Chapter 17 of the life of Thomas Lord Cochran, 10th Earl of Dundonald, completing the autobiography of a seaman. Volume 2 by Henry Richard Foxbourne and others. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, auto-volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The life of Thomas Lord Cochran, 10th Earl of Dundonald, completing the autobiography of a seaman. Volume 2 by Henry Richard Foxbourne and others. By Henry Richard Foxbourne. Chapter 17, 1827. Lord Cochran entered the Aegean Sea with his little schooner, Unicorn, and the French brig Salvers on the 17th of March, 1827. In the afternoon, he halted off the island of Hydra, there to leave the Greek deputy, Orlando, who had accompanied him from Marseille. I was surprised, he said, to observe that, except the open batteries near the town of Hydra, the whole coast of the island remained unprotected, although in a smooth sea, a landing might be affected in almost every part of its circumference. The town of Hydra is built in an irregular manner, on the fall of the mountain about the port, and presents a clean appearance, the houses being all whitewashed. There is not a tree on the island, though there are a few straggling bushes. There is scarcely any land capable of cultivation, but there are some vineyards on the south side, and a few small gardens near the town. The port is small, the water deep, and the vessels made fast by horses to the shore. It is evident that if Greece obtains its independence, this island, to which the inhabitants fled to enjoy that species of precarious liberty that depends on alluding the view of tyranny, must be abandoned. Even water is only to be had from tanks, which are filled by the winter's rain. From Hydra, Lord Cochrane proceeded to Aegina, making a circuit in order that he might have a view of Athens. The Acropolis, he wrote, with the whole scenery at sunset, was beautiful. Alas, what a change, what melancholy recollections crowd on the mind. There was the seat of science, of literature, and the arts. At this instant, the barbarian Turk is actually demolishing by the shells that are now flying through the air. Scanty remains of the once magnificent temples in the Acropolis. He called Aegina on the 18th in order to dispatch letters, announcing his arrival to the governing commission, as it was called, then located in the island before proceeding to Poros, where he anchored on the evening of the 19th. The main entrance, we further read in his journal, is scarcely wide enough to work a ship in if the wind is from the land. The water, however, is sufficiently deep close to the shore, and the port, when you have entered through this narrow channel, is one of the finest in the world. There is another entrance toward the south, but it is shallow and crooked, and consequently only used by small vessels. The town of Poros consists of a number of irregularly built houses on the side of a hill, and merits the appellation of picturesque. There are remains of temples on the island, and the stone is yet to be seen, on which Demosthenes is said to have been sitting, when he was recalled by Antipater to Athens, and in consequence of which recall he took poison and died. No sooner was the joyful intelligence conveyed to the inhabitants that Lord Cochrane, the long-expected deliverer of Greece, had actually arrived, than all the leading men who happened to be in Poros at the time hurried on board the Unicorn to welcome their champion, and to give personal assurance of their devotion to him. The first to arrive was Giacomachy Tombazes, who is now acting with Dr. Goss as superintendent of Marine Affairs, having surrendered the chief command of the fleet into the hands of Andreas Mialis. Mialis himself soon followed, and with him Alexander Mavrokodatos and many others. Prince Mavrokodatos, road lord Cochrane's secretary, Mr. George Cochrane, was a short, stout, well-built man, a very dark complexion, with black eyes, an oval face expressing great intelligence, and his hair very long, hanging upon his shoulders. He was dressed in the European style, and wore on his head a little cloth cap. He also habitually wore spectacles. His manners indicated a man perfectly accustomed to the society of persons of rank. He immediately entered into familiar conversation with Lord Cochrane in the French language. He carried his pipe with him, which he continually smoked. Mialis was dressed in the Hydriot fashion, but of course, as became a primate of the island, his attire was of a description much superior to that of his poorer fellow countrymen. The confidence was open and dignified, and so calm that it appeared like a rock which nothing could move. Not that it had any character of sternness in it, on the contrary, it possessed a placidity, blended with a firmness which was anything but forbidding. The moment Mialis came on deck, he cordially shook hands with Lord Cochrane, and a broken conversation commenced between them in Spanish. Mialis speaking that language but imperfectly. In question, he commanded the Hellas frigate. He knew perfectly well that Lord Cochrane's arrival would take the command out of his hands. Nevertheless, he evinced not the least jealousy, but was one of the first of his services under Lord Cochrane. I know my countrymen, he said, and that I can be of service to your lordship on board the frigate. I will therefore sail under your command. Such an offer was not to be refused, and he was requested to remain on board. Mialis informed Lord Cochrane that the hope of Greece rested in the Hellas, and in the quantum merchant brigs belonging to private individuals in the islands of Hydra, Spetsars, Poros and Agina, amounting to about 250. These vessels had been armed as men of war, some had been turned into fire ships, and it was the latter that struck so much terror into the Turks, several Turkish vessels of the line and frigates having been destroyed under the guidance of the brave Canaris, the native of the ill-fated island of Sara. The compliments and congratulations offered in person to Lord Cochrane immediately after his anchoring off Poros were followed by compliments and congratulations, yet more profuse, conveyed to him in writing by all classes and from all quarters. One of the first and most important communications was addressed to him on the 18th March in the name of the National Assembly, as it styled itself, met at Castry by its president, Georgios Sinas. Greece, he said, rejoices at your appearance in her seas. The aspirations of the Greeks are realised. Their hopes in the success of their sacred struggle revive. The Greek nation, assembled here in a third national assembly, desires to see you and invites you here sending to you, with that object, the general-in-chief of the armies of the Peloponnesus, Theodore Calicotronius, Messas Canaris, Bottazes and Balgaris, General Zavella and Count Metaxas, who will tender to you the thanks of all for your zeal on behalf of their cause. The government is seized with unutterable joy at your auspicious arrival," wrote the members of the rival assembly at Agina on the same day. The government wishes you happy success in all your enterprises and soon hopes to find you a triumph and conqueror. For a long while past, wrote the governors of Hydra, our brave mariners have centred all their hopes on your arrival. You can understand, then, the joy that we felt when we saw your brig and schooner and when we knew that you had actually arrived. We hastened to tender to you the homage of our island and to express to you our impatience, to see our little navy placed under your orders and guided by you to new victories, by which the safety and independence of Greece may be secured. Your arrival in our beloved country," wrote the primates of Spetsas, has filled the soul of every inhabitant of our island with joy and presents his thanks to heaven for having at last sent such an one to fight with us and to protect our Fatherland. You have come to Greece, wrote Konduriatos, at a moment when this unfortunate country most needs all that it can hope from the wisdom and courage of so great a defender. The announcement of your arrival will form an epoch in the history of our revolution and, dare I to hope, in that of our moral regeneration. But moral regeneration was needed, Lord Cochran already well knew, and he had not been a day in Greece before the knowledge was forced upon him afresh. The unworthy disposition of most of the men in power had never been more plainly shown nor threatened more imminent danger to the independence of Greece than at the time of Lord Cochran's arrival. With a few notable exceptions of whom Mialis was perhaps the chief, the Greek leaders had forgotten all their national duty in personal ambition and jealousy. If they united in parties, it was only because each one hoped that as soon as his own party was triumphed he himself would be able to obtain the mastery over all his associates. Two factions especially prevailed in Greece at this time, which partly from the circumstance that they were supported by unwise Phil Halleen's of the two nations, partly because their native members looked for their chief support to those nations, were known as the French and English parties. Among Phil Halleen's, the leading promoter of the French party was Colonel Fabvier, who was now with some of the troops whom he commanded defending the Acropolis from the siege of the Turks. He was an officer of considerable merit with the interests of the Greeks at heart, but of surpassing vanity and ambition. His hope was to become the Napoleon of the East to convert the whole male population of Greece into a huge army with himself at its head. With him sympathised most of the military leaders who originally little better than brigands found everything to gratify their present tastes and their future hopes in a scheme which would give them endless employment in lawless warfare and martial dominion. These coming chiefly from the Maria caused the faction, also, to be known as the Morriot Party. More forbiddable was the English party with little that was English about it but the name. Its ambition was not military but diplomatic, the possession of place and power in such ways as were then possible. It's real if not of our leader, was Prince Mavrakondotos, with an able abetter in his brother-in-law, Mr Spiriad and Trocoupez. All through the previous year Mavrakondotos and his friends had sought zealously to win for Greece the protection of England that had corresponded to that end with Mr Stratford Canning, the British ambassador at Constantinople with Captain Hamilton, who was then stationed in Greek waters to watch the interests of English shipping and with others. They had sent in a regular deputation to treat with the British government and had used all the means in their power so far as foreign intervention was concerned the establishment of a smaller but more organised Greek nation than that which their rivals desired. Had that end been worthily sought they would have deserved universal sympathy but they showed by their conduct that they cared little for good government or for the real interests of the community. They exercised their abilities and squandered their resources in schemes for selfish aggrandisement and the possession of authority which was to benefit none but themselves. Many of their prominent members having studied statecraft before the time of the revolution were Christian officials in the employment of Turkey to whose name the Fenariot was given from the Christian quarter of Constantinople the whole party acquired the name Fenariot. This latter party had all along hoped to make Lord Cochrane its tool. It was Mavrokodatos who first invited him to enter the service of the Greeks and when that service was agreed upon no effort