavia, they
detached a corps of 40,000 men, to drive them out of the province.
On the approach of these troops, the Prince of Saxe Cobourg was obliged
to raise the siege; and, on the 16th and 17th of May, he crossed the
Dniester, and retired, with his whole army, out of the Turkish
territories: but, being afterwards reinforced by a large corps of
Russians, he again, on the 2d of July, advanced towards Choczim, and, by
the 23d, the greatest part of the town was reduced to ashes. The Turks,
however, continued to defend themselves with great valour, till the end
of September, when they were obliged to surrender their post. The
garrison, consisting of about 3,000 men, marched out with the honours of
war.
The grand army of the Russians, under Prince Potemkin; and the fleet
under the Prince of Nassau, are laying close siege to Oczakow. I have
already mentioned the Captain Bashaw's departure for the protection of
this fortress. The Russian fleet met him at the northern part of the
Black Sea; but, finding the Turkish force much greater than they
expected, they retreated without giving battle.
The Captain Bashaw immediately threw out the signal for a general chace;
but, owing to the superior sailing of the Russian fleet, only four of
his line of battle ships got within gunshot of the enemy, and even these
could keep up with them but a very short time.
The Russians made the best of their way towards Kimbourn; and the
Captain Bashaw, the moment this partial action was over, executed two of
his Captains for not having made those exertions he expected, and sailed
in pursuit of the enemy, with these delinquents hanging at his yard-arm.
The Turkish ships appear to me just what we conceive of the Spanish
Armada; and we have seen how difficult it is for such a fleet to act to
advantage against an evading enemy, who, though much inferior in
numbers, is considerably farther advanced in nautical skill, and in the
science of artillery.
The Russians, with the utmost diligence, secured themselves within the
Liman, covered by the guns of Kimbourn and the opposite batteries. The
Captain Bashaw, finding their position too strong to admit of a direct
attack, embarked his troops in his gun-boats and small-craft, in hopes
that, by a _coup de main_, he should possess himself of the enemy's
batteries, and open a passage for his ships; but in this attempt he was
unsuccessful; and several of his boats, getting aground, were burnt by
the enemy.
I have not heard that he has since been able to throw any succours into
Oczakow; but the garrison, which is numerous and well supplied, defend
themselves with great resolution; and, in a grand attack which Prince
Potemkin made on the out-works, he was repulsed with very considerable
loss.
The Russian fleet, though it co-operates with the army, may be said to
be itself blocked up by the Captain Bashaw; and, as there is every
reason to suppose that the garrison of Oczakow will be able to sustain
itself till the severe weather sets in (which, in that climate,
surpasses what people in England can conceive), Prince Potemkin will be
obliged either to keep the field during the whole winter, to the extreme
distress, and probable mortality of his army, or to risk the destruction
of his fleet, which will be frozen up, and exposed to the attacks of the
Oczakowians.
The following is the Imperial account of the _coup de main_ attempted by
the Captain Bashaw:
"Vienna, July 9th.
"The Captain Bashaw, being at anchor
with his fleet near Oczakow, sent
all his light vessels, gun-boats, and
small craft, to the number of fifty-seven
sail, to attack the Russian vessels,
consisting of twenty-seven sail of the
same sort and size. The Prince of
Nassau placed his force in a position
that prevented an attack in line, and
exerted himself in such a manner, as
not only to repulse the Turks, but to
gain a victory over them. Two of
their vessels were blown up, one sunk,
and the rest were thrown into confusion,
and driven back, with great
loss, _till they got under the protection of
the Turkish ships of the line_[5]."
Footnote 5:
This sentence is printed in _Italics_, to mark, that, though published
by the Confederate and Ally of the Empress of Russia, it contradicts
the account given in the Petersburgh Gazette, in which the small craft
were magnified into ships of the line.
---
The accounts from the east of the Crimea are, that the Tartars and
Russians have had frequent actions, but with no very decisive success on
either side.
Let us now leave the Moscovites, and turn to the Imperialists on the
western side of the theatre of war.
Soon after the defeat of Prince Lichtenstein by the garrison of Dubitza,
the Turks crossed the Unna, in pursuit of him, and, for some time,
pressed him in his intrenchments; but, the moment the news of his
disaster reached the Emperor, four squadrons of dragoons, and seven
battalions of infantry, were ordered to his assistance.
To lead these troops, and to reanimate his army, the Emperor called
forth the great Laudohn--a gallant veteran, to whom every Soldier must
look up with veneration and respect. He was now in an advanced age, and
had retired from the field of arms, to end his days under the shade of
his laurels. The Genius of Austria seemed to call upon him for relief.
Roused by her cries, and by the voice of the Emperor and the People, the
veteran hero regained the powers of youth, and armed once more to lead
the Imperial banners to victory.
