A. G. DANIELLS by A. G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 10, 1913

A. G. DANIELLS

By A. G. Daniells

Does the History of Turkey and Egypt Since 1798 Fulfill the Prophecy of Dan. 11:40-44? — No. 12

A. G. DANIELLS

The victory of the French over the Turkish army of thirty thousand in the region of Nazareth and the Jordan confirmed Napoleon and his generals in their assurance of victory, not only in the siege of Acre, but over the whole empire of Turkey. Although they had thus far made little headway in the siege, Napoleon was resolutely bent on taking the town. Pointing to it one day, he said to General Murat:

“The fate of that contemptible town and its fall is the object of my expedition, and Damascus will be its fruit.”—“History of the Egyptian Revolution,” Vol. I, chap. 23, page 277.

After routing the great Turkish army at the Jordan, Napoleon returned to Acre to press the siege with new vigor.

Pressing the Siege of Acre

“No pen can describe the desperate conflicts and the scenes of carnage which ensued. Day after day, night after night, and week after week, the horrible slaughter, without intermission, continued. The French succeeded in transporting, by means of their cruisers, from Alexandria, a few pieces of heavy artillery, and the walls of Acre were reduced to a pile of blackened ruins. The streets were plowed up, and the houses

blown down by bombshells.”—“The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte,” Vol. I, chap. 12, page 220, by John S. C. Abbott.

“The vigor and resolution of the garrison increased with every hour the siege continued. Napoleon, by a desperate effort, for a time succeeded in effecting a lodgment in the ruined tower; but his men were soon driven out with immense loss, and the Turks regained possession of all their fortifications. The trenches had been open and the breach practicable for nearly two months, but no sensible progress was as yet made in the reduction of the place.”—“History of Europe,” Vol. IV, chap. 26, page 207, by Sir Archibald Alison.

“There were occasional lulls in this awful storm, during which each party would be rousing its energies for more terrible collision. The besiegers burrowed mines deep under the foundation of walls and towers, and, with the explosion of hundreds of barrels of gunpowder, opened volcanic craters, blowing men and rocks into hideous ruin. In the midst of the shower of destruction darkening the skies, the assailants rushed, with sabers and dripping bayonets, to the assault. The onset, on the part of the French, was as furious and desperate as mortal man is capable of making. The repulse was equally determined and fearless.”—“The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte,” Vol. I, chap. 12, page 221, by John S. C. Abbott.

“The siege was now beginning to assume a somber aspect for the French. The skilful chief of engineers was no more. One able officer after another had shared his fate. The besieged, instead of quailing before the intrepidity and skill of the new French school of conquest, showed an unflinching audacity which had no previous parallel in the Syrian or Egyptian experiences of the army.”—“History of the Egyptian Revolution,” Vol. I, chap. 23, page 279, by A. A. Paton.

“The eyes of Europe were turned with eager interest to the spot where the greatest conqueror of modern times was brought to a standstill. . . . Every scrap of news was wafted as rapidly as the means of locomotion then admitted to the obscurest villages of Europe—from the Pillars of Hercules to the gelid waters of Archangel.”—Id., page 280.

Arrival of a Turkish Fleet

“One afternoon in May [the seventh], a fleet of thirty sail of the line was descried in the distant horizon, approaching Acre. All eyes were instantly turned in that direction. The sight awakened intense anxiety in the hearts of both besiegers and besieged. The French hoped that they were French ships conveying to them succors from Alexandria or from France. The besieged flattered themselves that they were friendly sails, bringing to them such aid as would enable them effectually to repulse their terrible foes. The English cruisers immediately stood out of the bay to reconnoiter the unknown fleet. Great was the disappointment of the French when they saw the two squadrons unite, and the crescent of the Turk and the pennant of England, in friendly blending, approach the bay together. The Turkish fleet brought a reinforcement of twelve thousand men, with an abundant supply of military stores.”

“Napoleon’s only hope was to capture the place before the disembarkation of these reinforcements. Calculating that the landing could not be effected in less than six hours, he resolved upon an immediate assault. In the deepening twilight a black and massy column issued from the trenches, and advanced, with the firm and silent steps of utter desperation, to the breach. The besieged, knowing that if they could hold out but a few hours longer deliverance was certain, were animated to the most determined resistance. A horrible scene of slaughter ensued. The troops from the ships, in the utmost haste, were embarked in the boats, and were pulling as rapidly as possible across the bay to aid their failing friends. Sir Sydney himself headed the crews of the ships, and led them, armed with pikes, to the breach. The assailants gained the summit of a heap of stones into which the wall had been battered, and even forced their way into the garden of the pasha. But a swarm of janizaries suddenly poured in upon them with the keen saber in one hand and the dagger in the other, and in a few moments they were all reduced to headless trunks. The Turks gave no quarter. . . .”

“Column after column of the French advanced to the assault, but all were repulsed with dreadful slaughter. Every hour the strength of the enemy was increasing; every hour the forces of Napoleon were melting away before the awful storm sweeping from the battlements. In these terrific conflicts, where immense masses were contending hand to hand, it was found that the simitar of the Turk was a far more efficient weapon of destruction than the bayonet of the European.”—“The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte,” Vol. I, chap. 13, pages 223, 224, by John S. C. Abbott.

The Siege Abandoned

“Success was now hopeless. Sadly Napoleon made preparations to relinquish the enterprise. He knew that a formidable Turkish army, aided by the fleets of England and Russia, was soon to be conveyed from Rhodes to Egypt. Not an hour longer could he delay his return to meet it.”—Id., page 224.

“Meanwhile, the baggage, sick, and field-artillery were silently defiling to the rear, the heavy cannon were buried in the sand, and on the twentieth of May, Napoleon, for the first time in his life, ordered a retreat.”—“History of Europe,” Vol. IV, chap. 26, page 208, by Sir Archibald Alison.

“On the twentieth of May, Napoleon, for the first time, relinquished an enterprise unaccomplished. An incessant fire was kept up in the trenches till the last moment, while the baggage, the sick, and the field-artillery were silently defiling to the rear, so that the Turks had no suspicion that the besiegers were about to abandon their works. Napoleon left three thousand of his troops, slain or dead of the plague, buried in the sands of Acre.”—“The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte,” Vol. I, chap. 13, page 228, by John S. C. Abbott.

“This was the first serious check that Bonaparte had received in his wonderful career.”—“History of the Egyptian Revolution,” Vol. I, chap. 24, page 288, by A. A. Paton.