was spared to attach him to the group of partisans among whom Mavrokodatos was chief. He steadily refusing this soon incurred their opposition and to this opposition is to be attributed some of the unreasonable blame which was afterwards brought upon him. Much further opposition to him moreover was soon aroused by his in like manner refusing to become the creature of the other leading faction. He wisely resolved from the first and maintained his resolution throughout to belong to no party but having devoted himself to the cause of the Greek nation as a whole to seek only those objects that resolution was soon put to the test. Immediately after his arrival on the 19th of March great efforts were made to implicate him in the schemes of the governing commission as it was called which having outrun the time appointed to its duration was continuing to assert its authority in a Gina and to use that authority in the interests of the Fenariot party. Two days after that his partisanship was sought for the Morriot faction which had set up a rival government styled the National Assembly of Colicotrones, Conduriotes and Colotes. On the 20th he was waited upon by the deputation named in the congratulatory letter which has already been quoted from. With his whole party, said Lord Cochrane's secretary reporting this interview Colicotrones rode down to the beach opposite the ship and sent off to say he would there wait until a boat should be sent for him and his followers the whole being about a hundred men armed according to the custom of the country with pistols or daggers stuck ash or belt. The two boats sent being insufficient not more than twenty came on board with the general. Colicotrones was the spokesman and there appeared to be great energy in his gesticulations which did not correspond with the translation by Count Metaxas who from the smile on his countenance seemed to hold in no great respect the mental acquirements of Colicotrones. Greece said the latter required the government to bring order out of chaos. The functions of the commission appointed by the last legislative assembly ought to have ceased. Its continuance in power was not legal and consequently the members of the National Assembly had met at Hermione to name their successes to which place it was requested that Lord Cochrane would proceed in order to be present at their deliberation. A letter to this effect signed by the president of the assembly was then brought in Lord Cochrane's hands. Lord Cochrane made answer verbally through Count Metaxas to the deputies that he held in due estimation the honour they had done him by personally delivering the communication as well as by the very flattering terms used towards him by the members assembled at Hermione. He regretted the decision that had taken place and recommending reconciliation urged the necessity of prompt exertion and the little good that the wisest legislative enactments could effect whilst the Turks overran their country, whilst they possessed three-fourths of its strongholds and whilst the enemy besieged the capital of the state which was in danger of falling into their power. His lordship expressed regret that so many able and brave military officers as those he saw before him should occupy themselves with civil discussions in the present state of their country. Upon this being interpreted to Cochrane's he became exceedingly warm and urged the duty he was now occupied with was more essential than any other. He however cooled on seeing as we presume that no one seconded his opinion which he evidently expected by his glances towards his companions. Cochrane's remained some time without saying a word, then rising took lord Cochrane by the hand and assured him he would do his utmost to produce a reconciliation of parties. Lord Cochrane urged that the termination of differences between the parties should be within the space of three days. Kelekotronius requested five but afterwards caused his interpreter, Count Metaxas to say that possibly an answer might be received from Hermione even before the shortest period fixed. Count Metaxas was the last who left the cabin and as soon as the others had gone he turned to Lord Cochrane and assured him that his utmost endeavours should not be wanting to accomplish so desirable an object. The Count had evidently the management of Cochrane's to whom he probably adheres in order to arrive at real power under the sanction of an individual on whose shoulders may be heaped all the evil measures to be anticipated in acquiring or upholding in the authority over a multitude of rival chiefs and their rude followers. Cochrane's and his party then left Cochrane having first directed one of their soldiers to await Lord Cochrane's reply to the communication of the assembly. A deputation from Hydra and a crowd of other visitors however precluded Lord Cochrane's dispatching the courier until the following morning. The reply dated the 21st of March was wise and bold. I have the honour, wrote Lord Cochrane, to receive the dispatchers which you have addressed to me and I cannot but be flattered by the sentiments they convey. This satisfaction is the more lively because I have had the opportunity of becoming personally acquainted with his Excellency, General Kellacotronez and the officers who accompanied him but I freely acknowledge that it is blended with the feeling of regret in that it appears to me that the bravest and most renowned officers of Greece are devoting all their energies to the formation of a civil government and wasting their time in discussions as to the place in which they shall affect a reunion while the enemy is overrunning the country without resistance. Already he possesses three fourths and is besieging the capital of the Republic. Athens is on the point of falling into the power of the Ottoman forces. The brave Thavia and a few heroes full of enthusiasm are engaged in aiding the valiant defenders of that city and meanwhile the officers of Greece but take themselves again and again to frivolous discussions on civil affairs. If the shade of Demosthenes could again animate the ashes of this great man which are here entombed he would, changing only the names of persons and places, address to you his first Philippic and you would hear from the lips of a compatriot profoundly versed in history and in the knowledge of mankind what ought to be your manner of acting. I recommend you read his discourse in full assembly and I especially recommend the citizens charged with presiding over the destinies of Greece to follow his councils point by point with an authority so applicable to the existing circumstances it would be unpardonable presumption in me to address you in other than his own words. If Demosthenes you will now though you did not before adopt the principle of every man being ready when he can and ought to give his service to the state to give it without excuse the wealthy to contribute the able-bodied to enlist in a word plainly if you will become your own masters and cease each expecting to do nothing while his neighbour does everything for him you will then with God's permission get back your own and recover what has been lost and punish your enemy. To the same effect will Lord Cochran's answers to the congratulatory letters sent to him by the leading persons and parties in Greece it may be well to notice he wrote on the same day to the government at Ejina that in the conversation which I had with your deputation from Hermione I respectfully suggested that as laws cannot be promulgated with advantage whilst the mass of the country is under the iron yoke of Turkish despotism nor executed whilst the lives and properties of all continue insecure the national assembly might be adjourned with advantage until the capital is free and thus we should avoid debating whilst we should be acting and check those animosities and divisions which naturally arise from difference of sentiment under the peculiar conditions of modern Greece. The time now draws near he wrote to the government of Hydra when the approach of a large force may be reasonably anticipated and when consequently the means that the Greeks possess of contending with their enemies will be comparatively diminished. I have therefore in the name of all Europe by whose people I may in truth say I have been sent here called upon the executive government and upon all those connected with public affairs to act with union and promptitude and I have informed them that without harmony and exertion among the chiefs the slender means placed at my disposal and any services which I personally could render will prove of no avail the people are split into factions and operations are paralysed by the conflicting personal interests of chiefs who perceive not that the prize about which they are contending will fall to the share of others. I have as yet taken no authority upon me in naval affairs because if union do not prevail I shall deceive Greece and deceive the world by inducing a belief that I could assist you. While waiting however for the rivalries of the Greek leaders to be removed or at any rate set aside for a time Lord Cochrane was not idle. He had frequent interviews not only with Admiral Mialis a native semen of ability but also with Dr. Goss and with Captain Abney Hastings who joined him on the 22nd and provided him with much precise information as to the naval strength of Greece the character of the officers and crews and the best methods of attacking the Turks with advantage. Information as precise about the land forces was derived from other Phil Hellenes among whom Colonel Hydeck and Colonel Gordon were perhaps the best informed. Lord Cochrane also made the acquaintance of a newcomer in Greece with whom he was soon to have very intimate relations Sir Richard Church. General Church had begun life as an officer in the British Army. He had seen various service between 1801 and 1809 and in the latter year had organised a battalion of Greeks at Zante with which and afterwards with another which he also formed he had played an important part in the war for the liberation of the Ionian islands. On the establishment of peace he had passed into the Neapolitan service many of his old Greek soldiers were now leaders in the revolution while Lord Cochrane was on his way to become the first admiral of the Greeks General Church had been invited to become General Isimo on land. He arrived at Putto Kelly near Castree or Hermione on the 9th of March eight days before the appearance of Lord Cochrane The generals assembled at Hermione came out to meet him and tender their submission Our father is at last to come, said one We have only to obey him and our liberty is secured Sir Richard Church was at once sought as a leader by the Morriot faction acclaimed by the Fenariot as their champion He however like his new comrade wisely resolved to avoid partisanship and to study the interests of Greece's whole and to him must be assigned a share of the good work of pacification in which Lord Cochrane was the prime mover This unhappy country he wrote to his new friend on the 19th of March is now divided by absurd and criminal dissensions I hope however that your lordship's arrival will have a happy effect and that they will do everything in their power to be worthy of such a leader They did something, if not everything It was firmly believed that party strife had reached such a point that had Lord Cochrane's arrival been delayed only a few days longer the leaders of the national assembly at Hermione turning aside from their useless discussions would have acted upon a plot that had been in preparation for several weeks and landing a hostile force at a Gina would have violently seized the whole governing commission they're established Lord Cochrane's honest reproof and so saved Greece