Ibrahim Pasha, who had taken Acre in 1837, had commenced to strengthen
it greatly; but the fortifications he had designed were not completed
when the allied squadron of twenty ships, mostly line-of-battle ships,
appeared off it, 2nd November 1840. Towed by the steamers, the ships
the next morning speedily took up their positions, and opened their fire
in the most spirited manner.
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 guns, however, 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 re-man their guns. The flag-lieutenant then brought the
orders to withdraw.
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 fourteen English and four Turks killed, and forty-two wounded.
An entire battalion, which had been formed near the magazine, ready to
resist any attempts to storm, was 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 1200 to 2000 persons. Certainly two entire regiments were
annihilated, with fifty donkeys, thirty camels, twelve 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 3000 Turkish troops and 250 marines,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, with the protection of the _Pique_ and
_Stromboli_.
The results of the capture of Acre were very important. Ibrahim Pasha
evacuated Syria, and Mehemet Ali gave up the whole Turkish fleet, which
sailed for Marmorice under Admiral Walker. Soon after, the Sultan sent
a firman, according to the Pasha the hereditary possession of Egypt,
without any interference on the part of the Porte, while a yearly
tribute of 2,000,000 pounds was to be paid to the Sultan, besides about
2,000,000 pounds more of arrears.
Thus terminated the part taken by the British at that time in the
affairs of Turkey and Egypt.