Page 222 - Beholding Liberty!

ΙΙ.3.10
Letter of A. Vokos, Ioan. Voulgaris and L. Lalechos to the notables of the island of Hydra about the burning of the Turkish flagship at Chios (Psara, 7 June 1822)
Archives of the Greek Regeneration, vol, 1, no 551 [p. 551] Library of the Hellenic Parliament
AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF CHIOS, on 30 March 1822, the Greek navy was looking for a chance to take revenge. For this reason, an arma- da of 64 ships gathered at Psara, about the end of April, consisting of ships from Hydra, Spetses and Psara. After certain unsuccessful attempts to attack and the withdrawal of the Hydraeans and the Spet- siots, the inhabitants of Psara decided to launch an attack against the Turkish fleet with fire-ships. This decision was approved by Miaoulis as well as by the two Hydraean admirals, Lazaros Lalechos and Ioan- nis Voulgaris. Two fire-ships undertook to carry out this operation, one from Psara with Konstantinos Kanaris as commander and one from Hydra with Andreas Pipinos as commander, escorted by four brigs, and from the 1st of June onwards they waited for the right moment. On the night of the 6th to
the 7st of June the much-sought opportunity was given: thanks to Konstantinos Kanaris’ manoeuvres the Turkish flagship was engulfed in flames. All 32 men, who made up the Greek crews were saved un- harmed.
In the letter, the three Hydraean admirals brief the councillors of the island about the «great joy- ous news» and about the imminent arrival of the 19-member Hydraean crew, whom they urge them to thank, because they fulfilled their duty to the country.
To honour the crews of the two fire-ships, the Min- istry of Naval Affairs proposed to the Executive to bestow upon them medals and grant them land. The Legislative ratified the proposition, which though was never realized.
222 BEHOLDING LIBERTY!