THE EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN, 1801.
Reading edition
In the year 1800, a French army, which had been designated the “Army of the East,” held Egypt in subjection, and the British government anticipating that India was the meditated scene of conquest, determined to employ the disposable force of the kingdom in relieving Egypt from her invaders. After experiencing much severe weather at sea, the fleet arrived at Malta, where the troops landed, and the abundance of fresh provisions afforded by the inhabitants was most welcome. Leaving that island on the 20th. of December, 1800, the armament sailed to Marmorice, in Asiatic Turkey, where the fleet anchored in a spacious bay environed by mountains, whilst gunboats were being procured for the expedition, horses for the cavalry, and a plan of co-operation was in course of arrangement with the Turks.
This force was under the command of the veteran General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B., and about six thousand men from India and the Cape of Good Hope, under Major-General Baird, so celebrated for his conduct at Seringapatam, were appointed to co-operate.
At this period the British forces were brigaded as follows:—Guards, Major-General the Honourable George J. Ludlow, First Royals, 54th., two battalions, and 92nd, Major-General (afterwards Sir Eyre) Coote; 8th., 13th., 18th., and 90th., Major-General (afterwards Sir John) Cradock; 2nd., 50th., and 79th., Major-General Lord Cavan; 30th., 44th., and 89th., 60Brigadier-General (afterwards Sir John) Doyle; Minorca, De Rolle’s, and Dillon’s regiments (since disbanded,) Major-General John Stuart, (afterwards Count of Maida.) The reserve consisted of detachments of 11th. and Hompesch’s dragoons, 40th., flank companies, 23rd., 28th., 42nd., 58th., and Corsican Rangers, (since disbanded,) Major-General (afterwards Sir John) Moore; 12th. and 26th. dragoons, Major-General the Honourable Edward Finch; artillery and pioneers, Brigadier-General Lawson.
After some delay at Marmorice, in expectation of receiving reinforcements of Greeks and Turks, the expedition proceeded to its destination, and on the 2nd of March, 1801, anchored in the Bay of Aboukir, eastward of Alexandria, when, notwithstanding all the exertions of the navy, under the orders of Admiral Lord Keith, the necessary arrangements for landing the troops could not be effected until a week afterwards, owing to unfavourable weather, and other obstructions. A landing was however effected on the 8th. of March.
The troops forming the first division, consisting of the reserve, under the command of Major-General (afterwards Sir John) Moore; the brigade of Guards, under the Honourable Major-General Ludlow; and a portion of the first brigade, under Major-General Coote, got into the boats early in the morning; they had generally about six miles to row, and did not reach the point of landing until ten o’clock. The front of disembarkation was narrow, and a hill, which commanded the whole, seemed almost inaccessible. Notwithstanding their being exposed to a very severe cannonade, and under the fire of grape shot, the troops made good their landing, ascended the hill, and forced the enemy to retire, leaving behind him seven pieces of artillery, together with a number of horses. The troops that ascended the hill in the face of dangers and difficulties sufficient to intimidate ordinary men, consisted of the 23rd. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and the four flank companies of the 40th. regiment, under the command of Colonel Spencer, whose conduct was specially commended in the despatches; in which also the good order of the disembarkation of the 28th. and 42nd. regiments, under the command of Brigadier-General Oakes was particularly noticed. Whilst these regiments formed 61and mounted the position, the Foot Guards and 58th. regiment prolonged the attack, the Royals and the 54th. pushing forward to sustain their gallant comrades. A column of French infantry advancing through a hollow way with fixed bayonets against the left flank of the Foot Guards, encountered the two latter regiments; the British advanced, when their opponents hesitated, fired a volley, and then retreated. The disembarkation of the army continued on the 8th. and the day following.[24]
The troops which landed on the 8th., advanced three miles the same day, and on the 12th., the army moved forward, and came in sight of the enemy, who was strongly posted with his right to the canal of Alexandria, and his left towards the sea.
About six o’clock in the morning of the 13th. of March, the British advanced to attack the enemy’s position in front of Mandora. The leading brigades were commanded by Major-Generals Cradock and the Earl of Cavan. The 90th. formed the advanced guard of the front line, and the 92nd. that of the second; both battalions suffered severely, and were highly distinguished. These two regiments bear the word “Mandora” 62on their colours. The French having opened a most destructive fire from their artillery, enfiladed the column to its whole depth, and orders were consequently given to deploy into line. This was considered a favourable moment, and the enemy immediately advanced to the attack. Major-General Cradock formed his brigade under a heavy fire, and the gallant conduct of the regiments, (the 8th., 13th., 18th., and 90th. infantry,) was equal to the emergency. In this action Lieutenant-Colonel (afterwards Viscount) Hill commanded the 90th., and exhibited that coolness and conspicuous bravery so frequently displayed during the Peninsula campaigns. The remainder of the army were immediately in a situation not only to face but to repel the enemy. The reserve, under Major-General Moore, which was on the right, on the change of the position of the army, moved on in column, and covered the right flank. The French were driven from their position, and were compelled to retreat over the plains into the lines on the heights before Alexandria.
In the general orders issued on the following day, it was stated, that “The Commander-in-Chief has the greatest satisfaction in thanking the troops for their soldier-like and intrepid conduct in the action of yesterday; he feels it incumbent on him particularly to express his most perfect satisfaction with the steady and gallant conduct of Major-General Cradock’s brigade.”
Having gained a second victory on the shores of Egypt, the army took up a position about four miles from Alexandria, having a sandy plain in front, the sea on the right, and the canal of Alexandria and the lake of Aboukir on the left. The reserve, was posted under Major-General Moore, on very high ground, projecting a quarter of a mile on the right, and extending to the large and magnificent ruins of a palace, built in the time of the Romans, within fifty yards of the sea. This high ground of sand-hills and old ruins, was about three hundred yards broad; it sloped gradually down into a valley, which lay between it and the other parts of the position. The 58th. regiment occupied the ruins, and the 28th. a redoubt near them; the 23rd. and 42nd., with the flank companies of the 40th., and the Corsican Rangers, were placed a short distance behind the ruins and the redoubt; the other corps of the army extending to the canal. The French occupied a parallel position on a high and almost perpendicular ridge of hills; in the centre of their line appeared Fort Crétin—in the left of its rear Fort Caffarelli,—Pompey’s Pillar on its right,—Cleopatra’s Needle on the left, and the city of Alexandria extending to the sea, with the masts of the shipping in the harbour at the back of the town. The whole presented a most interesting appearance; objects celebrated in history, even some of the wonders of the world, could be distinctly seen, and the ruins under the soldier’s feet were of interesting antiquity.
For seven days the army occupied this position without interruption; the soldiers being under arms every morning at three o’clock, and working parties being afterwards employed in strengthening the post.
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