3rd November, 1840.
The defence of Acre, by the bravery and exertions of Sir S. Smith,
and the gallant officers and crew of the 'Tigre' and 'Theseus,' which
compelled Napoleon to raise the siege, after being before it two
months, is well known. Had Napoleon succeeded in capturing Acre, in
all probability, the Grand Prince of Lebanon would have declared for
him, and enabled him to take possession of Syria. In December, 1837,
Ibrahim Pacha invested Acre by sea and land, and took it after a
siege of six months. Mehemet Ali had begun to strengthen it still
further; but its newly-designed fortifications were not complete when
the allied squadron appeared off it on the 2nd November, 1840.
It having been determined, therefore, on the 29th September, by Sir
Robert Stopford and Sir Charles Smith, that the siege of Acre should
be undertaken, Omar Bey was ordered to advance from Sidon, with 2,000
Turks, upon Tyre, and then to occupy the White Mountains to the
northward of Acre; while 3,000 men, under the immediate command of
Selim Pacha, and small detachments of Royal Artillery and Sappers,
under Major Higgins, of the former corps, and Lieutenant Aldrich,
Royal Engineers, embarked on board the squadron.
On the 26th of October, the Turkish Admiral sent in a flag of truce,
summoning Acre to surrender; but it was not received; and the
garrison threatened to fire on the boat which brought it.
Captain Edward Boxer, of the 'Pique,' and Captain Codrington, of the
'Talbot,' had been surveying the coast for some days, and buoying
several shoals which were not known, thus enabling the ships to go in
without risk of getting on shore. Owing to light winds and calms,
the squadron did not get into action till 2 p.m. on the 3rd November.
The following ships were engaged in the bombardment and capture of
Acre:--
'Princess Charlotte,' 104 (flag-ship of Admiral Sir Robert Stopford,
Commander-in-Chief), Captain Fanshawe; 'Powerful,' 84 (broad
pennant), Commodore Napier; 'Thunderer,' 84, Captain Berkeley;
'Bellerophon,' 80, Captain Austin; 'Revenge,' 76, Captain Waldegrave;
'Benbow,' 72, Captain Stewart; 'Edinburgh,' 72, Captain Henderson;
'Castor,' (frigate), 36, Captain Collier; 'Pique' (frigate), 36,
Captain Boxer; 'Carysfort' (frigate), 26 (heavy 32 H. S.), Captain
Martin; 'Talbot' (frigate), 26 (carron. 32 H. S.), Captain
Codrington; 'Hazard' (sloop) 18, Commander Hon. C. Elliott; 'Wasp'
(brig), 16, Commander Mansel; 'Gorgon' (steam-frigate), 2 and 4,
Captain Henderson; 'Phœnix' (steam-frigate), 2 and 2, Commander E.
Stopford; 'Stromboli' (steam-frigate), 2 and 4, Commander W.
Williams; 'Vesuvius' (steam-frigate), 2 and 4, Commander Henderson;
Turkish Flag-ship, 84, Rear-Admiral Walker; small cutter, captured,
8; Austrian Flag-ship, 60, Admiral Bandeira; Austrian frigate, 46,
His Royal Highness Archduke Frederick; corvette, 20.
Acre presents two sides to the sea, one facing to the west and the
other to the south; and this made it necessary for the squadron to
attack in two divisions.
Commodore Napier led the way in the 'Powerful,' to the northward,
closely followed by the 'Princess Charlotte,' 'Thunderer,'
'Bellerophon,' and 'Pique;' while Captain Collier, of the 'Castor,'
commanded on the south, with the 'Benbow,' 'Edinburgh,' 'Carysfort,'
'Talbot,' 'Wasp,' and 'Hazard.'
Sir Robert Stopford, accompanied by Sir Charles Smith, embarked on
board the 'Phœnix' to superintend the attack, though his flag was
still flying on board the 'Princess Charlotte.'
The 'Powerful,' followed by the other ships, having got round the
shoal, bore up and ran along shore towards the north angle.
As they drew near the fortress, the colours were hoisted from two
flag-staffs, one on the citadel, and the other lower down. The bow
guns of the 'Powerful' were now fired to prevent the Egyptians from
pointing with correctness. In a few minutes she passed the circular
redoubt, where only three or four guns were mounted, and then
anchored abreast of the sea wall, defended by forty guns, in six and
a half fathom water, and at about 700 yards distance from it. The
wind was on the land; the weather was uncertain; and, as they were
not sure of their soundings further in, had they been obliged to
swing and veer, they might have tailed on shore. The other ships, as
they came up, anchored in succession astern of the 'Powerful.'
At the same time the southern division, led with great judgment and
gallantry by Captain Collier, were fast approaching their position.
As soon as they were within range the Egyptians opened their fire on
them, though the shot passed considerably over the ships.
As the ships successively anchored, they opened a tremendous fire on
the batteries; and so well were the shot directed that it would have
been almost impossible for any human beings to have stood their
ground. The Egyptians, consequently, were soon thrown into
confusion, many of them endeavouring to make their escape as they
best could. Five guns only, placed in a flanking battery, were well
served, and never missed; but they were fortunately pointed too high,
and did damage only to the spars and rigging of the 'Powerful.' The
main-top-mast and mizen-topsail-yard of that ship were shot through,
and her rigging was much cut, though only two shot struck her hull,
without doing much damage. The ships astern of her suffered much in
their rigging. The 'Princess Charlotte' had one man killed; and the
'Thunderer' had her quarter-gallery shot away.
