of preparation, and the dispatch of troops,
it is necessary to return to the operations of the Turks upon the
Danube. It is not suitable to this History to record all the victories
gained by the Osmans, it is only necessary to observe, that they were
almost uniformly victorious, and fought with dazzling bravery. The
grand struggle, however, on the part of the Turks was in the defence of
Silistria. Against that place a powerful Russian army, under its ablest
artillerists and engineers, was directed. The Turks were few and badly
provided, but they were encouraged by the presence of various
British officers of the most heroic mould. Among these none was more
distinguished than Captain Butler, who perished from a wound received
in the defence, while beside the gallant British General Cannon (Behram
Pasha), by whom the garrison of Silistria had been reinforced.

There was something mysterious about the policy pursued during the siege
of Silistria. The place was driven to the utmost straits, although Omar
Pasha was at the head of a large army at Shumla, and the Western allies
were at Varna. The latter declared that they were unable to move from
want of those campaigning appliances, which a French army has not been
usually known to stand in need of either before or since. Omar
Pasha said he could not move for want of beasts of burden, and from
strategical reasons; although he supplied the allies in Bulgaria with
pack animals and 500 _arobas_, or carts, from Shumla, and no reason
could be seen why he did not push on his troops to the relief of the
beleaguered and endangered city. At last he sent a portion of his troops
forward, and Russia was destined to undergo a signal humiliation. When
the troops of Omar Pasha sent to relieve the place advanced for that
purpose, the Russians had so completely invested it against the approach
of a relieving army that there seemed no hope of accomplishing that
object. The Turkish army was not strong enough to fight a pitched
battle, and cause the Russians to raise the siege. It was of the last
importance that the drooping, wearied, and dispirited garrison should be
relieved by fresh men. This exploit was accomplished by the genius and
promptitude of one heroic man--General Cannon, bearing the Turkish title
of Behram Pasha. He commanded the light division of the Turkish army.
He caused letters to be written to the officers of the garrison, laying
down a plan by which they were to co-operate with