When so great a character appears upon the stage, we can scarcely
refrain from wishing him success, whatever may be the merits of his
cause. An ambitious tyrant may plunge his nation into an unjust war, and
his people may be prejudiced enough to support him in it; but the
Soldier is neither accountable for the crimes of the one, nor for the
follies of the other. His duty as a loyal subject, and his virtue as a
patriotic citizen, oblige him to exert himself to the utmost, whenever
his services are called upon; and, without entering into the politics by
which his country is actuated, he feels himself engaged to promote, to
the full extent of his power, the success of her arms, in whatever wars
she is unhappily embarked.--Such a character is Marshal Laudohn: but of
his Court I by no means entertain such favorable sentiments.
As an Englishman, policy obliges me to wish success to the Turks; for I
have already proved to you, that our lucrative trade to the Levant can
never be carried on so much to our advantage as whilst Turkey remains in
the hands of its present possessors; and, as a Philanthrope, I feel the
utmost detestation of the ambitious combination entered into by the
Emperor and the Empress, to extirpate the Turks, merely because Nature
has been bountiful to their soil, and because their country promised an
easy conquest.
These Powers could scarcely imagine that Europe would look on with
indifference; but they trusted that they had a sufficient party to
prevent any open declaration in favor of the injured Turks. These
expectations, however, the disturbances in Brabant, and the total
suspension of the power of France, must have frustrated. Blush, then, O
Prussia! if you neglect this favorable opportunity of shewing your
justice and magnanimity.--But, still more feelingly shall I say, blush,
O England! if you do not, at least, insist on an honourable peace for
the Turks. Let every thing the Imperial Courts may take from them, be
restored; but, above all things, prevent the Russians obtaining any
solid establishment on the Black Sea, or infringing the Grand Signior's
right to prevent ships of force, or warlike stores, passing the
Bosphorus and Dardanelles. Let the Porte, at least, sit down on the same
conditions she was forced to accept by the Treaty of Cainardgie--a
treaty which created her present distress--a treaty which we ourselves,
in an hour of mistaken policy, compelled her to submit to, and which
now, that we know our true interests, we are bound to redress.
What has become of that spirit of virtue and generosity, which, not
fifty years ago, led us to enter into an expensive war, in favor of
Maria Theresa, merely because she was then an unfortunate Princess,
oppressed by an ambitious neighbour, whose usurpations, like those of
Russia, threatened in time to affect ourselves.
It is, no doubt, a considerable abatement of the honest joy an
Englishman feels in contemplating this act of magnanimity in his
ancestors, to find, that ingratitude has been the only return which has
been made to us. In cherishing Austria and Russia, we may really be said
to have nurtured the viper in our bosom, which, in the moment of our
distress, attempted a mortal wound, by forming the _Armed Neutrality_,
or, in plain language, a _combination to supply our enemies with
implements for our destruction._
If justice to the Turks, whom we have reduced to so critical a
situation; if a sense of our national dignity; if our dearest interest,
and commercial concerns, will not induce us to speak boldly in a moment
like this, self-preservation, at least, should affect us. Let us
recollect, that Russia is an evil-disposed, aspiring child; that we now
have it in our power to curb her proud spirit; but that, if we neglect
this opportunity, and allow her to increase in pride and in strength, in
a few years, perhaps, she may trample on our breast.
_Pax queritur in Bello_ is a favorite motto, but _Wars guarded against
in peace_, is, in my opinion, a much better one; and this is the motto
England ought to choose. There is nothing, in the present state of
Europe, that Great Britain can in justice require, but what she must
immediately gain. Let her, then, dictate terms to Russia, and check her
ambitious views. If she refuses to submit, let threats and preparations
to enforce them, be added; and shew me the Power who, at this moment,
will dare to oppose the serious threats of England? Vengeance would soon
overwhelm her.
The adverse views of France respecting the Turks, have become every day
more notorious[6]. Monsieur _Le Roy_, a naval Engineer, who was employed
in the Arsenal at Constantinople, has been recalled, and was lately here
on his return to France. So far, indeed, have that nation carried their
unfriendly measures, that even two French Officers of Artillery, and a
few Gunners, who were in the service of the Porte at Oczakow, have been
withdrawn by the Ambassador.
Footnote 6:
The intrigues of the French Court have been frustrated by the
Revolution in their own country.
---
I think I have said enough to convince you, that, both through interest
and through principle, I sincerely hope that the oppressive views of the
two Imperial Courts may be frustrated; and yet there is something so
fascinating in the appearance of a Hero, that, I confess to you, when
the accounts of his success arrived, I did not feel sorry that the walls
of Dubitza had not been able to tarnish the laurels of old Laudohn.
