9

0fEcers had the courage and military genius of which

the Persians were not wanting in the times of Shah-

Nadir or even recently under their late king Ада-Ма-

komet-khan, who though а horrible tyrant was certain-

ly а distinguished ofrcer. Оп the other hand, our

little force was composed of some of the bravest sol-

diers in the world, accustomed to continual warfare

and diflculties of every kind and commanded by опе

0f the bravest and most resolute of теп. Оп the night

between the 3d and 4th 0f September we began

with the greatest secrecy and silence to withdraw from

t.he diferent posts and gardens, we were occupying in

а circle of more than 4 English miles, our artillery

and baggage, our sick and wounded, and about day

break, I тау say to our own surprise, we had got

out into the plain, without even being attacked by the

garrison of Erivan. 0ur 1T) fighting теп were

immediately properly placed to defend all this materi-

al and baggage, and though we immediately saw (he

Persians advancing in great numbers to at,tack us, and

the sortie against us preparing from the fortress, we

felt that the principale difEculty was over and prepa-

red with light hearts for ап obsbinate resistance. Оиг

success was complet.e; we beaL of a11 t.he attacks made

against us, and encamped at about 4 miles from Eri-

van оп the river Tzanga. The next day we reached the

monastery of Etchmiadzine, where we halted for а day

and recruited ourselves with some few resourses

found in the monastery, procuring wino and vinegar

for our sick and wounded.

The Persians however , though unable to fght us

manfully, never left us in quiet, even during the night;

both the frst night оп the Tzanga and afterwards at