As the possession of Sidon was considered of much importance to the
Sultan's cause, from giving confidence to his subjects, and as its
loss would be embarrassing to the measures of Ibrahim Pacha, an
attack was resolved on, in case the Governor should refuse to
surrender it. The command of the expedition was given to Commodore
Napier, who, with characteristic confidence, undertook to perform the
work and to be back again off Beyrout within three days.
At midnight, on the 25th of September, the Commodore left Beyrout
with the 'Gorgon' and 'Cyclops,' his broad pennant flying on board
the 'Gorgon.' A battalion of 500 marines under Captain Morrison, and
a Turkish one of similar strength, had been embarked on board the two
ships, which immediately proceeded to Sidon. At daylight next
morning, the castles of Sidon appeared above the horizon, and at the
same time the 'Thunderer,' Captain Berkeley; the Austrian frigate
'Guerriera,' commanded by the Archduke Frederick; a Turkish corvette,
and the 'Wasp,' joined, as also the 'Stromboli,' from England, with
284 marines under Captain Wylock.
At 11 o'clock the town was summoned to surrender, but as no answer
was given by the Egyptians, preparations were made to attack.
The following were the ships employed on the
expedition:--'Thunderer,' Captain M. E. E. Berkeley; 'Guerriera,'
Austrian frigate; 'Gorgon,' Captain Henderson; 'Cyclops,' Captain
Austin; 'Wasp,' Commander Mansel; 'Hydra,' Commander Robinson;
'Stromboli,' Commander Williams; 'Gul Sefide,' Turkish corvette.
The Egyptian garrison consisted of nearly a thousand men, under the
command of Ibrahim Pacha. His family had previously been embarked on
board a French steamer, to be out of harm's way.
The wind being light, the 'Cyclops' towed the 'Thunderer' to her
position, previously fixed by Captain Berkeley. The 'Stromboli'
towed the Austrian frigate 'Guerriera' and the Turkish corvette,
which were placed by Captain Berkeley abreast of the town. The
'Wasp' and 'Stromboli' anchored more to the southward to flank it.
The 'Gorgon,' 'Cyclops,' and 'Hydra,' which joined from Tyre with
Walker Bey, up their positions to the northward, close to the castle.
All preparations being made, the Turkish battalion was put into the
boats and rendezvoused round the 'Cyclops,' ready to land. The
'Gorgon' then commenced the engagement by firing a few shot and
shells at the castle and barracks, and shortly after the whole
squadron opened their broadsides for the purpose of driving the
troops from the houses and the entrenchments they had thrown up to
prevent a landing. At the same time the Egyptians commenced firing
from their great guns and small arms at the ships. The cannonade
having lasted for half an hour, it being supposed that the enemy
would have been driven from their entrenchments, the ships were
ordered to cease firing; and Captain Austin, on that, landed the
Turkish battalion at the castle, which is joined to the town by a
narrow causeway. In effecting this, he was obstinately opposed, and
several of his followers were killed and wounded. As it was found
that the enemy still remained in their entrenchments, the ships again
opened their fire, and battered down the houses in front of the town.
The 'Wasp' was anchored abreast of a strong castle, and Commander
Mansel was directed to seize the first favourable moment for throwing
the detachment of marines brought out by the 'Stromboli' and the
Austrian marines into it. After taking it, they were ordered to work
their way to the upper castle, which commands the town. Commander
Mansel performed this work in the face of a hot fire, with great
judgment and gallantry. It was on this occasion that Lieutenant
Hoskin, of the marines, a promising young officer, who had only just
arrived in the 'Stromboli,' from England, was killed. Several
marines also were killed and wounded.