Captain Waldegrave, in the 'Revenge,' had been ordered to keep under
weigh as a reserve, but Commodore Napier now signalled the 'Revenge'
to take up a position a-head of him, to attack a heavy battery of
five guns. This Captain Waldegrave did in gallant style, in place of
the 'Thunderer,' which was ordered by the Admiral to do so, but had
got so jammed between the 'Princess Charlotte' and 'Bellerophon' that
she could not weigh without fouling one of them.
While these proceedings were taking place on the west face, Captain
Collier's squadron were engaging the batteries with admirable spirit
on the south, supported by the Austrians under Admiral Bandeira.
Admiral Walker, also, much distinguished himself. He ran inside all
the squadron and took up a warm berth abreast of a new and very
strong work. The steamers outside, the 'Gorgon,' 'Vesuvius,'
'Phœnix,' and 'Stromboli,' were not idle, as they kept up a hot
fire of shot and shell--some of their shells doing much execution.
After the ships had hotly engaged the batteries for nearly two hours,
the grand magazine blew up with a most tremendous explosion, whether
caused by a shell or by accident it is difficult to say. A large
number of the garrison were blown up, and many probably were buried
alive in the ruins or in the casements. The five guns before
mentioned, notwithstanding this catastrophe, kept up their fire with
great spirit to the last. About sunset the signal was made to
discontinue the engagement, but the Commodore kept the fire up some
time after dusk, lest the enemy should be tempted to reman their
guns. The Flag-Lieutenant then brought the orders to withdraw. The
'Revenge' slipped her stern anchor, and made sail without difficulty;
the 'Princess Charlotte' picked up both her anchors and made sail,
but casting the wrong way, nearly got on shore. She was, however,
conducted in the most seamanlike-manner, and not a word was heard on
board her. The 'Powerful' was towed out by the 'Gorgon.' The
'Thunderer' and 'Bellerophon' remained in their position. The
southern squadron also remained at anchor, and this probably induced
the governor to abandon the town, which he did about midnight, with
the greater part of the garrison.
In the middle of the night a small boat brought off the information
that the Egyptian troops were leaving the town, and in consequence,
at daylight 300 Turks and a party of Austrian marines landed and took
unopposed possession of the place. The havoc caused by the guns of
the squadron on the walls and houses was very great, though,
notwithstanding the hot and long-continued fire they had been exposed
to, the ships escaped with little damage, and the amount of
casualties was very small, being 14 English and 41 Turks killed and
42 wounded.
An entire battalion, which had been formed near the magazine, ready
to resist any attempts to storm, were destroyed. The appearance of
the dead and wounded, as they lay scattered about the town, was very
dreadful, but they seemed to excite but little sympathy in the
breasts of the Turks. Every living creature within the area of
60,000 square yards round the magazine had ceased to exist, the loss
of life being computed from 1,200 to 2,000 persons; certainly two
entire regiments were annihilated, with 50 donkies, 30 camels, 12
cows, and some horses.
This was the first occasion on which the advantages of steam had been
fully proved in battle, by the rapidity with which the steamers took
up their positions, and the assistance they rendered to the other
ships, as also by the destruction caused through the shells thrown
from them.
On the 4th another explosion took place, by which a marine was killed
and Captain Collier had his leg fractured.
The garrison being placed in a state of order, was left under the
command of Sir Charles Smith, with 3,000 Turkish troops, and 250
marines under Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, with the protection of the
'Pique' and 'Stromboli.'
Return of killed and wounded in the squadron under the orders of
Admiral the Hon. Sir Robert Stopford, Commander-in-Chief, in the
attack of the fortifications of St. Jean d'Acre, 3rd November, 1840:--
'Princess Charlotte.'--Killed, 1 seaman.
'Powerful.'--Wounded, 1 seaman, severely; 2 seamen and 1 marine,
slightly
'Bellerophon.'--None killed or wounded.
'Revenge.'--Killed, 1 seaman, 1 drummer of marines. Wounded, 3
seamen, severely; 1 marine, slightly.
'Thunderer.'--None killed or wounded.
'Castor.'--Killed, 4 seamen. Wounded, 1 seaman 2 marines, severely;
3 seamen 1 marine, slightly.
'Edinburgh.'--Killed, 2 seamen, 1 drummer, 1 marine. Wounded
slightly, Commander F. D. Hastings, Mr. John Davies, master, Mr.
Joseph Plimsoll, assistant-surgeon, Mr. Henry Boys, midshipman, 1
seaman, 1 boy, 1 marine.
'Benbow.'--None killed or wounded.
'Pique.'--None killed or wounded.
'Carysfort.'--None killed or wounded.
'Talbot.'--Wounded severely, Lieutenant G. B. Le Mesurier, who died
from his wounds; Mr. Henry Haswell, mate, slightly, 1 seaman severely.
'Gorgon.'--None killed or wounded.
'Wasp.'--Wounded, 5 seamen, 1 marine, severely,
'Stromboli.'--None killed or wounded.
'Phœnix.'--None killed or wounded.
'Vesuvius.'--None killed or wounded.
'Hazard.'--Wounded, 1 marine, 1 boy, slightly.
Turkish Flag-ship, Rear-Admiral Walker.--Four killed, 3 wounded.
'Medea,' Austrian Flag-ship, Rear-Admiral Bandeira.--One killed, 4
wounded.
'Guerriera,' Austrian frigate.---One killed, 2 wounded.
Total killed, 18; total wounded, 41.
Nearly 2,000 Egyptians were killed by the explosion of the magazine,
and 300 on the ramparts, wounded unknown; 3,000 prisoners were taken.