This gallant veteran superseded Prince Lichtenstein, and took the
command of the army in Croatia, in the month of August. He immediately
advanced to Dubitza, which he took on the 26th of the same month: but he
had neither to contend with the garrison that repulsed Colonel
Kesnowick, nor with the army that defeated Prince Lichtenstein; for the
Grand Vizier, having resolved to invade Hungary, and to carry the war
into the enemy's country, had drawn together all the troops he could
collect, in order pass the Danube in as great force as possible; and,
not thinking that the Austrians would so soon return to a place which
had already, in this campaign, twice proved fatal to their arms, he
reduced the garrison of Dubitza to so small a number, that, according to
the Imperial account, at the time it surrendered, it did not amount to
400 men.
Whether it was, that the Emperor did not find himself sufficiently
provided to carry the war with vigour into the Turkish territories, or
that the sickness which prevailed among his troops frustrated his
intended operations, I cannot pretend to say; but, to the surprise of
every body, the grand Imperial army, commanded by the Sovereign in
person, remained inactive in the neighbourhood of Semlin, the whole of
the months of May, June and July, and a considerable part of August;
during the greater part of which time, the Grand Vizir was not within an
hundred miles of the frontiers.
This Chief was extraordinarily late in taking the held. It was not till
the end of July, that he pitched his camp at Nissa; but from this place,
he pursued with vigour his grand object, to carry the war into the
enemy's country.
For this purpose, he turned out of the direct road to Belgrade, opposite
to which, in the vicinity of Semlin, the Imperialists were encamped,
and, directing his march immediately towards Hungary, crossed the
Danube, and, with his whole force, invaded that kingdom.
The Austrian General, Wartensleben, who had been ordered to watch the
motions of the enemy about Orsowa, occupied a strong post in the
vicinity of Meadia, from which an advanced corps of the Grand Vizir's
army, drove him on the 28th of August.
According to the Turkish plan I saw of this action, the defile lies
between two high mountains; and in the bottom, a little within the pass,
lies the town. The Austrians were encamped on the hill on the right,
which was looked upon as unassailable on the side towards the Turks. But
these enthusiastic people stormed these stupendous heights with the most
romantic bravery, and carried them, sword in hand.
It was not valour only, which distinguished the Turks on this occasion;
for the Seraskier who commanded, sent a considerable detachment previous
to the attack, to make a circuit, and get to the interior side of the
hill on the left, that, if his efforts were crowned with success, this
corps might enable him to reap the fruit of his labours, by appearing on
the flank of the enemy, and cutting off their retreat from the town. In
this they completely succeeded. Meadia fell into their hands; and
General Wartensleben was obliged to retreat towards Slatina, leaving all
his magazines in the hands of the enemy.
As soon as the Emperor was informed of the invasion of Hungary, he put
his grand army in motion; and, on the 30th of August, he had reached
Caransebes, within two days march of General Wartensleben's corps; but
the news of this General's defeat, checked his Majesty's progress. On
the 3d of September, however, he again resumed his march, and, advancing
towards Slatina, fixed his camp at Illova.
In the mean while, the Seraskier and his detachment, after securing the
magazines, remained in the neighbourhood of Meadia some days, waiting
the arrival of the Grand Vizir, who immediately advanced, to offer
battle to the grand Imperial army, and, on the 10th of September,
encamped in sight of the enemy. The Emperor, however, declined the
attack. The Grand Vizir, therefore, began a war of posts, by which, in a
few days, he reduced the enemy to the alternative of either quitting
their position, or of seeing their retreat cut off, should their
intrenchments be stormed.
Among other movements, a considerable corps were ordered, on the 14th,
to turn the right wing of the Austrians. The Turks made this attack with
such impetuosity, that they completely routed all this part of the
enemy's line, and the Spahis cut to pieces the whole regiment of Wurmser
Hussars.
The Grand Vizir was now enabled to cannonade the Emperor's camp; and, on
the 21st, having brought all his schemes to bear, and taken every means
to frustrate the enemy's retreat, should victory crown the Ottoman arms,
he advanced to attack the grand Imperial army. The Emperor, however, did
not think fit to risk the event, but broke up his camp, and retreated
with the greatest precipitation.
The Turks had now all the honour and advantages of a victory, without
the trouble of fighting for one. The Emperor fled before them; and his
rear, with a great part of his baggage and artillery, fell a prey to the
enemy. Some thousands of his troops were killed, or taken, and his whole
army thrown into such confusion, that, in the night, two of his columns,
meeting unexpectedly, fired on each other.
It is said that the Emperor once attempted to rally his troops, but
that, on this occasion, he himself was very near being taken prisoner.