The Greeks were no sooner relieved for a time from foreign danger, than a struggle ensued for the government of the commonwealth. Colocotroni and other military chiefs assumed an authority inconsist ent with the free deliberations of the congress. This led to a civil war, in which the congress prevailed, and the refractory chiefs were deprived of their commands.
The Porte, finding all his endeavours to recover his supremacy in Greece ineffectual, induced the Pacha of Egypt, by the offer of large bribes, and the government of the conquered country, to make common cause with him against the insurgents. But before the arrival of his new ally, a large ar mament under the Capitan Pacha was directed against Ipsara, the great naval bulwark of the Greeks. This island was so strongly fortified, that it was considered impregnable. Several hundred pieces of cannon were planted around the coast, under whose cover numerous gun-boats lay ready for attack. But the Turks, by exciting a false alarm for the safety of the town, landed almost without resistance on the opposite side of the island; and, notwithstanding the desperate valour of its brave defenders, Ipsara soon became the prey of the barbarous victors. The tragic scenes of Scio were reacted at Ipsara, which was reduced to a desert, without house or inhabitant. With the exception, however, of this capture, the Ottoman forces, even when joined by their Egyptian allies, made no impression upon any other point during the campaign. Their troops were reduced to a de fensive position, and their fleets were forced into the Dardanelles.
The successes of the Greeks had only engendered jealousies and dissensions in their councils. Their military arrangements were consequently conducted with apathy and indifference. But they were terri fied into more vigorous measures by the formidable armament of Ibrahim Pacha. which was directed against Navarin. The presidency of the executive council was conferred upon Conduriotis, who was invested with dictatorial powers; and his first step was to strengthen the garrison of Navarin, which he augmented to 2000 men besides a corps of ar tillery. lie also assembled a force of 3000 men with which he attempted to dispute the approach of Ibrahim; but this army was defeated and dis persed by the Egyptian troops, and Navarin, after a month's siege, was compelled to capitulate. The Egyptians proceeded without opposition to Tripolitza, which they entered on the 20th of June, and the fortress of Arcadia, though gallantly de fended, was finally overpowered, and its small gar rison put to the sword. Ibrahim then attempted the capture of Napoli, the seat of the Greek go vernment, but was repulsed with great loss, and re tired to the coast of Argos, where he received re inforcements from Salona. The Greeks, under Colocotroni, who had been again placed at the head of their armies, suffered another severe defeat in the neighbourhood of Tripolitza; and Ibrahim hav ing ravaged the whole country, was left master of the plains and most of the fortresses of the Morea.
In western Greece, Missolonghi was besieged by the Seraskier Redschid Pacha, who, having spent the greater part of the summer without making any impression upon the fortress, now prepared for a general assault. After a sanguinary conflict the Turks forced their way into the city, but were finally repulsed; and the Greeks afterwards re taliated upon the besiegers by repeated and suc cessful sorties. In a subsequent assault, the Se
raskier was equally unfortunate, and was at last compelled to abandon his camp. Peremptory or ders, however, were dispatched to Redschid to re new the siege; but, though reinforced by a body of disciplined Egyptians, he failed in every attempt, and retired during the rains to the heights of Mount Aracynthus. The reverses of the Seraskier 'determined the Porte to confide the siege of this important fortress to Ibrahim Pacha with an army of 25,000 men. Missolonghi was the principal strong-hold of the Greeks in Livadia, and as its late involved that of Greece, every exertion was made by the government for its defence. Its gar rison consisted of 5000 warriors, and its original population of 3000 had been raised to 13,000 by the arrival of refugees, who confided in its natural and artificial strength. This siege is memorable for the bravery and resolution of its defenders, the sufferings of the inhabitants, and the romantic courage with which a part of its garrison cut their way through the enemy's entrenchments. As early as February the want of provisions and powder was severely felt by the garrison; and the Grecian fleet was not expected with supplies until the beginning of April. Ibrahim prosecuted the siege with great determination; and after many a fierce contest, had succeeded in cutting off the besieged from all their external communications, and reducing them to the last extremity of famine. For many weeks they were confined to quarter rations, and were at last under the necessity of devouring horses, dogs and mice, and crabs and sea-weed which they collected under the very fire of the enemy. While in this miserable condition their hopes were revived and their spirits gladdened by the appearance of the Grecian fleet under Miaoulis; but their joy was short-lived, for after repeated attempts, Miaoulis failed in breaking through the enemy's line and conveying to them the wished-for succours. Des pairing now of all relief except in their own va lour, they formed the desperate resolution of open ing a passage through the ranks of the besieging army. On the 22d of April, about eight o'clock in the evening, a band of warriors, composed chiefly of Suliotes, made a sortie from the eastern gate of the city, and soon after a body of the inha bitants with their wives and children issued by a route nearer the sea, and less exposed to the fire of the enemy. This last column, being smartly at tacked, were driven back, and Turks, Egyptians, and Greeks rushed into the city together. A dreadful conflict then ensued. Every house and street was defended with the rage of despair, and the enemy spared neither age nor sex. Many of the females threw themselves and children into wells and into the sea, or sought death by rushing upon the Egyptian bayonets. An end was at last put to this scene of carnage by the blowing up of the powder magazine and the bastion of Botzaris, which had both been mined, and which involved 2000 of the enemy in their ruins. While these scenes were passing in Missolonghi, the brave Su liotes, though assailed by a fire from the enemy's forts, advanced boldly to the Egyptian entrench ments, which they crossed in spite of all opposi tion; but before they reached Salona they had suffered so severely that they presented but ,a miserable remnant, oppressed with famine, wounds, and disease.