from the horrors of another civil war I'm happy to be able to inform you on the 25th of March that things are brought to that state that the union of the parties has I think now affected The deputies from Castry came over to me yesterday morning at Damala and there they met those of a Gina after some discussion they have come to a conclusion which if ratified by the assembly at a Gina will finally terminate the affair The affair was not terminated immediately Lord Cochrane had to dispatch many more letters and messages of earnest entreaty and indignant reproach to the leaders of the rival factions at a Gina and Hermione and to other prominent men before the good-end that he and all true Phil Halleen's and Patriot's sort could be gained I have received the letter which your Excellency has addressed to me wrote the worthy Mialis on the 3rd of April in answer to a letter declining to take command of the fleet until the differences were settled and I appreciate the objections which it contains I wish with all my heart that the reasons which prevent you may not exist beyond this evening and that a general union will induce you to place yourself at the head of the Greek Navy Before that on the 28th of March Lord Cochrane had received a formal commission from the government at a Gina knowing well around the document the valor, wisdom, ability and energy and all the warlike virtues which are joined in the esteemed world person of Lord Cochrane and by which he has been distinguished in all the various services with which he has elsewhere been charged the governing commission ordains first that Lord Cochrane be appointed first admiral of the fleet and of all the naval forces of Greece secondly that he rank above all other naval officers and enjoy all the honours, privileges and rights that appertain to his office thirdly that all the admiral's officers and seamen of Greece recognise him as their superior and obey his orders in all that concerns the service of the nation and that all the servants of the state whether civil or military render him the honour and respect that are his due fourthly that the general secretary of the government execute this order in all respects so soon as his excellency Lord Cochrane shall have taken oath to perform the duties in regard of which he pledges himself to serve and to act the document was signed by Andreas Zemez as president by Tricoupes Demetrocoupoulos Blacos, Zamedos Mavro-Micales Anagiros, Monarchides and Zotos and by Glorakis the secretary of state Lord Cochrane refused to accept the trust thus imposed upon him however until the authorities at Ejina had united with those at Hermione and with the primates of the island forming one true national assembly they still hesitated and objected and he still had to warn and to expostulate at length on the 3rd of April being convinced that milder language was useless he wrote to the rival leaders informing them that as his councils appeared to be of no avail seeing that they were addressed to persons who professing to have the interests of the nation at heart were determined to ruin those interests by their obstinate selfishness he should quit Greece at once unless before the close of the day they agreed to lay aside their differences that wise threat was successful the factions coalesced and decided to meet in joint assembly at Demala, also known by its ancient name of Trozene on the 4th of April Lord Cochrane was able to write to them in a different tone having come to Greece he said with a firm determination to have nothing to do with party rivalries except so far as to seek to conciliate them for the public good and not to trouble myself about civil affairs beyond assuring myself of the legality of my functions as admiral of Greece and having resolved to do all in my power to obtain its deliverance from the Mohammedi and Yoke as well as from all foreign domination I am well pleased at the reunion of all your members in a single national assembly and congratulate you on the restoration of harmony allow me at the same time my prayers for the unanimity of the members of the government and for the prompt completion of the business of the national assembly in order that its members may depart their respective provinces and use their great influence to impress upon their compatriots the imminent danger of the state and induce them to rush to arms and by one simultaneous effort expel the oppressors of Greece after that the legislative assembly will have leisure and the requisite security to deliberate upon the constitution the laws and the arrangements necessary to establish upon a permanent footing the happiness and the prosperity of their fellow citizens having thus done so much for Greece Lord Cochrane was asked to do more the deputies whom you did me the honour to send he wrote on the following day having informed me of the difficulties which you find informing a government with the necessary promptitude because of the jealousy shown in choosing citizens to fill situations of authority permit me to advise that each member should write down the name of the person of his choice and place it in an urn and that he who obtains the highest number of votes should be president the second vice president and the others ranged in order until the number of functionaries is complete in this way you will avoid discussions animosities and the loss of time which is so precious in the present circumstances of Greece at present naval and military operations alike are all suspended the enemy is preparing to put an end at once to the question which engrosses your attention and to the independence and liberty of Greece that sensible advice was not taken but the first difficulties in the way of administrative reform were overcome on the 7th of April the National Assembly met at Damala on the coast opposite to Poros and half way between Hermione and Regina the meeting place for want of the building large enough to hold the 200 members of the German grove watered by the classical fountain of Hippocrine its first business attended by turmoil which threatened to bring the whole proceeding to a violent close was the election of Count Cappadistrias as president for 7 years of the Greek nation Cappadistrias was a favourite of the Morriot party but disliked by the Fenariots and hated by the island primates the two latter would have prevented the election but for the support given to it by Lord Cochran this account has been frequently and seriously blamed there can be no doubt however that whatever may have been the subsequent shortcomings of Cappadistrias he was greatly superior to any of the other and native candidates for the office none of these candidates had given any proof of statesmen like powers or disinterested regard for the welfare of Greece Lord Cochran judged with good reason that that welfare could only be promoted by placing at the head of affairs a man who had hitherto had no share in party strife who had proved himself to be possessed of great abilities and of generous love for the nation of which as a native of Corfu he was in some sort a citizen unfortunately though for this Lord Cochran was in no way responsible the management of affairs during the time that must elapse before Cappadistrias if he accepted the office tended to him could enter upon it was entrusted to a vice governing commission composed of three inefficient men Giorgius Merva McCulles Miliates of Sara and Nacos of Livedia the most important business done by the Trozene assembly was the installation of Lord Cochran as the first Admiral of Greece this was done on the 18th of April landing for the first time on the continent Lord Cochran proceeded in state on horseback for the distance of a mile and a half that was between the shore and the lemon grove at the entrance he was met by Calicotrones saying you are welcome words that were repeated by many other leading Greeks who attended and conducted him into the centre of the grove there he was formally introduced to the delegates as the first Admiral through an interpreter he addressed to them a few sentences urging the necessity of continued harmony and over prompt expedition against the Turks to be conducted both by sea and by land after that placing his hand on the hilt of his sword he took the necessary oath I swear to shed my blood for the safety of the Greeks and for the liberation of their country I swear that I will not abandon their cause so long as they do not themselves abandon it but sustain my efforts the election of Sir Richard Church as General Lissimo of the Land Forces was in like manner completed on the 15th of April the essential business for which Lord Cochran had desired that the United National Assembly should meet at Trozene being now accomplished he hoped it would speedily adjourn in order that the military leaders should be enabled to proceed at once to the work pressing urgently upon them the critical moment said Lord Cochran in a letter addressed to them on the 16th of April has arrived in which you are called upon to decide whether the population of Greece shall be annihilated or enslaved your country peopled with barbarous hoards and the name of Greece blotted out from the list of independent nations the National Assembly however spent more than a month in idle discussions and in disputing upon matters the settlement of which ought to have been postponed to a less perilous time again and again Lord Cochran had to impress upon them the necessity in war as in council of prompt and united action but with very poor result once more I address you by letter he wrote a few days later in the hope that you may be persuaded instantly to take measures to save your country from the ruin which protracted deliberations must at the present moment entail I with as much certainty as a continuance of those dissensions which have hitherto so unhappily prevailed and I follow this course more readily in order that as I have ever advocated liberal forms of government my advice that your assembly shall bring its labours to a close shall not be misrepresented to Greece and to the world first then the agitated state of the country by reason of the presence of the enemy precludes the hope of obedience in ordinary course of law which is as essential to the existence even of a shadow of republican forms as the practice of virtue and forbearance are to their reality which in states that would be free ever must be accompanied by universal conviction in the public mind that power and wealth are not essential to the enjoyment of personal security and are desirable or useful only as they promote the common welfare or administer to the wants or comforts of individuals themselves the greekian people however good naturally cannot be expected instantly to practice virtues which are the offspring of long established freedom Greece requires not at the present moment sage deliberations regarding permanent forms of government nor permanent rulers but she requires energetic authority that she may be free at last from her foreign oppressors if without delay the military officers take the field which can be brought to a close and every citizen in his respective capacity can exert himself to the utmost for the defense of his country Athens perhaps may yet be saved although that object assuredly is rendered far more doubtful by the unfortunate delay that has already occurred in entering upon his own share of the work no time was wasted by lord Cochrane he had already made himself acquainted with the naval resources of Greece and they are much in devising measures for augmenting them he had resolved upon the first enterprise to be entered upon and while rapidly completing his arrangements for it he did everything in his power to quicken in the hearts of the Greeks a patriotism as pure and zealous