292 IBRAHIM PACHA'S SYRIAN CAMPAIGX. 



energy was admirable calculated for quelling a revolt ; but on the 

 other hand, though he was able to master the confusion of a retreat, 

 he knew not how to avoid it. Such was his military incapacity, 

 that he was incapable of foreseeing any thing. In a short time he 

 expended all the money in the military chest, impoverishing all the 

 districts through which he passed, paying no where, and holding up 

 the name of his master to universal execration. At the action of 

 Horns, the mass of his forces were not engaged, so that there 

 yet remained 40,000 regular troops ; but the field marshal allowed 

 an army to perish to which Hosrew Pacha had given a tolerable 

 organization. Instead of taking any measures of defence, he set out 

 for Antioch, with the view of effecting a junction with some troops in 

 the neighbourhood of Aleppo ; but finding no provisions in those dis- 

 tricts, he returned by forced marches to Alexandretta, after fatiguing 

 his troops by a march of 80 leagues. 



However, Ibrahim was advancing, having recalled all his garri- 

 sons, and made new levies in the mountains. As he advanced, the 

 whole country declared in his favour, and the castle of Aleppo was 

 delivered up to him. His conduct was marked by great skill and 

 generosity. Under his protection the numerous Christians began to 

 raise their heads. There now only remained, to complete the en- 

 tire occupation of Syria, but to seize Antioch and Alexandretta ; but 

 his operations were pushed forward with extreme slowness, because 

 he always expected from Constantinople a decision favourable to the 

 pretensions of his father-in-law. The Turkish field marshal had 

 thus plenty of time to stop his passage into Caramania. Antioch 

 offered an excellent position for an entrenched camp ; but this he 

 disregarded, and made his advanced posts fall back upon the defile of 

 Beylan. This defile, formed by a deep valley, is so narrow in 

 some places, that a camel can scarcely pass. Nevertheless, this is 

 the grand route of the Mecca caravan. Nothing was more easy than 

 to defend it ; yet on 5th August the Egyptians made themselves 

 masters of it, after an action of two hours. The passage of the Bey- 

 lan delivered to the conqueror Alexandretta, its immense magazines, 

 and 100 pieces of cannon. The Turks, instead of rallying in the 

 rear, in the favourable positions which the ground offered, fled in 

 the direction of Adana. Ibrahim pursued them with his cavalry, 

 which passed the Djihun at a ford ; Hussein Pacha having blown up 

 the superb bridge of nine arches that crossed that river at Messis. 



The Ottoman troops continued their retreat across the plain of 

 Adana, but they had scarcely reached that city, before they were 

 dislodged by the enemy, who were on the point of capturing the 

 Field Marshal. The whole district of Adana declared for Ibrahim, 

 who had at length reached the new line of frontiers which Mehemet 

 Ali wished to make the boundaries of his empire. There was now 

 nothing to prevent the march of the Egyptians upon Constantinople 

 itself; for the demoralized soldiers of Hussein Pacha deserved not 

 the name of an army. The Curdes and the Anotalian peasantry 

 murdered the Turkish regulars wherever they could find them, which 

 was was not difficult, for they deserted by platoons. The provinces 

 of Upper Asia were in such a state of insurrection, a single officer of 



