CHAP. IV. 1801. BOOK V. of officers will be required to maintain regularity, and carry on the service with dispatch. As circumstances may require, the fatigue parties will be commanded by a field-officer, or brigaded under different officers of that rank. When fatigue parties relieve one another in the performance of the same piece of service, such as bringing forward provisions, guns, and stores, the relieving party is to be stationed in such a manner, that the least possible delay may be occasioned. It will be a general rule that men going on a detachment, whether with arms or on duties of fatigue, will carry their provisions ready cooked. "When parties are ordered to march immediately, the field-officer of the day will, as soon as possible, report them to the general officer of the day. The majors of brigade and orderly adjutants will inspect all parties for duty. They who are unfit, from whatever cause, to go on duty, will be sent back to their regiments, and others immediately sent in their place. In general, the field-officers of the day will inspect all parties, with or without arms, that may be ordered, before they march off. "The field-officers of the day will go frequent rounds within the camp of his brigade, both by day and by night; and will, in his report to the general officer of the day, specify the different hours at which he visited the different posts. "In case of out-lying piquets being ordered for the security of the camp, under the field-officer of the day, the additional field-officer on duty will remain in camp to command the in-lying piquets. The general officer of the day will visit, at such times as he shall think fit, the different guards or piquets posted for the security of the camp, and will be responsible that the duty is done correctly. "The general officers will encamp with their brigades, or have quarters immediately in their rear. "When the army is stationary, the relief of all the common duties will be at sun-set. It will be a constant regulation, that all troops on actual duty with arms, whether at the advanced posts or with the army, comprehending the in-lying piquets, as well as the troops warned as next for duty, shall, unless otherwise ordered, be under arms an hour before sun-rise. The advanced posts of the army, distinct from such piquets as may be occasionally mounted for the security of the camp, will be put under charge of an officer named for that purpose, to whom instructions relating to them, and suited to circumstances, will be communicated. "In general orders, however, it is directed that all such posts shall connect themselves by patroles from each other, and avoid leaving any space unexplored, or suffer any breach in the chain. Their advanced sentries will, in general, be doubled. If attacked, or apprehensive of attack, they must acquaint the posts on each flank, and the nearest post of the army in the rear: if forced to retire, they will, on no account, omit to acquaint the posts nearest them on either flank, and will always fall back on the army: no advanced post is to detach to either flank, in order to support another, unless ordered by a general officer so to do. "These regulations not only apply to permanent posts in the front of the army, but also to such out-lying piquets as may be posted for the more immediate security of the camp. "The general and field-officers on duty must make themselves masters of the nearest and best communications between the army and advanced posts, in order to be able to give immediate support when necessary. Every report made from the advanced posts to head-quarters, is to be forwarded with the greatest dispatch; and any officer who should occasion delay will be called to the strictest account. "Deserters from the enemy that may come in at any of the posts of the army, are to be forwarded immediately to head-quarters, where they will be taken charge of by the provost-marshal or his guard till examined. Flags of truce will be universally stopped at the advanced post until reported to head-quarters, and orders are received respecting them. As soon as the disembarkation of the army is effected, a boat will be found near the shore, with spare ammunition, which will be distinguished by an ordnance flag, from which supplies can be procured when necessary. "Admiral Lord Keith having signified to Sir Ralph Abercromby, that a battalion of marines, under the command of Lieutenant-colonel Smith, is to be landed to serve with the army, it will be attached to the third brigade, and to take post in the order of battle, between the 50th and 79th regiments. "As the soldiers' canteens have been out of use for some time, it will be necessary to take the precaution to have them filled with water for some days previous to the disembarkation of the army; and commanding officers of regiments are desired to give directions respecting it. When the army lands, only one day's allowance of spirits will be issued to the troops, and will be carried in rear of the regiments." CHAPTER V. Inferiority of the British Army to the French.-Their total Ignorance of the Interior of Egypt.- THE British army consisted of 15,330 men, including 999 sick and 500 Maltese: the effective force did not exceed 12,000. Among these not a single officer was acquainted with the interior of the country about to be subjugated, nor was there even a map which could be depended upon. Sir Sidney Smith, as far as he had seen, certainly gave correct information; but he had never been in the interior. So little did Sir Ralph Abercromby know of the strength of those he was getting ready to attack, that he rated them, at the highest, at 10,000 French and 5,000 auxiliaries; and this was beyond the number on which the expedition was originally formed. To complete this state of uncertainty, Major M'Kerras, one of the engineers, who had been dispatched in the Penelope to reconnoitre the coast, was killed; and Major Fletcher, of the same corps, and the crew who were also in the boat, were made pri soners. This unexpected news did not reach the British army till a week after their embarkation, and their regret was considerably increased, on