as was his own philanthropy to arms to arms he wrote in a proclamation issued at this time one simultaneous effort and Greece is free discord the deadly foe the most to fear is conquered the task that now remains is easy the youth everywhere fly to arms the fate of the acropolis is no longer doubtful the Turks surrounded their supplies cut off the passers occupied and retreat impossible you can ensure the freedom of the classic planes of Athens again destined to become the seat of liberty the sciences and the arts rest not content with such limited success Greece is not the sword whilst the brutal Turk the enemy of the progressive civilization and improvement of the human mind shall occupy one foot of that classic ground which once was yours let the young seamen of the islands emulate the glory that awaits the military force let them hasten to join the national ships and if denied your independence and rights blockade the hellerspont thus carrying the war into the enemy's country then the fate of the cruel sultan the destroyer of his subjects the tyrant taskmaster of a christian people shall be sealed by the hands of the executioners who yet obey his bloody commands then shall prophecy be fulfilled and moslem's sway be overthrown by the corruptions itself as engendered then shall the sacred banner of the cross once more wave over the dome of Saint Saphir then shall the garushian people live secure the protection of just laws then shall mobile cities rise from their ruins and the splendour of future times rival the days that are past End of Chapter 17 Recording by Timothy Ferguson, Gold Coast, Australia After the conquest of Missolonghi by which all western Greece was bought under Turkish dominion Rashid Pasha lost no time in proceeding to drive the Greeks from Athens their chief stronghold in the east the siege of the town had been begun by Omar Pasha of Negropont with a small Ottoman force on the 21st of June 1826 Rashid arrived on the 11th of July and after much previous fighting stormed Athens so vigorously on the 14th of August that the inhabitants were forced to abandon it many of them however took refuge in the Acropolis where a strong garrison was established under the tyrannical rule of Goura and in this fortress the defence was maintained for nearly two months Goura died in October and the rivalries of the officers whom he had held in awe now allowed to have free exercise threatened to make easy the further triumph of the besieges the citadel must have surrendered but for the timely arrival of Karas Kakes and Thavir each with a strong body of troops who diverted the enemy by formidable attacks in the rear Karas Kakes and his force continued with very success to watch and harass the enemy from without on the 12th of December Thavir by a brilliant exploit forced his way into the Acropolis with about 600 men he had intended only to give a temporary relief but many of the native chiefs gladly taking advantage of the arrival of a body for which could jointly with the garrison already established there was not room in the fortress hastily departed thus the leadership of the garrison comprising about a thousand soldiers with whom were four or five hundred women and children and more than forty Phil Hellenes from France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy devolved upon Colonel Thavir the besieges numbered about seven thousand picked soldiers including a regiment of cavalry veterans and a good train of artillery the greek regulars and irregular including a corps of Phil Hellenes commanded by Captain Inglisi who attempted to raise the siege varied at times from two or three thousand to seven or eight thousand that was the state of affairs when Lord Cochrane arrived in Greece that the expulsion of the Turks from Attica and the recovery of Athens was the first great work to be attempted was clear to everyone whether native or Phil Hellene who had the welfare of Greece at that time who had the welfare of Greece at heart but opinions varied as to the best mode of procedure nearly all previous efforts had been aimed at the direct attack of the besieges in Athens and its neighborhood General Gordon had established a camp of about three thousand men at Menachia the hill from which two and twenty centuries before the Recibelus had gone down to deliver Athens from the thirty tyrants and Karasakis from two thousand five hundred followers was stationed at Karatsina on the other side of the Piraeus but the operations of both leaders were restrained by Rashid Pasha's establishment of a garrison in the monastery of St. Spyridon midway between the two camps and without wiser leaders than the Greeks had hitherto possessed there seemed small chance of their chasing the enemy from his strong positions another plan feebly recommended and yet more feebly attempted for Lord Cochrane's arrival was to starve him out by intercepting the supplies of provisions that were brought from Turkey by way of the northern channel of the Negropont to be sent overland from Oropus a well fortified magazine on the northern shore of Attica Lord Cochrane saw it once that this latter course was the one most likely to be of service or at any rate the one rightly devolving upon him while General Church was pursuing his operations near Athens and he was strengthened in this conviction by discussion on the subject with General Gordon who came for a short visit to Poros on the 21st of March in his own yacht to this end he laboured while he was waiting for the reconciliation of parties and the official recognition of his employment as first admiral the fate of Athens he wrote both to Kolokotronez and to Kariskakis on the 29th of March depends upon out depriving the enemy of the provisions obtained by him from the north General and the soldiers who first devote themselves to this object will have the glory of raising the siege for myself I offer the heartiest cooperation of the fleet accompanied by 2,000 brave marines and the use of all the war steamers and transports in any port of eastern Attica there is not a moment to be lost this proposal was rejected by Kolokotronez on the 2nd of April Kariskakis sent an ambiguous acceptance of it which was cancelled on the 13th we are so mixed up with the enemy he wrote that if we abandon the smallest of our positions we must resign ourselves to the loss of all the Turks are so embarrassed by us that they can offer only a feeble siege to the Acropolis of this I am assured by several Greeks who have lately come from their camp therefore my lord I am deterred from assailing the enemy from the north and I have the boldness to assure and promise you that if you will aid me here Athens will be free in a few days with the help of 2,000 good recruits the enemy will not be able to resist our enthusiasm I implore you in the name of Greece to assist me as soon as possible with the means of destroying him and of saving Athens that later and the advice of all in office whether military or civil to the same effect altered Lord Kolkotronez plans as he, said Gordon who afterwards blamed him on this account unacquainted with the country and the language could not form a correct judgment on the innumerable reports submitted to him it is not surprising that he was deceived by letters written from the Acropolis and entrusted to soldiers who disguised as Turks or Albanians slipped from time to time through the enemy's lines in these epistles Fabvia and the other chiefs painted their situation in the blackest colours carefully concealing the fact of their having provisions for many months quote end by them native Greeks and foreigners long resident in the country were deceived Lord Kolkotronez still clinging to his project for injuring the Turks by cutting off their supplies constrained to defer it for the present and in compliance with the request of the government of general church and of Karaskakis to corroborate in the direct attack upon the enemy in the Piraeus I now agree with you he wrote to the latter on the 14th of April that the time has passed when a movement in the rear of the Turks and the cutting off of their provisions could have the effect of saving the Acropolis and I see clearly the justice of your observation that a decisive blow must be struck at once against the enemy the eyes of Europe turned towards Greece and on the successful failure of the measures now to be adopted depends the support of your glorious cause or its abandonment in despair quote end something was done by Lord Kolkotronez however towards the fulfilment of his first design he dispatched Captain Abney Hastings with the cataria and five other vessels to the Gulf of Volo and the Channel of Negropont with orders to seize as many Turkish provision ships as he could find there within the next 14 days one expedition was very successful off Volo on the 20th of April Hastings found eight transports protected by the guns of the fort he silenced the guns captured five of the vessels and destroyed the other three he then passed down the Channel near Triceri fell in with the Turkish Brig of War which after some skillful fighting he destroyed by shells that exploded her powder magazine after that he proceeded to Kumi where he captured a store of grain within the time appointed in the meanwhile Lord Kolkotronez had gone to the Bay of Athens as soon as he could complete the arrangements for the present and future employment of the Greek shipping quote four of the largest brigs at Poros are in process of equipment he wrote to the government on the 16th of April and five of the fastest small sailing vessels of Spetsars and eight transports with a thousand men are ready at Hydra to proceed on service the frigate Hellas is victualed for two months four gunboats have been ordered to be built and fire ships are in progress in addition to those which were already fitted out the expenses of these preparations have been or will be defrayed out of the funds in my possession in addition to these disbursements a very considerable sum out of the money destined for the naval service has been advanced to me for military purposes I consider that the fate of Greece depends in a great measure on pecuniary aid from the rest of Europe and such aid on the probability of ultimate success but assuredly it will not be afforded if Greece proves unable or unwilling to exert herself against the handful of sickly and infillable Turks who continue to besiege the Acropolis of Athens on the 17th of April Lord Cochrane passed from Poros to Salamis in the Hellas attended by 12 brigs and schooners from Hydra and Spetsars in his pay were a thousand hydriets 200 Cretans and a quarter of Rumeilots on the same day General Church and a thousand soldiers collected in the Maria under Genes Calcutronas Cristianthos Sassini and others these new supplies with the troops already at Keretsina and Menachia composed a force of about 10,000 men five days were spent in organising this force over which Sir Richard Church though nominally General Lysimo had very little real command the delay and the want of discipline which caused it were alike annoying to Lord Cochrane whose little fleet was anchored by a philorum his hydriet recruits under Major Gordon Urquhart being established on the adjoining shore on the 18th he received a four hours visit on board the Hellas from Karras Khakis a tall bony athletic man small featured in Swathi with flashing eyes and a lively tongue about 40 years of age on the 19th he and General Church went to inspect the camp of the famous Greek leader at Keretsina it gave it slight evidence of military organisation and both officers and men Lord Cochrane were more willing to talk than fight his presence among them however stirred up a new and fitful enthusiasm on this occasion he brought with him a large blue and white