Meyvaci Ali and the caravan

The Istanbul Chronicle and Ottoman Gazette

Smugglers Escape Customs Ambush In Thessaly

The latest incidence of smuggling on the Rumelian coast last al-Jum'ah has engendered some mutual recriminations amongst the authorities of the Sublime Porte. Despite advance warning of a contraband shipment from Egypt due to be landed east of Thessaly the intercepting vessel, the Xebec-Frigate Mejideh, ran aground on a sandbank leaving the harbour at Ambelakia leaving the miscreants free to land their cargo in a secluded bay south of the town.

A despatch rider was sent from the port to alert newly promoted Binbasi Meyvaci Ali who was attending a wedding in a nearby town and he went forth with his men to capture the contraband.

Having espied the caravan he set his janissaries out in two groups:

A - Meyvaci Ali and 1st Janissary group

B - 2nd Janissary group (hiding in wood)

Seeing that the caravan was accompanied by several Sipahi cavalry, Binbasi Ali placed his two groups in the woods on either side of the road. Biding their time until the leading elements of the caravan had rounded the first rocky outcrop and was the parallel to the hidden 2nd Janissary group, the 1st (A) group opened a rather ineffectual fire on the leading infantryman.

As the caravan advanced the hidden 2nd (B) group began to sporadically advance to the front of wood but rather more slowly than had been planned with one janissary being stuck in the woods the entire time and not even seeing the caravan. The caravan leader advanced his defending infantry and the Sipahi to engage Janissary group (A). In the ensuing struggle one of the defenders was wounded but the caravan continued.

Janissary group (B) advanced so slowly and intermittently to the front of the woods that the caravan was mostly past by the time they arrived there. Several janissaries from group (B), seeing the caravan moving steadily away, set off in pursuit. However, this proved to be their undoing as the Sipahi seeing them on open ground attacked and drove them off with consummate ease.

The ineffectual fire from Meyvaci Ali's group (A) was also hindered by the months of neglected fire drill by his janissaries many of whom were more involved in trade than military training. Consequently, as the caravan passed close to their wooded position most of the janissaries were still in the process of reloading although one hardy soul managed to get off a shot which wounded the white ox pulling the leading cart. Although this had the desired effect of stopping the caravan, the second cart and the surprisingly well-disciplined herd of goats bypassed it and continued on to safety while two infantry defenders pushed the halted cart forward.