While yet the struggle was going on in Kars, Omar Pasha, at the head
of a Turkish army, was dispatched to the northern shores of the Asiatic
coast of the Black Sea to create a diversion, and cause the siege of
Kars to be raised. In this undertaking Omar was not sincere. He, like
the other pashas, was jealous of Williams, and wished Kars to fall. Omar
landed, lost time wherever he could on any pretence make a stay, beat
his enemy to prove his own generalship, and took care to reap none of
the fruits of victory lest Kars should be saved. The skilful renegade
shared with the old Turkish muchirs, feriks, and pashas, all the
corruption of those classes, and all their hatred to foreigners, even
although indispensable allies. Omar had been offended by the insulting
contempt of Lord Raglan, and the stupid apathy of General Simpson; the
French commanders had, from motives of separate policy, alienated him,
so that he led an army into Asia rather to accomplish purposes of his
own than to relieve Kars. The conquests of Omar in the direction of the
Ingour were rapid, signal, and brilliant. He, however, was obliged
to retreat, from the severity of the season exposing his army to the
bitterest sufferings and great loss of life.
The foregoing pages give as complete a view of the actions of the allies
in the waters and on the shores of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azoff,
as the space allotted to the account in this History can possibly allow.
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