flag with an owl the national emblem of Greece painted on the centre which had been conveyed from Marseille the flag was unfurled in the presence of 7000 Greek soldiers within sight of the Turkish camp through his interpreter Lord Cochrane briefly addressed the soldiers urging them for love of their country and for their own honour and welfare to unite in a prompt and vigorous attack on the enemy then firmly planting the flag in the ground he exclaimed quote, soldiers whoever of you will lodge this flag on the summit of the Acropolis shall receive from me as a reward of his bravery a thousand dollars and ten times that sum shall be my share of the recompense to the force that accompanies him end quote great applause of course followed that announcement and not much more than applause Lord Cochrane's popularity with the troops and their leaders for that time at any rate was unbounded Karaskakes, Nikitas, Cervela Notaris, Macrianes, Gennas, Kolokotrones and all the other captains vied with one another in offering full sumagulation to him and pledging themselves to yield implicit obedience to his instructions by word indeed they were more submissive than he wished he had to remind them that he was admiral of the fleet General Lissimo on land and that the latter office was held by a surrogate church unfortunately Karaskakes and his followers were from the first jealous of general church and general church accustomed only to the management of a small disciplined band was unequal to the troublesome duties appertaining to him as controller of a heterogeneous crowd of irregular soldiers most of them trained as brigands and accustomed to the half lawless rule of their own petty officers had the day passed in which he did not complain bitterly to Lord Kokron of the obstructions thrown in his way and Lord Kokron had to take upon himself the thankless functions of a mediator between a good-hearted commander-in-chief and his disaffected subordinates this state of things would at any time have been irksome to him it was especially so in the condition of affairs represented to him each day fresh reports were brought of the desperate state of the Acropolis the affairs of the Fortress of Athens we read in one document signed by seven leaders of the besieged and dated the 22nd of April have arrived at a very critical height and no longer any remedy is expected from within and therefore the besieged are obliged to address themselves to the government of Greece and to the commanders of her forces and to urge them to adopt the best the speediest and the most efficient measures to relieve the citadel the government and the commanders have always replied with promises of the most positive kind to raise the siege in a very few days we can no longer believe their word to give you further intelligence we now send five men who will tell you verbally what we cannot describe if however they do not persuade you we tell you this is our last letter we will wait five days longer and we can hold out no more we have been brothers and remain so during dearth, sickness and all evils our nature is like that of all men we can suffer no more than others we are neither angels nor workers of miracles to raise the dead or do impossible things if any evil should happen we are not to blame nor has God to condemn us in anything the bearers of this letter and others who bought a like report were carefully examined by Lord Cochran and by them he was solemnly assured that the garrison of the Acropolis destitute of provisions and every other necessary could not possibly hold out he and all others were deceived but he alone thoroughly felt the urgent need of instant action quote as I perceive the ruin of Greece he wrote to Chariskakis on the 23rd of April in the delay now taking place and as I have every reason to believe that intrigues are carrying on by persons of desperate fortune and worthless character with a view to promote their private ends they not being aware that the subjection of Greece to a foreign power will ultimately destroy the hopes which they entertain I take the liberty of urging as an officer who has some character to lose in this affair that your excellency should caution the officers of your army against the vain belief that intrigues at the present moment can produce any other effect than the ruin of themselves in their country the education which my countrymen in common with myself have received leads to an attachment to the cause of Greece amounting to enthusiasm and this feeling cannot but be increased by viewing the monuments of her ancient grandeur I am ready to do my utmost to promote the interests of your country but I am by no means willing to allow myself to be made the puppet of intrigues I shall put an end to intrigue in the navy or I shall quit it and I trust your excellency will excuse me if I adopt the same resolutions respecting the army if you yourself cannot put it down I have been but a short time in Greece but have taken effectual measures to obtain that sort of information which is necessary for my guidance this has led me to the resolution to act by myself and for Greece so far as I can wherever I find that others are either disinclined or unable to cooperate I have moved the transports close to Philarium in order that they may be more conveniently situated when I shall learn the determination of your excellency and the officers in your camp if that determination is to relieve Athens the night of the 26th this past the marines whom I have hired paid invictualed shall cooperate if not I shall try to render them serviceable in some other quarter and I will denounce to the world as traitors to their country those intrigues who are the cause of the captivity and perhaps annihilation of the garrison in the Acropolis my advice to your excellency is that passing the Tamborias at night without firing a shot you join our troops in the olive grove where I will take care they shall meet your excellency if such is your pleasure I have been anxious that the glory of relieving Athens should accrue to a Greek and especially to your excellency that object I am ready to promote by every means in my power the friendly manner in which we met the other day will cause me to regret if in my next letter I shall be obliged to bid your excellency adieu forever end quote the letter to Charus Carques was followed by one written on the 24th to General Church quote in 48 hours wrote Lord Cochran the question of relieving Athens will be at a close I have told Charus Carques what I think of the state of affairs and have made up my mind to act accordingly taking upon myself all the responsibility of not looking longer on Tamboria disputes whilst it seemed resolved by the Greeks themselves not to march to the relief of Athens I have not sent the transports to Attica to raise the miserable inhabitants at this hour when too late for them to be of the least use in relieving the Acropolis if I had done so I should have the load on my conscience of causing their heads to be struck off I can assure you Sir Richard that Colonel Gordon and myself laboured long ago to prevail on Charus Carques to do this but he resisted every application for reasons which it will be well if he can satisfactorily explain hereafter if your men will not come on and Charus Carques men will not in the night pass those miserable Tamborias which in that case are no impediment what is the use of my detaining the squadron here I have viewed the bugbear of a convent this stayed from opposite sides and it is no more in Charus Carques way than the church at Poros since writing the above Lord Cochrane added I have received your note requesting that 600 men shall be transported hence to Charus Carques headquarters in the rear the naval funds have been expended and our funds exhausted in bringing forces nearer to the enemy I'm sure if you reflect on this demand of his and that Charus Carques headquarters are twice as far from Athens as the Falyrum you will be the opinion that it would be better to bring an equal number or even the whole of Charus Carques force here and endeavor immediately to do something effectual to save Favvia and the garrison from the inevitable destruction consequent on the present mode of proceeding if Charus Carques wants small men he wants them to take Tamborias and not to much pass them as he ought for his present position is of no use whatever do cause some rational mode of proceeding to be adopted or let us give it up for we are now only in the way by occasioning jealousy and promoting the vilest intrigues quote ends The bugbearer of a convent which Charus Carques wished first to capture was the monastery of Saint Spyridon accompanied by a few scores of Turks who from it overlooked the Greek encampments on each side the one at Piraeus the other at Menachia with a distant view of Lord Cocker's station at Falyrum and of so-riched churches on the other side finding that Charus Carques would not join with church and press on to Athens at a distance of about 7 miles Lord Cochrane had urged the corporation of all the forces at Cape Collius whence the way to Athens was only about 5 miles long Charus Carques however refused this plan also he maintained that the only safe course was to preserve his position and strengthen it by the formation of innumerable small circular earthworks known as Tamborias within which the soldiers could crouch by day or night in this way he hoped to starve out the garrison at Saint Spyridon the capture of which he deemed essential before any formidable attempt was made upon the main body of the Turkish camp in Athens and around it and especially under the walls of the Acropolis in vain Lord Cochrane urged that this mode of warfare, tardy and expensive enough at the best of times was cruelly reprehensible when they considered the wretched state in which the garrison of the Acropolis was supposed to be for the operation. Charus Carques refused to move answering each appeal by unreasonable demands upon Lord Cochrane for supplies of ammunition and provisions which it was no part of his duty to supply out of the residue of the insignificant sum of 8,000 pounds supply to him out of the Greek loan for naval purposes it may be that Charus Carques a bold and shrewd man was not personally responsible for his inactivity his army was little more than a commonwealth of small bands of which each leader claimed an authoritative share in all deliberation and owed even to him only a nominal subjection but if we equate him individually if Calus we only throw the greater blame on the Greek forces whole that it was blame worthy is clear your lordship wrote so rich church in answer to the letter just quoted is not aware of all the difficulties I had to encounter in passing out troops who had all struck for pay not one would move however that difficulty is now nearly over passing to the camp at this moment quote ends unexpected boldness was forced upon them on the 25th of April I am now in a position wrote Lord Cochran to general church at 8 o'clock in the morning from Piraeus to carry you all over to the rear of the enemy if Calus Carques army have the courage to walk to this point which is in their own possession in order to land on the opposite shore at 200 yards distance whereupon is not a living soul I am now in a position by means of the semen at night as would enable Calus Carques army to move on land towards the Falyrium whilst those on the Falyrium with the exception of a few might take up a position near Athens or in the town I can embark you and yours and leave Calus Carques men without food taking all the provisions to the advanced post leaving him to starve or come on quote ends that desperate expedient was averted two or three hours after suggesting it to the army soldiers under cover of two gunboats