reflecting how seriously the loss of Major M'Kerras must be felt by the expedition. He had been ashore on the peninsula of Aboukir a few days previous to the arrival of the English, to compare and rectify some plans of it; and was returning to the Peterel sloop of war, when his boat was chased by a French germe, and an unlucky shot struck him in the forehead. Endued with a great share of professional talent, active, enterprising, and ever indefatigable in the prosecution of the public service, his death was no less a misfortune to the army, than a calamity to his friends. The following is a list of the English forces :- The wind being moderate, and the weather fine, at two o'clock in the morning of the 8th of March, a rocket was fired from the Foudroyant, commanded by Admiral Lord Keith, which was the signal for all the boats to repair to the appointed ships. About half-past three, the boats being filled with troops, began to move off towards the rendezvous. At dawn they had got about half-way to the shore, and began to form their line of landing out of gun-shot, agreeable to the following order: The squadrons to be one mile asunder. As it was impossible to make all the necessary The 40th flank companies on the right; Corsican rangers on the left. The first division was under the command of Major-general Moore, the Hon. Major-general Ludlow, and Major-general Coote. Three armed vessels were stationed in a line opposite the shore, and out of gun-shot, round which the boats were to form, and wait the order for pushing to the land. Each flat-bottomed boat contained about fifty men, exclusive of the sailors employed in rowing. The soldiers were ordered to sit down on the bottom, holding their fire-locks between their knees. All the boats of the fleet were engaged, either in towing the flats, or carrying troops. Carrying the 4th division for landing, They contained in the whole near 5000 men. Six thousand had been intended for landing, but above 1000 remained in the ships from the want of means to convey them. The moment was awful: along a space of six miles to the shore, nothing was to be heard but the deep murmur of thousands of oars dipping in the sea, and incessantly urging the flower of a brave army to the severest destiny of man. The line of the English boats reached the rendezvous about day-light, where, after making the necessary military preparations, which were not completed till eight o'clock, they remained for some time in the midst of the bay, menacing every part of the coast, for such was the extent of auchorage occupied by the fleet, and so great the distance of many of them from any one given point, that it was not till nine o'clock that the signal could be made for the boats to advance. Under the direction of the honorable Captain Cochrane, of the Ajax, protected by the necessary vessels, and attended by those under Sir Sidney Smith, who had the charge of the launches and field-artillery, the whole division moved towards the shore. It was ten o'clock before the troops arrived at the point of disembarkation, which was narrow, and a sand-hill, that commanded the whole, seemed nearly inaccessible. their rear. 1801. enemy down the back of the hill. The centre BOOK V. The fort of Aboukir was summoned to surrender; In this engagement 4 officers, 4 serjeants, 24 rank and file were killed; 26 officers, 34 serjeants, 5 drummers, and 450 rank and file wounded; 1 officer, 1 serjeant, 1 drummer, and 32 rank and file missing. The return of killed and wounded in the disembarkation was 22 seamen killed, 7 officers, and 65 seamen wounded, and 3 missing. The ordnance taken consisted of one twentysix pounder, three four-pounders, and one six-inch howitzer; brass. One nine-pounder, one sixpounder, one ammunition-waggon, and a small quantity of shells, shot, and musket ammunition. The following general orders were issued on the next day (March 9,) by the commander-inchief, to demonstrate the high sense he entertained of the conduct and service of every department of the army and navy. and it is with particular satisfaction that he ob- The French, fully prepared for their reception, permitted them to advance till they were within reach of their numerous batteries, with which they had occupied, at distances, a space of nearly three miles; when they opened so tremendous a dis- "The gallant behaviour of the troops in the charge of grape-shot, and shells of all dimensions, action of yesterday claims, from the commanderas threatened the English with immediate destruc-in-chief, the warmest praise that he can bestow; tion. The boats had a long way to row, and were, for some time, under the fire of fifteen pieces of artillery, and the musketry of 2,500 men. Undaunted by this dreadful prospect, with the "Major-generals Coote, Ludlow, and Moore, fire of the castle flanking their right, they made and Brigadier-general Oakes, who led the troops good their landing, overcoming the impetuosity of that effected the landing, and were engaged, will the French, who poured down in torrents to the be pleased to accept Sir Ralph Abercromby's beach, and even attacked the English in their thanks for the able manner in which they conboats, breaking the charge of a body of cavalry. ducted the whole operation. The English regiments went up to the mouth of the cannon, seized them, and drove the French artillerymen from their batteries with the bayonet. Emulous of the glory of this arduous day, the seamen, harnessing themselves to the field-artillery, with ropes drew it on shore, in defiance of the batteries, to which they replied only by loud and triumphant shouts. The 23d regiment and the four flank companies of the 40th ascended the great sand-hill, to which all the fortifications of the enemy appeared to refer, with a coolness and intrepidity that, for some moments, paralized opposition, and reflected immortal honor on their commander, Colonel Spencer. These troops, having gained the summit, took seven, pieces of artillery, and pursued the "The commander-in-chief has much pleasure in acknowledging the effectual assistance received from the navy on this occasion, in consequence of the