[59]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 329.
[60]. “Izzet Pacha.”
[61].
General Jochmus to the Seraskier.
| Head-quarters, Jerusalem, 27 Zilkadé, 1257, (Jan. 22, 1841,) 11 A.M. |
I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I arrived here yesterday evening. Lieutenant-General Hassan Pacha also returned here yesterday from Chalil-Rachman; and Selim Pacha, with the brigade of Chalid Pacha, will be here to-day, so that this evening a force of twenty-one battalions, and eighteen guns will be assembled at Jerusalem. The cavalry of Riza Pacha will this evening or to-morrow morning join that of the Murchardsou, who must have arrived yesterday evening at El-Chalil. The forces, in the central positions in which they are, ought to be more than sufficient to support our negotiations with Ibrahim, if they should have taken place; but as the latter must be, according to the statements of all the deserters, to the south of the Dead Sea, there is no longer any occasion for negotiation. His army is in complete disorder, for want of provisions, owing to the capture of Maan: and all the deserters state, that even before reaching the magazines (now burnt), the whole infantry subsisted for four or six days upon camel’s flesh. I found Baron Dumont here, who corroborates the complete defeat of the Egyptians. As he saw the three first columns pass within gun-shot, and as in the second where, according to all accounts, the artillery ought to have been, he only saw a great number of camels and mules, it is generally believed here that Ibrahim has buried his cannons in the Desert.
The third column only of his infantry was seen, reduced to 5000 men; a separate body at Jufila of 2000 men, who were some days since with Ibrahim Pacha near to Kerek: all these people were half dead with hunger. The losses of Ibrahim in men, in horses, and in beasts of burden, in passing the Jordan, were very great. Finally, his Excellency Hassan Pacha upon the news of peace, sent a safe conduct to Ahmed Menikli Pacha, commander of the Egyptian cavalry, and gave him to understand that he would not attack him in his retreat, provided that he did not come to plunder the villages near to Chalil. Ahmed Menikli Pacha, conducted by an officer of Hassan Pacha, then chose the road towards Gaza in his retreat upon Egypt. The cavalry, reduced to 2500 horses and 700 dismounted horsemen, was in the most miserable condition: and had it not been for the Convention, two battalions in the almost impracticable passes of the Wadi-el-Ghor, one day south of Chalil, would have been sufficient to stop that column. It appears to be very necessary for the troops coming towards Gaza to withdraw, in order that there may never be more than 3000 men at a time in this place. I request your Excellency to communicate this letter to General Michell.
| I have, &c., (Signed) A. Jochmus, Lieut-General. |
P.S. There is plenty of barley at El-Chalil, and there are other provisions there, but rice and butter must be sent there.
[62]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 315.