a party of Ottomans seeing the operation hurried down with the intention of harassing the newcomers Lord Cochran's hidriots however rushed to the rescue other Turkish troops came up to be met by other Greeks and the battle became general Lord Cochran with nothing but his telescope in his hand gathered the Christian troops around him and with encouraging words led them in an orderly attack upon the entrenchments about the monastery of St. Spyridon within an hour nine entrenchments in the hands of the Greeks who lost only eight men sixty Turks were slain and then their comrades fled most of them hurrying up to the camp of Athens a few but taking themselves to the convent the Greeks wrote Lord Cochran to the government have this day done as their forefathers were want to do henceforth commences a new era in the system of modern grecian warfare if everyone behaves tomorrow as all without exception have behaved today the siege of the Acropolis will be raised and the liberty of Greece secured end quote by this success the Turks with the exception of the garrison in the convent were driven back to the neighbourhood of Athens and Chariskakis was encouraged to remove his camp from Charitsina to the Piraeus at the council of war held the same evening Lord Cochran urged a sudden and united attack upon the Turkish camp on the morrow Chariskakis however declined to move a step further until the monastery was captured and his general church agreed with this view and assented to it early next morning the bombardment of the monastery was begun the Hellas commanded by Miel Allis discharged her heavy guns upon it during several hours with such effect that it seemed to be only a mass of ruins it was feebly infested by Chariskakis on land but its garrison held out with excellent bravery thrice the Greeks tried to storm it but thrice they were driven back in the evening the Turks solicited an armistice and offered to capitulate on condition they were glad to retire with all their arms and properties and this proposal Chariskakis was inclined to accept Lord Cochran however contended that they should have nothing but bare life while this was being discussed the Turks perfidiously assassinated a Greek messenger sent to treat with them and fired upon a boat in which Lord Cochran's secretary Mr Edward Mason was carrying the flag of truce thereupon the chief admiral refused to hear any more of a compromise returning to his ship he ordered the bombardment of the convent resumed and besought Chariskakis to continue storming it by land this was done throughout the 27th but unsuccessfully because unwillingly the Greeks asserted that the Turkish garrison was utterly without provisions and water Lord Cochran urged that if it was so a small detachment of the Greek army and the ships of war would suffice for its investment while the main force marched boldly on to Athens before the terror inspired by its recent achievements had died out he reproached them with cowardice and threatened to leave them unless they took prompt measures for completing their triumph the services of the navy he wrote to Chariskakis are immediately required for other purposes than those of attending upon an inactive army my duty I am determined to execute in all possible ways in which my services can benefit Greece I shall therefore be gratified if in reply to this letter you will inform me if it is in your power to make the army advance and if that advance will take place before tomorrow night it will give me the greatest pleasure to cooperate with you in all manner of ways but my desire to that effect is rendered null if those under your orders will not conform to your wishes or obey your commands to the same effect Lord Cochran wrote on the following morning to General Church the convent and its walls have been levelled to the ground the rubbish alone remains on the southern side towards the shipping and it appears not more than 100 of those it contained or who fled within its walls for safety now remain to oppose or assault or threaten the rear of the Greek army should you be able to prevail on its leaders to advance I should remind those leaders that independently of the army I have full 1500 men under my command a thousand of whom being unsure now at this port are more than sufficient to blockade these ruins and destroy all within which last event might have taken place yesterday and the seamen were removed from the positions which they had stormed and taken in the neighbourhood of the convent and soldiers placed in this stead a circumstance which seems to have given them offence so that they leave storming of the ruins of the convent to those thus placed as they say in the post of honour these feelings in such minds however proper the proceedings may have been in a military point of view I cannot prevent or remove time provisions and money are wasting in an action the enemy is concentrating troops and fortifying positions around Athens each of which positions will be a pretext for delay even where I not aware that abundant excuses of other kinds will not be wanting such as the arrival of a few hundred cavalry from Negropont or the like so that I really begin to despair of one step being made in advance for the relief of the Acropolis I know the difficulties of your situation and I fear that they are more than even your energy can surmount while you shall have done your utmost toward the end we have in view I shall make one effort for the safety of the unfortunate women and children who are threatened with immediate destruction or perpetual slavery Pray let me have a decisive reply as to what is to be done and when General Church's reply is instructive I have read your letter with great attention he wrote and fully enter into your view of affairs the Hydrids are unquestionably the best to storm if anybody will storm the waters that they say have taken their post were placed to cooperate in a general assault and I had made an arrangement with the Chief who certainly displayed considerable courage the other day I gave him directions to collect a band or for law and hope of volunteers to lead with and he is to have five hundred dollars for himself and five hundred for his band had it not rained however ridiculous it may seem to say so I'm sure that a storming party would have advanced yesterday evening and I hope it will do so today in fact the rain yesterday almost dispersed the whole camp and many of our outposts were quite abandoned if the Hydrids will advance I will order the others away immediately you have no idea of my anxiety to move on and I cannot express it Koskakis is at this moment going round his outposts as soon as he returns I shall send for him and combine with him Bongri Malgri and advance for tonight or tomorrow I will let you know as soon as we have had our conference I think my lord that if the weather clears up we shall be able still to storm and perhaps a little firing again would have the effect of rousing the fellows soldiers who could only fight and find weather were hardly fit to rescue Greece in the heaviest pressure of her misfortunes on the previous night something like a mutiny had been occasioned by Lord Cochran's complaints at their inactivity even Koskakis sympathised with his captains quote we shall not go well with these English she said I fear they were ruinous by their impatience they cannot restrain themselves but we must make the best we can of them end quote so Richard Church fired with Lord Cochran's either would not be made the best of according to the views of Koskakis and his followers the letter from him last quoted was followed within an hour by a brief one quote my lord I have the honour to inform you that I have given over the command to General Koskakis end quote Koskakis and the Greek officers were thus left at about 10 o'clock in the morning of the 28th at their own devices at 11 Lord Cochran received orders to cease firing which he had reopened from the guns of the Hellas the movements which through his telescope he saw in process within the convent walls and its gate induced him to send strict orders to Major Urquhart and to withdraw his Hydrid Marines from their posts near the convent and to station them on the summit of Minnichia the Turks had again sent offers of capitulation and Koskakis now uncontrolled church and in contempt of his positive assertion made two days before that the garrison had not a ration of provisions left and could easily be starved into utter submission had acceded to their terms it had been agreed that they were allowed to surrender with all the honours of war bearing their arms and all their property they were to pass unmolested into the Turkish camp on the hills Koskakis must be blamed for the success of generosity but to his credit be it stated that having agreed to the capitulation he took all reasonable care to have it honourably observed along the road leading from the gate of the convent to the fortifications on the hills he ranged soldiers on either side in order that the Turks might be protected from the crowd of less disciplined soldiers all looked well as the 217 men, women and children who had been locked within the shattered building past out of it began their march but no sooner was the convent evacuated than a swarm of Greeks rushed into it each hoping to seize the largest share of the booty which they expected to find they found nothing and then angrily rushed out again to inform their comrades of their disappointment Lord Cochrane watched their proceedings from the deck of the unicorn General Gordon and Mr Finlay who was then serving as a volunteer on Gordon's staff being by his side all those men will be moated exclaimed Mr Finlay pointing to the retreating Turks Lord Cochrane not yet initiated in all the depths of Greek treachery turned in horror to General Gordon and said do you hear what he says my lord answered Gordon I fear it is too true and so it proved a Greek soldier pushing through the guard snatched at the sword of one of the Turks passing along the line the Turk resisted and a scoffer followed two or three other Turks raised their muskets and fired a squad of Greeks at once retaliated the shadow of an excuse was thus afforded to the Christians for wreaking vengeance for all the ills they had endured from the enemy and for giving vent to their anger at finding no prizes in the deserted convent a horrible massacre ensued 200 or more Turks were murdered less than 70 escaped forgive me as I forgive you shouted Keras Kakes to the Muslims after vainly trying to stay the slaughter I can do nothing more for you Islanders wrote Lord Cochrane in a proclamation to his Idriot force I was no party to the capitulation this day fearing that some outrage might be committed I sent you in order to retire and a glory in the consciousness that I have saved you as well as myself from being inculpated in the most horrid scene I ever beheld a scene which freezes my blood and which cannot be palliated by any barbarities which the Turks have committed on you I send you the thousand dollars which I promised should be given to you the thousand dollars which I promised should be distributed as a reward for your valour and for your obedience to my directions which you will ever find lead to the path of honour and humanity and the duty we owe to your country end quote utter confusion among the Greeks resulted for a time from the barbarous massacre of Saint Spyridon the soldiers quarrelled and fought over the bloodstained spoil the officers were occupied with mutual recriminations and excuses regarding their several shares in the atrocity Charus Karkis found himself unable to establish order and had to entreat Sir Richard Church to take back his surrendered authority to this General Church assented on the promise that if he did so