With Abercrombie and
Moore in Egypt

The Night Attack at Alexandria

ABOUT 400 of our men were left on board the fleet ill of fever when we landed; on the 20th our regiment being so much reduced, having scarcely 300 fit for duty; was ordered to march next morning to Aboukir to do duty there until our strength was recruited. We marched long before daybreak, and left our tents standing for a regiment that was to come from the second line to take our place. We had gone but two miles on our road, when we heard the discharge of musketry on our left. On this we halted and immediately could see more firing, even the flash of every pan was visible from where we stood; then we heard a fieldpiece and after that a roar of musketry. We knew there was a strong guard with the working party about that spot, and that a gun was with them. As the firing ceased we thought it was a false alarm and began to proceed on our journey but had not gone many steps when we heard the discharge of some muskets on the right of the army.

This produced a voluntary halt with out any word of command. Some more discharges were heard in the same direction. We were then ordered to the right about and we went as quickly as possible to the tent of the commander-in-chief. By this time the firing on the right was going on briskly among the picquets. We were now ordered to take up the position we had left. It being still very dark our artillery began to play with the help oflighted lanterns, to let the men see to load. By the time we got to our Position the action was close and heavy on the right of the line, and in the darkness not one regiment knew what the others were doing, or what was opposed to them, so they had to stand in awful suspense till the firing came in front of the m. There could be no doubt of a powerful and determined attack by the enemy.

When we arrived at our post we found the ground unoccupied, the regiment which was to take our place not having arrived. This would have been a fine passage for the enemy to have entered had they only known of it; and we just arrived in the very nick of time when the enemy had gained the brow of the hill in our front, and a column was advancing towards the opening in the line where we should have been. We filled up the opening and fired on the enemy's column whenever we came up. And this column had resolutely pushed forward, it might have done great mischief in the rear before it could have been overpowered; but on receiving our fire it retreated under the brow of the hill out of our sight, but left a line of sharp-shooters which annoyed us very much. Thank God, daylight began to appear and we could see what we were doing and where the danger was, as before this the only order that could be given was : 'Stand fast, and defend yourselves to the last, if attacked.' At this time the battle was raging on the right with terrible fury, and the brigade of Guards next to us on the right was closely engaged. The roar of the artillery was dreadful, and little could be seen through the smoke but the red flashes.

The action was short and severe and great injury was sustained by the right wing ot our army, while the left was only partially engaged. The object of the enemy was to dislodge our troops on the right and then drive the army into the lake. He expected to gain the heights before daybreak and being well acquainted with the ground and the way we were posted, he could easily attack us in the dark. But we were not to be taken by surpnse, as it was our practice to stand under arms an hour before daybreak.

So instead of the enemy driving us into the lake, we drove them back out of our lines into the plain with great loss. Here they formed into columns, and a shell, the last one that did execution, was fired from the flagstaff battery, which fell in the centre of their columns and blew up an ammunition waggon and made a great scatter among them. About eleven o'clock the enemy retired under the protection of their own batteries.

General Menou, the French commander-in-chief, who had posted from Cairo to drive us into the sea, and who said that it was only Turks who had landed and that he did not believe a British army was in Egypt, found out this morning that his old stubborn enemy had landed, and was not to be chased or drowned at his pleasure. It was reported that a copy of his orders was found in the pocket of General Roiz who was killed in our lines, that no quarter was to be given but that we were all to be put to the sword or driven into Lake Maadie.

The plan of attack was first to draw our attention to the left, while the coup de main was to be on the right, by the hollow between the flagstaff and the ruins of Ptolemy's palace, where the 28th regiment was posted and where it did good service. The French fought desperately aud got among the tents of our first line, their cavalry charging through the hollow was stoutly opposed by the 42nd, which suffered severely, as did also the right wing of the guards; the foreign brigade from the second line was sent to their assistance under General Stewart. About this time and place our worthy commanderin-chief, Sir Ralph Abercrombie, was mortally wounded; he died on the 28th, and was deeply regretted by the whole army ; General Moore was again wounded.

