'Remarks on the Bashi-Bazouks and other irregulars; including brief reflections on the present war. With a sketch of General William Ferguson Beatson, organiser of the Bashi-Bazouks during the Crimean campaign' by Colonel William Ferguson Beatson Laurie [‎2r] (3/24)

REMARKS.
Perhaps, through the graphic descriptions of the Bulgarian atrocities
by the ex-Premier and stars of lesser brilliancy, no body of men and
certainly no irregular troops, ever gained such an unenviable notoriety
as the Bashi-Bazouks of Turkey. Long known to be a rare portion of
the earth’s “ scum,” or rather “ the scum of the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. ,” these reputed
masters m the arts of villainy and brutality are now associated in our
minds with deeds of the most dreadful note. But still, as the vilest
part of poor human nature has always its bright side, so the Bashi-
Bazouk has his; and, when looking at him closely, with the eye of a
mental Rembrandt, not a few competent judges may discover that his
steady perverseness and glaring iniquities have too frequently been not
his fault, but his misfortune. Through want of the enlightened and
controlling mind to shape his fierce and energetic nature into decency
and order, he has become what he is; whereas, had he for the last half
century been properly handled, he would now, like the best specimens
of.Irregulars in India—the flower of the Irregular Cavalry—have been
enjoying a reputation worthy of a most useful arm in the art of war Even
since the perpetration of the far-famed “Horrors,” the Bashi-Bazouk
has, in the present war, exhibited very soldier-like qualities, which will
probably be more apparent as the grand struggle between Russia and
Islam becomes developed. Already, or in the middle of May one of
our most intelligent correspondents of the daily press informed us with
reference to the signal victory gained by Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , commander of the
Turkish troops, at Batoum, that the “ Ottoman soldiers behaved with a
gallantry which was most admirable.” In short, the victorv appears to
have been won by “ the extraordinary courage and spirit of the Bashi-
Bazouks, whose conduct alike in their positions and while attacking the
enemy in hand to-hand fight is worthy of all the praise which devoted
soldiers can receive.” Again—“ The Bashi-Bazouks advanced to close
quarters without the support of field artillery. If they could have
availed themselves of this arm in the latter part of the action it is
thought that they must have annihilated the retreating foe ” Mean
while the Ottoman regulars held “inner positions even more formidable