he should be aided in bringing the chief wrongdoers to justice and he both he and Lord Cochran hoped for a little while that their very misconduct filling the Greeks with shame and penitence would incline them to listen to the councils in which they both saw the only chance of safety to the garrison of the Acropolis the destinies of Greece wrote Lord Cochran to Charus Karkis on the 29th of April the fate of your army and the character of its chiefs are now wholly in the hands of your Excellency you and you alone will be held responsible for all that shall happen the hour of clemency for Greece is past the sword loan can decide the contest courage is a characteristic of men who deserve to be free let them the conduct of a few atrocious individuals yesterday be faced by a march direct to Athens at least to relieve the women and children now doomed to destruction if prompt exertions be not made to save them your Excellency has hitherto treated my friendly advice in a manner which I did not anticipate but the world will judge between the course you have taken and that which I wished you for the benefit of your country to pursue I shall wait three days for your Excellency's reply when it will be my duty if the fortress be not relieved to attend exclusively to naval affairs I hope you will reflect on the glory you may yet attain by saving your country and on the ruinous consequences of persevering in inaction until the last resources of war shall be exhausted Keraskaka's only answer was that his army was in urgent need of spades and shovels which he hoped that Lord Cochran would supply him as without those means of making fresh tambourias and not move from his encampment Lord Cochran was reasonably indignant I confess he wrote in reply that I am now in despair of your making any movement for the relief of the Acropolis because I have now ascertained that all the obstacles which first presented themselves to your Excellency being overcome others successively present themselves to put off the day of your march to the Acropolis I have made a diversion here this day in favour of your Excellency which by all the rules of military tactics must increase the relative strength of your army and facilitate its march my time in attention must now be devoted to naval matters and unless you advance this evening I shall have deeply and bitterly to regret for the sake of Greece that I ever put faith in anything being accomplished by individuals to whom so many difficulties which my experiences taught me to be imaginary present themselves I recall to your Excellency's recollection your promises and assurances and I call upon you to make some effort for the country from inevitable ruin I solemnly declare that it is my opinion that a thousand men who would obey their orders and do their duty are more than unnecessary to perform the task at which your Excellency hesitates I shall be oppressed with grief if after the sin of yesterday I am compelled to return first to the seat of government and next to Europe without having witnessed any deed that can tend to obliterate the stain of the nation, people I am making my last effort wrote Lord Cochrane to Dr. Goss to get Charus Carcass to advance the monastery is taken, its defenders are destroyed and now the sheepfold on the other side of the Falyram is the obstacle we want mortars, shells and fuses shoes for the semen and food for the mob denominated falsely the army of Greece the letter to Charus Carcass had some effect on the 30th of April General Church wrote to say that he had persuaded the Greek captains to agree unanimously to an immediate movement against Athens 2000 men were to go during the following night by water to the neighbourhood of Kepcholius and then submerged stealthily to a hill about a mile south of Athens which they hoped to seize and secure under cover of darkness during the next evening a force about twice as large was to join them by the same route and all were to do their best to derive the Turks from their encampments around the Acropolis this was Lord Cochrane's plan and there can be no doubt that it would have been successful had the Greeks acted upon it and done their duty unfortunately they did neither having promised overnight they found reasons in the morning for breaking their promises nothing was done on the 1st of May and Lord Cochrane, tired of their excuses for procrastination paid a brief visit to the authorities at Poros the result was that he thought of going without the Greek leaders I have seen the government, he wrote to Sir Richard Church on the 2nd and prepared them for the worst should things go on as they have hitherto done they are incapable of applying any remedy therefore the more credit will be due to you if you shall be enabled to save the garrison of the Acropolis in which endeavour count on my utmost exertions and most unlimited cooperation I hope now you will be able to act without Keras Gakes in addition to your own people I can provide 2000 marines, seamen and volunteers if you land at night to the eastward you may be in the neighbourhood of Athens in 2 hours and there is the garrison of 1500 in addition to co-operate making in the whole a force of nearly 5000 without taking a soldier from Keras Gakes tambourines if however you judge well to have volunteers from Keras Gakes camp I shall offer 200,000 piasters amongst all who will accompany you or meet you at Athens by which means I have little doubt you will find Keras Gakes deserted and the whole mob at the gate of Athens all the vessels are at your servers Sir Richard Church feared to undertake the exploit without the co-operation of Keras Gakes and, on again consulting him he was informed that a fresh supply of entrenching tools was necessary Lord Cochrane immediately sent messages to procure them that was nonetheless annoyed at what seemed to him an unnecessary excuse and again threatened to take his ships where they could do good work for Greece you have done everything in your power Sir Richard to him on the 3rd of May and so have I the soldiers will not embark without entrenching tools all we could collect to do not amount to 250 I would have gone without one but no one will follow me I cannot say more but tomorrow we may be more fortunate I cannot say to you stay or otherwise if you go I cannot deploy it more than yourself Lord Cochrane consented to wait till the morrow by an incident occurred which caused a little further delay on the 4th of May a small body of Greeks, chiefly Hydriots went on a skirmishing expedition at first they were successful and they had nearly won her a doubt when a large force of Turks suddenly assailed them on the flank and drove them back to Philarum with a loss of nearly 100 men Keras Karkas hearing of this reverse hurried to the rescue and with the bravery which was never wanting to him when in actual battle with the fugitives he was on the point of leading the back when a ball from a pistol struck him in the belly he was conveyed in a dying state to General Church's schooner regretted his previous vacillations seems to have filled his mind where is Cochrane bring Cochrane to me he exclaimed over and over Lord Cochrane soon arrived Keras Karkas on seeing him murmured repeated thanks for his forbearance towards himself and his devotion to the cause of the Greeks by the Mason, by the Beard and pointing toward Catecholias said with all the strength he could muster tell them to be sure to land the division over there tomorrow then not doubting that the expedition would be successful he uttered solemn thanks to heaven that he was dying in the moment of victory then he made his will the soldiers will I leave my sword and my gun to my son tell him to remember they belonged to Keras Karkas end quote he had little else to leave he died from the avarice by which many of his countrymen were disgraced he died in the night and in him Greece lost the worthiest of her native warriors his faults were the faults of his nation many of his virtues were his own had his followers been as brave and honest as he was in his best moments he might have led them onto easy victory but they wavered and procrastinated and in listening to their excuses he lost his chance of triumph and subjected himself to blame for which his brave death only half atoned on the evening of the fourth lord Cochran assembled the Greek captains at Monachia and telling them of their leader's dying message asked whether they were ready to obey it for some time they made no answer at length on the question being repeated they replied that they thought they had only been brought to the dirt to hear from the admiral words of consolation for the loss they had sustained in the death of the brave and wise Keras Karkas being asked a third time whether they would obey the dying injunction of their leader for whom they now mourn so much they answered they were not ready that the army was in disorder that some of them were occupied in burying the slain that some were attending the wounded and that all desired to stay near their chief as long as the soul was in his body and to have at any rate the opportunity of kissing his body before its burial with some bitterness Lord Cochran replied that such an excess of grief was inopportune and that their love for Keras Karkas would be best shown in obeying his last command he added that if they really refused to go to the rescue of the Acropolis they would not need his presence on the coast and could not complain of his going to serve Greece elsewhere having said that he returned to his ship he had not been long on board however when a messenger followed him with intelligence that the army would adopt his plan and be ready without fail to proceed to the Acropolis on the following evening there was no further procrastination and throughout the next day preparations were being made for what one historian of the Greek Revolution a whim and another an insane scheme the scheme says one who was in close attendance on Lord Cochran all through this time Mr Edward Mason was anything but insane it was one of the most sober safe and practicable plans ever formed the first and fundamental condition on which Lord Cochran consented to cooperate in any plan of landing troops at Cape Holius was that the troops landed should not expose themselves to an attack of cavalry in the plains but sure on being landed on the night march in compact order and without holding to a specified rocky height beyond the temple of Jupiter Olympus a position which it was admitted by all they could hold with perfect safety during the day from this position the leaders were to try to communicate by signals or otherwise with garrison and in concert with it to act as circumstances might dictate should the garrison resolve to make a sortie the main body of the greek army advancing simultaneously from the fallarium it was confidently hoped that the combined attack on the enemy would prove victorious or at least would be so far successful as to enable the Greeks to save the garrison and bring away the families the great characteristic of the plan was that nothing should be risked in reference to the enemy's cavalry and that if the detachment should find they could accomplish nothing they should on the following night return as they went in safety and be embarked on the fallarium unfortunately the two main points on which Lord Cochran had insisted were neglected and thereby what must otherwise have been a brilliant victory was turned into a miserable defeat he had insisted upon the movement from Catechlius being aided by the march of the main body of the army direct from Piraeus to the hills thus diverting the attention of many of the Turks while the advancing party and the garrison were uniting but Zavella to whom this part of the work had been entrusted never