Our army by its losses in former actions, by parties absent at Aboukir on duty, and by sickness, had been reduced to about 10,000 before this action commenced, with about 40 pieces of cannon. The enemy's force was about the same number with the addition of cavalry. When he retreated he left 1700 men dead and wounded on the field of whom above 1,000 were buried the first two days; he lost also 400 horses. Including the wounded who made their escape or had been removed, the enemy had lost one-third of the number he brought into action. The total loss of the British was about 1500. The loss of our regiment was 50 men, Captain John Cameron and Lieutenant MacPherson wounded. We were now a small regiment indeed. This day I had a friend wounded in the left ankle; the wound never thoroughly healed. He was a pious lad, a very rare character indeed in the army in those days, and was a spiritual guide to me and many others. He was invalided and got a small pension; he now resides in Glasgow where he has been an example of goodness and uprightness. He has corresponded with me ever since. (George Bellanie mentioned later. After his discharge he interested himself in the establishment of Sabbath Schools; he wrote several pamphlets on religious subjects.)

Among those wounded was Corporal MacKinnon whom we thought to be dead when Sergeant MacLean saw some signs of life just in time to save him from being buried alive. (Alexander MacKinnon, a native of Arisaig and the author of several pieces of Gaelic poetry. His descriptions of the battles of Egmont and Alexandria are considered by those competent to judge as among the most spirited of modern Gaelic poems.)

The result of this day was that we kept our ground and as a trophy took one of the Invincible standards belonging to the 32 demi-brigade. It was lettered in the centre in gold 'PASSAGE DE SERVIA,' 'PONT DE LODI,( PAVIA,) 'ET CASTEL NUOVO,' etc., on a blue ground with laurels fringed with white. This flag was said to have been taken by Sergeant Sinclair of the 42nd, but got into the possession of Anthony Lutz of the Minorcan regiment after Sinclair was wounded. An investigation was ordered: Lutz got to dollars and a medal and a pension for life and Sinclair got a commission some time after. The standard after being exhibited to the army was sent to Sir Ralph, then lying on board the Foudroyant.

On the 23rd our regiment marched and reached Aboukir about nine in the morning before the day got excessively hot ; we encamped beside a good well of water, the first I have seen in this country. Things were in a very different state from what they were when we were last here; then there was nothing but blood and carnage along the beach and the French Artillery from the top of the castle dealt death and destruction among us. Our people here had not been idle. Intrenchments and batteries had been made and the castle bombarded till the central tower was in a tottering condition and it was ready to fall before the enemy surrendered ; 300 Were sent prisoners on board the fleet. Marquees were pitched for the sick and wounded who were brought ashore. Many of the sick belonging to our regiment were put under the charge of Dr Hamilton, our own regimental surgeon, Dr William Findlay, being promoted to be physican to the forces.

A market was formed at the commissary's near the block house and the produce of the country was brought in by the Arabs who found a ready-money market for their goods, sheep, fish, vegetables and fruits ; sometimes a kind of brandy was brought in in boats by the Greeks ; but woe betide them caught by the Turks selling liquor ; they were at once seized and bastinadoed on the spot and their goods taken from them.

On my first visit to the market I bought a sheep for a Spanish dollar and a cheese about 10lbs. for 60 paras and a bunch of young onions. This was the first fresh provisions our mess had in Egypt and we could obtain for 3 paras as much fine bread as a man could eat. As the produce of the country was so plentiful our salt beef and pork were not used, but the casks stood at the quartermaster's for any one to take what he pleased, and it was no uncommon thing to see one piece of pork cut up to boil another with some green date branches, the only fuel we could get. This was extravagant enough. Our salt Provisions ran up in the hands of the commissary to the value of £ 150, this sum was proposed to be given to the widows and orphans of the regiment.