judicious arrangements directed by Admiral Lord Keith; and it is his intention to request his lordship to communicate the same to Captain Cochrane, of the Ajax, who superintended the disembarkation, as well as the officers and men employed under him on that service, and officers and men in the gun-boats and armed launches that covered the landings. Sir Sidney Smith, the captains, officers, and men from the ships of war who acted with the army on shore, will be pleased to accept Sir Ralph Abercromby's thanks, for the activity with which they brought forward the field-artillery, and for the intrepidity and zeal with BOOK V. which they acquitted themselves of the service entrusted to them." CHAP. V. 1801. About nine in the forenoon of March 10, the line got under arms and marched against an outpost of the enemy, at the distance of three miles, which took three hours to reach in consequence of the depth of sand. On the approach of the English the enemy fled, leaving behind one twelve-pounder, which they spiked, dismounted, and threw over the works: they also destroyed a large quantity of biscuit and barley. The remainder of the troops were landed this day, and provision, ammunition, guns, and stores of every description, were brought up with the greatest facility in boats. A flag of truce was again sent to the garrison of Aboukir, but the commander of that place would not suffer the officer who bore it to approach, and even ordered a gun to be discharged at him. While the English were engaged in landing their stores and provisions, the French commander, Menou, took this opportunity of reinforcing the garrison, so that when the English came within sight of the enemy on the evening of the 12th, they found them strongly posted among sand-hills and palm-trees, four miles from the walls of the ancient Alexandria eastward. The English were deficient in artillery, and their cavalry was badly. mounted. At seven in the morning, March 13, the army marched in two lines by the left, with an intention to turn the right flank of the enemy; and the troops had proceeded but a short distance towards their object, when the whole cavalry of the French, and a considerable body of infantry, and several pieces of cannon, poured down from the heights to attack the heads of both lines, which were commanded by Major-general Craddock and Major-general Lord Cavan. This attack, which was very impetuous, was repulsed by the advanced guard, consisting of the 90th and 92d regiments, with incomparable gallantry and coolness. The first line then formed two lines to the front of march, with the utmost quickness and precision, and continued to advance in that manner; while the second line, with the exception of its first brigade, continuing still in column, turned the right of the French army and drove it from its position. Thus the British forces continued to advance on the enemy, driving them with the utmost vigour from position to position, till they had reached the fortified heights which form the principal defence of Alexandria. They were, however, regular in their retreat, and continued the engagement throughout the day. It was the intention of the commander-in-chief to have attacked them on the heights, where they had posted themselves; and for that purpose the reserve, under the command of Major-general Moore, which had remained in column during the whole day, was brought forward; and the second line, under the command of Major-general Hutchinson, marched to the left, over a part of the Lake Mariotis, with a view to attack the enemy on both flanks; but, on a more attentive examination of their position, it was believed to be commanded by the guns of the forts, and consequently it was more than probable that it could not be kept. Sir Ralph Abercromby, therefore, employed a very wise discretion in seeing that those troops, who had just demonstrated such admirable courage, and were willing to continue it to whatever point the superior command might direct them, should not be exposed to a certain loss, for an uncertain advantage. They were accordingly withdrawn; and, in the evening the army took up the ground from which the enemy had been driven, occupying a position with their right to the sea, and their left to the canal of Alexandria and Lake Mariotis, at the distance of about a league from that town; a situation of great advantage, as it cut off the communication between Alexandria, except by way of the desert. The French general in this action had his horse shot under him, and Sir Ralph Abercromby was, for a moment, in danger of being enveloped by the French cavalry; but was saved by the intrepidity of the 90th regiment, who rushed forward to receive the charge of the cavalry on their bayonets; but the impetuosity of the latter was not equal to the reception that menaced them, and they desisted, though with considerable loss, from the rash manœuvre. The loss-of the English in this action was very considerable, 1300 men being killed and wounded. The situation of the wounded was peculiarly dis tressing, for, as they chiefly suffered by common shot, even such as recovered were necessarily rendered cripples and wholly unfit for service. The loss of the French may justly be calculated at 700 men. General of division Lanusse was slightly wounded. The English took four pieces of cannon and one howitzer. The force of the English in the field was about 14,000; that of the enemy nearly 7000. Although so much superior in point of numbers, the British army laboured under great disadvantages from their deficiency in cavalry and artillery; in both of which the French had the decided superiority. The sentiments of Sir Ralph Abercromby, respecting the conduct of the troops under his command, were expressed in the general orders, dated March 14, at the camp near Alexandria. "The commander-in-chief has the greatest satisfaction in thanking the troops for their soldierlike and intrepid conduct in the action of yesterday. He feels it particularly incumbent on him to express his most perfect satisfaction at the steady and gallant behaviour of Major-general Craddock's brigade; and he desires that Major |