moved at all he had urged yet more strongly that the preparations for the advance should be so hastened that all the ground should be travelled over the night time while the Turks were in ignorance of it but instead of that the Greeks though they were embarked at Fallarium by midnight and landed at Catechlius before two o'clock in the morning loitered near the shore till daylight so that the whole enterprise was exposed to the enemy the critics who have laid the blame for the disaster on Lord Cochran have neglected to show how these circumstances caused the failure of the enterprise the story of the disaster of the 6th of May will be best told in the words of an eyewitness about 3,000 soldiers said Dr. Goss in a letter written to Mosheur Anyard on the 23rd were embarked in the nights between the 5th and the 6th of May in a clear moonlight and in the most perfect order and promptly landed on the other shore up to that time everything favoured our enterprise but the treason and negligence of the chiefs and the indolence of some of the soldiers altogether destroyed it instead of marching directly to Athens through the night they employed themselves in constructing redoubt after redoubt as bad as they were useless of the sort called by them tamboriers we counted a dozen only the ciliates, the candidates commanded by Demetrius Collergy 200 regular troops under the orders of Inglisi and Giarot Huey and 22 Philhalines went in advance without any hindrance they reached within canonshot of the Acropolis toward Philippapus so that as I have heard they could even speak with the besieged but having received no orders to enter they rendered their position hazardous the enemy thus had time to ascertain their weakness and descend against them 800 horsemen thrice these troops were repulsed Vassau and Nataris however who covered the right flank abandoned their posts as they had done in the affair of the unfortunate Borbacches and thereby they caused confusion among the troops in the centre the latter defended themselves with renewed valor but yielded at the last of the sabers of the Delhi cavalry then was exhibited such a panic as cannot be described the soldiers who occupied the redoubts in the rear and near to the place of debuckation began to flee almost at the same time as those of Vassau and threw themselves into the sea at risk of being drowned I was at this time with Lord Cochrane who did not wish to mix himself up with the affair when the sudden flight forced us at once to rejoin our boat and even this was not done without great difficulty General Church was also on the shore and he too was only saved by the sloop which was waiting for him the Turkish cavalry after having killed or captured all the advance party rushed into the plane and made terrible havoc among the Greeks 700 of them were killed and 240 were taken prisoners the rest numbering about 2,000 rushed down towards the sea and would soon have been all destroyed by the Turkish guns placed on the hills if the fire from the vessels off the coast had not kept the enemy at a respectful distance they passed the day in a terrible uncertainty but were sustained by the courage of certain chiefs especially Nicolaus Serva, a Suleyed Captain and in the following night they were embarked and carried back to Falaerum while this portion of the army was being thus troubled the Greeks under the orders of Kissa Zavella remained inactive that chief quite least made his pipe and when employed to march was content and to hold me when they pay me, I will go the troops of Calcutronas the younger and of Cicenas deserted in the direction of Livonia the Turks taking advantage of the disorganised condition of the Greeks attacked the Falaerum on the night of the 6th but were repulsed in quote Lord Cochran's account for the battle sent to the government on the 7th of May supplies some other details the plan concocted previous to the death of General Keras Kakes was carried into effect on the 6th by his Excellency General Church with this difference in the execution of the service that his Excellency and myself were anxious that a rapid march should be made from the place of debarcation direct to Athens by a body of 4,000 men in order to return with the women and children and the wounded whereas the officers of the army insisted upon entrenchments being made in the line of their progress an operation which requires so much time as to preclude the possibility of affecting the object surprised and unopposed the redoubts were in progress of construction and the work continued with unremitting labour until about 9 o'clock in the morning when the enemy's cavalry having collected from all quarters broke in upon the unfinished redoubts and vigorously attacked those who had advanced the furthest and who from the number of subdivisions left according to the custom of the country in these redoubts during their progress had become so weakened as to be incapable of making effectual resistance the loss on our side has been very considerable I lament to this day that the Greeks still continue their aversion to that regularity of movement and honesty of action which constitute the strength of armies and I grieve to see great bravery rendered useless to their country and dangerous to themselves and wasted in desultry and unsupported personal efforts the use of the bayonet and very slight military instruction would have saved most of those who fell on this occasion and would have rendered unnecessary those redoubts which delay the progress of your arms and destroy more men in insignificant enterprises which lead to no result than would be required for the deliverance of your country the affairs of Greece require energy and that remedy be it once applied to whatever impedes the progress of affairs Lord Cochrane testified to the excellent soldiership of the Turkish horsemen with sabers and short muskets they dashed in and out of the crowd of retreating Greeks who having no bayonets and no weapons adapted for close fighting were utterly defenseless he himself having landed with Dr. Goss to watch the operations from the shore was so hard pressed by these formidable antagonists that he was only rescued by his own bravery in the daring of Dr. Goss who retained possession of the boat which was waiting for him on the shore until his chief had time to force his way back to it through the crowd of fighting Turks and Greeks and through the waves beating up to his neck it was only when he was again on board the helis and able to direct the firing of the guns that the Turks were driven back and the remnant of the Greek force was allowed to collect and prepare for return to Falleram and the Acropolis soon followed this terrible defeat by the Greeks were utterly disorganised Lord Cochrane finding it impossible to persuade them to another attempt returned to Poros with the fleet on the 10th of May Sir Richard Church remained at Minitia his army being every hour reduced by desertions until the 27th when he and the 2,000 starving men who were left to him abandoned their position Fablia and the garrison through the intervention of the French captain Leblanc and Admiral de Rigny isolated on the 5th of June it was then found that the Acropolis still contains stores of food and ammunition sufficient for four months use and that the reports of destitution had been deliberate falsehoods intended only to force their friends outside to come speedily to their relief those falsehoods had been particularly mischievous by them as has been shown Lord Cochrane was induced to listen to the entreaties of Caruscaques and the government and to take his ships to Falleram instead of carrying out his plan of stopping Caruscaques in the Negropont and at Oropos had the plan been adhered to it seems as if a very different issue might easily have been brought about the work on which he had been engaged having terminated so unfortunately Lord Cochrane was much blamed for it by critics who had private reasons for being jealous we have shown however that he only entered upon the work at the request of men whose power and influence he could not gain say that having undertaken it he set himself shrewdly and earnestly to render it successful on the occasion not by the adoption of his plans but by their perversion or rejection if he erred he erred only in expecting too much patriotism and valor from the people he was doing his utmost to serve if anything further need be said in explanation and defence of Lord Cochrane's position up to this time it will best be done by quoting part of a letter addressed to Monsieur Enniard on the 27th of May in which he concisely repeated the whole story on my arrival in Greece he wrote that the authority was claimed by two factions that nothing like a navy existed and that a number of individuals called an army were collected to raise the siege of Athens but wholly deficient in military talent on the part of the commanders or in obedience and discipline on the part of the troops as soon as I had accepted my commission I commenced active exertion to save the Acropolis I advised Chariskarcheth to embark and land to the southward and eastward of Philarum to the Acropolis bring out the women and children but my council was in vain as he had no idea of any combined naval and military movement nor indeed of any military plan except that of advancing by slow steps after the manner of the Turks who construct little fortifications called tambourias at every few hundred yards which are again opposed by others of the adverse party and has neither army attacks these forts by active force the whole after a few hours are brought to a stand and the result of the contest is one who can longest continue to finish pain and provisions such was the state of the military contest when General Church took the command the battle of Philarum though brilliant was accidental and not being followed up was productive of no result Chariskarcheth fell and General Church embarked the troops in order to execute the movement that ought to have taken place a month before the moment was more inauspicious than we were aware of for the Turkish commander had that very night been joined by a large body of cavalry infantry from Negra point and elsewhere this however would not have proved decisive had not General Church with a view to conciliate the officers under his command and indeed in order to induce them to embark at all upon the expedition conformed to their absurd views of military movement and permitted them to carry entrenching tools to form their usual numerous positions on the line of their route the construction of which wholly defeated the intention of surprise and enabled the enemy to surround their advanced guard or van weakened by the division of the troops into 14 garrisons left in a line in their advance whereas the whole body might with perfect safety and in two hours have reached the Acropolis the slaughter which the Turks made in the advanced post of the Greeks was horrible and the panic which took possession of those who remained on the Philarum at three leagues distance from the scene of the action was as disgraceful as the conduct of their chief Zivella who made no movement even to create a diversion but at coolly looking at the slaughter of his countrymen with 6000 men under his command he remained totally inactive this expedition to Athens cost upwards of $25,000 of the naval money and destroyed most of our provisions at the same time I believed it to me my duty to act as I did and I have not since regretted any step that I took because if Fabvia and the garrison fall into the hands of the Turks and are destroyed I shall at least have the consolation of knowing that my utmost efforts were made to avert their fate end of chapter 18 recording by Timothy Ferguson Gold Coast Australia