The Commodore now saw that the moment for storming the town had
arrived. The first battalion of marines was landed by Captain
Henderson, of the 'Gorgon,' on the beach to the northward of the
town, where they formed and advanced to the walls. The Turkish
battalion, headed by Walker Bey and Captain Austin, pushed along the
causeway and entered the town. Captain Napier put himself at the
head of the British marines, and broke into the barracks; and as soon
as Captain Henderson and another party had lodged themselves in a
house above the barracks, he marched the battalion above the line
wall of the upper gate, broke it open, and seized the castle.
Numberless acts of gallantry were displayed. Among others, there was
a complete race from the spot where they landed, between Mr. James
Hunt, a midshipman of the 'Stromboli,' and Signor Dominica Chinca, a
midshipman of the Austrian frigate 'Guerriera,' who should first
plant their colours on the walls of the town. All now appearing
quiet in the town, the Commodore left a guard in the castle, and
descended into it. He led his party through several streets arched
over, where occasional skirmishing took place with several parties of
Egyptian troops. These were, however, easily driven back, till they
finally took refuge in a vaulted barrack, where upwards of a thousand
men were found concealed, prepared for a sortie should circumstances
have favoured it. As it was, they were too glad to lay down their
arms. No town was ever taken where less blood was unnecessarily
spilt, or disorders more speedily put a stop to. This was owing
chiefly to the exertions of Captain Berkeley, assisted by the
Archduke and the Captains of the squadron, as also to the good
conduct of the British marines, the Austrians, and the Turks.
Commander Mansel was highly spoken of, as were also Captains
Henderson and Austin, Commanders Robinson and Williams, and Captains
Morrison and Wylock, of the Marines. Mr. Cumming, a mate of the
'Cyclops,' particularly distinguished himself by his gallantry, as
did Messrs. M'Guire and Price, mates of long standing, who were both
severely wounded.
Not one of the garrison, 3,000 in number, escaped. Commodore Napier
speaks of the patience with which the wounded Egyptians, who were
found in various parts of the town, bore their sufferings. A black
man was found in a corner, with his leg broken, but though he was
evidently in great pain, he did not utter a murmur, and on a shutter
being brought, refusing assistance, he placed himself on it, holding
his wounded leg in his hands, and in this way was carried to the
hospital. Leaving a battalion of Turks in the town, and a squadron
before it, under Captain Berkeley, the Commodore returned to D'Jounie
Bay that same afternoon, after an absence of only forty-eight hours.
The following graphic sketch of the gallant old Commodore at Sidon
appeared in the 'Malta Times,' from which I quote--
"Charlie Napier, when talking with the Admiral on Friday last, the
25th September, observed that Sidon was not yet in our possession,
and said to him, 'If you like I will go down and take it, and be back
again in eight-and-forty hours.' He started, and was as good as his
word. He had the 'Thunderer,' 'Cyclops,' 'Gorgon,' and 'Hydra,' with
800 Turks and 500 marines. On their way he fell in with the
'Stromboli,' from England, with a detachment of 200 marines: these he
took with him, and after firing shot and shells at the town for a
couple of hours, he made a breach, and landed at the head of his men.
The struggle was a sharp one; but after destroying a great number of
the enemy, who would neither give nor receive quarter, they at last
killed the Egyptian commander, who died game. With two marines'
bayonets at his breast, he refused quarter, and resisted--so they
fired, and he died, when his troops, to the amount of 500, threw down
their arms: 1,500 were afterwards taken, and the whole 2,000 have
been brought round to the fleet at D'Jounie; I believe they will be
sent to Cyprus. Napier was most daring. On the tops of the houses
he made his way, waving his hat on the point of his sword, and
cheering on his men. Our loss amounted to 15 marines killed and
wounded--2 mates badly wounded, Motley and Shears, of the 'Wasp;' and
a mate of the 'Revenge,' with five seamen, one since dead; and one of
the 'Thunderer's' launchers killed. A marine officer who had only
that morning arrived in the 'Stromboli' was killed in the breach; his
name is Hoskin, and he has been serving on the coast of Spain. I
hear another has been wounded.
"The 'Castor' and 'Pique' took Tyre."