The French barracks called the Hutts erected by them for their troops stationed at Aboukir, were converted into a general hospital; and at this place that dreadful calamity the plague first made its appearance. I was sent with a party there and we buried a surgeon and two women in one hole in the sand and seven men in another; all had fallen victims to it.

The wounded men seemed to be comfortable in the Hutts but were much tormented with flies and other vermin. I visited the castle which had annoyed us so much in landing, it surrendered on March 17th after a siege of five days. It stands on the point of the bay about 13 miles from Alexandria. Our dismounted dragoons were doing duty here. There is a ditch and drawbridge on the landside and it is nearly surrounded by the sea. The ramparts are mounted with mortars and cannon. In the centre stands the great tower on the top of which are two brass 32-pounders but the place is sorely battered by our shot and is in a tumble down condition. The view from the top of the tower is excellent; the east as far as the eye can reach is low and sandy, with date or palm trees which have a fine appearance at a distance; on the west stands Alexandria, which has a formidable appearance, with its towers andnewly-raised fortifications; closer to us is a large plain, where the Turkish army landed and was defeated by the French.

Many bodies lie here unburied and uncorrupted: the hot sun has dried all the moisture out of them and their skin was quite fresh like parchment. Near the castle once stood the town of Aboukir, now deserted and in ruins. This place had been under cultivation at some time, for we could trace where gardens had been and saw the remains of a few stunted fig trees, vines, etc. John Key of our company and Richardson of the 6th company were severely punished for going straight on to Aboukir on the morning of the 21st March when the regiment returned to the lines and giving the alarm that the French were driving us before them, and so causing great consternation among the sick and wounded.

A Turkish fleet sailed into the bay, and landed about 5,000 troops, 3 regiments of which had got British arms and accoutrements. They wore scarlet jackets, wide blue trousers tucked in at the knees, turbans and sandals on their feet; they had a number of flags of different colours. They were stout men, chiefly Albanians. These were the finest and best disciplined troops I had seen belonging to the Turkish army. April 2nd at twelve o clock all the troops were under arms to receive the Turkish commander. He rode along the line with Lord Hutchinson. The Turkish flag was hoisted alongside the British on the castle.

The Hompesch cavalry, commanding officer Sir Robert Wilson, was sent here and dismounted, on account of some of them deserting to the enemy; their horses were given to the 12th Light Dragoons.

It was reported that a French fleet under Admiral Ganteaume was at sea on its way to relieve Alexandria. On this the seamen and the battalion of Marines were sent on board and Admiral Keith sailed in search of the enemy.

On the 13th of April openings were made in the banks of the canal leading from the Nile to Alexandria;and the water from Lake Maadie rushed into the bed of Lake R/lareotis, which was nearly dry and passable in many parts both for horse and foot. The water continued to flow for about a month, having at first a fall of above 6 feet, when it nearly found its level; but there continued always a fall of above a foot owing to the sand absorbing the water. By this means a large extent of country was inundated. This contracted our position in front and protected our left from assault and armed boats and large germs could come up to the left of the line with stores and provisions.

With the strong batteries and entrenchments our men had raised since the action of the 2Ist March the army was secure, and Lord Hutchinson who had succeeded Sir Ralph Abercrombie as commander-in-chief, had a disposable force to march to the banks of the Nile while General Coote was left with the remainder to blockade Alexandria. Before this some of our troops had marched from the lines and with about 4,000 Turks had driven the French from the caravansery and taken Rosetta. Fort St Julian was bombarded by our gunboats ; we heard the cannonading across the bay at Aboukir on the 17th and 18th This fort surrendered on the 19th; it stands on the left bank of the Nile and commands the main branch of the river.

Our regiment was ordered to get ready for the march and every one that was able to march was ordered to join. I went round to the hospital sheds and took leave of some of my wounded comrades; the plague was stealing in amongst them, and few that had limbs taken off recovered. This day I shook hands with many a one I never saw again. About this time our surgeon William Findlay who had been promoted to be Physician of the Forces, died.

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