Forwarding of Constantine of 1836

In 1836, in Algeria, a great forwarding of the French Army had been solved against Ahmed Bey, it acted of the conquest of Constantine; the marshal Clauzel was to order the army, and the duke of Nemours to take share with tirednesses, the dangers and the glory of forwarding.

The army, strong approximately 7.000 men, started from Bone the November 13rd; the 18, it crosses the Col of Strong current-el-Akba and was not any more but with two steps of Constantine. After a camping with Strong current-Wadi-Zenati, the French Army undergoes climatic conditions difficult. The army had arrived in very high areas; during the night, the rain, snow and hail fell with as well abundance and continuity, as the soldiers, to the bivouac, were exposed to all the one winter rigors of the Russia; the grounds, entirely smashed, pointed out muds of the Poland. The army started however the 20, and arrived, except for the luggage and of a rear-guard, with the monument of Constantin , where it was obliged to stop. The cold was excessive. Several men had the cold feet; others perished during the night, because since Strong current-el-Akba one did not find any more wood.

Lastly, the luggage on which one doubled and tripled the attachments, having joined the army, the French Army crosses, the 21, the Bou-Merzoug, one of the affluents of the Wadi-Rammel and gave an opinion under the walls of Constantine. This city is defended by nature even: a ravine of 60 meters width, an immense depth, and at the bottom of which the Wadi-Rammel runs, presents for escarpe and contrescarpe a rock cut to peak, unattackable by the mine as by the ball. The plate of Mansourah communicates with the city by a very narrow bridge and outcome with a double door very strong and defended well by fires of mousquetery of the houses and the gardens which surround it.

The Clausel marshal occupied the plate of Mansourah with the duke of Nemours and the troops of the general Trézel; the general of Rigny had order to seize the nipples of Koudiat-Aty, to occupy the marabout S and the cemeteries opposite the Porte Ez-Rabahah and to block this door. It was however impossible for the French Army to lead on this point, the only contestable one, the field artillery. The bey Achmet had fears to be locked up in Constantine, he had entrusted defense to his lieutenant Ben-Haïssa, and had introduced of it into the city 1.500 Turks and well defined Kabyles to defend it.

The brigade of French avant-garde went on the heights which were successively removed. The marshal made direct the fire of artillery against the El-Cantara door. The 22, this brigade supported a combat against the Moslems left by that the doors which the army could not block, since it did not count any more that 3.000 men under the weapons. Time continued to be dreadful: snow fell to large flakes, the wind was icy and finally ammunition and vivres were exhausted.

The 23, new attack against French who was pushed back. Two simultaneous attacks against the French, in the night of the 23 to the 24, did not have success. Many men were put out of combat. The 24, the marshal ordered the retirement. This first day was very difficult; the whole garrison and a multitude of riders attacked the rear-guard with eagerness of which the commander Changarnier, of the light 2^e. Surrounded by enemies, it forms his battalion in square and, at the time of a terrible attack, makes open a fire of two rows with bearing end, which covers men and horses three faces of the square.

The 26, the French Army camped with Sidi-Tam-Tam. The 27, it had passed the difficult procession which leads to the collar of Strong current-el-Akba, and the Moslems gave up their continuation. The 28, it reached Guelma where it left its patients. The 1^er December, the French Army was of return to Bone: she in this forwarding 453 died or had mislaid and 304 wounded.

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Forwarding of Constantine of 1837

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