[Elements of Military Art and Science by Henry Wager Halleck]@TWC D-Link bookElements of Military Art and Science CHAPTER VII 37/73
The tenth lost twelve.
The eleventh was much injured, with a loss of eight--making a total loss in repassing the Dardanelles, of one hundred and sixty-seven; and in the whole expedition two hundred and eighty-one, exclusive of two hundred and fifty men who perished in the burning of the Ajax. Such was the effect produced on the British fleet, sailing with a favorable wind and strong current past the half-armed and half-manned forts of the Dardanelles.
Duckforth himself says, that "had he remained before Constantinople much longer--till the forts had been completely put in order--no return would have been open to him, and the unavoidable sacrifice of the squadron must have been the consequence." Scarcely had the fleet cleared the Straits, before it (the fleet) was reinforced with eight sail of the line; but, even with this vast increase of strength, the English did not venture to renew the contest.
They had effected a most fortunate escape.
General Jomini says that if the defence had been conducted by a more enterprising and experienced people, the expedition would have cost the English their whole squadron. Great as was the damage done to the fleet, the forts themselves were uninjured.
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