the military skill of colonel Murray and several other british officers,
so that the french received a complete check, and were
obliged to retreat, leaving their enemies masters of the field of
battle.
General Hutchinson having reached Geeza, where the french
had fortified themselves to defend a bridge of communication over
the. Nile, proceeded to invest it, while the grand vizier moved
forward, and posted himself nearly within cannon shot of Cairo.
The french thus surrounded by a much superiour force; having to
defend a place of great extent, weakly fortified, and the numerous
inhabitants of which were by no means friendly to them; having
recently experienced too, as well as on former occasions, that all
their military science could not render them irresistible even to the
ottomans, when under the direction of british officers; prudently
offered to surrender Cairo, and evacuate the country, on the conditions
formerly accepted by Kleber. No doubt the french might
have held out for some time; no doubt they might have obliged
the combined forces to purchase the possession of Cairo at a great
expense of blood. But to what end this lavishing of human life?
Wha t would have availed the calamities, that must have been suffered
during a protracted siege; and the misery that must have
been entailed on thousands, in mined health, and mutilated limbs?
As a soldier, to whom all these are but the common course of
things, perhaps general Belliard may be blamed for capitulating,
before his men were reduced to a state, in which capitulation
would be no longer a benefit, as a man he deserves praise.
The metropolis being thus surrendered by the french, general
Hutchinson returned to Alexandria, before which the main body
of his army was' encamped. On the 1 /th of august he commenced
his operations for reducing this city, which Menou professed
himself resolved to defend to the last. Major general Coote
embarked with a strong corps on the inundation, landed to the
westward of Alexandria with little opposition, and invested the
strong castle of Marabout, at the entrance of the western harbour.
On the east of the town two attacks were made, to get possession
of some heights m front of the french intrenchments. That on
the right was led by major general Craddock, that on the left by
major general Moore. . A part ,of the 3 0 th regiment, under the
command of colonel Spencer, took possession of a hill in front of
the enemy’s right. General Menou, who was in person in that
part of the intrenched camp, ordered about 600 men to drive it
from this post. These advanced in columns, with fixed bayonets,
and without firing a shot; but colonel Spencer did not wait for
their attack. When th ey were' almost close to his little corps,
Which was not a third of their number, he gave orders to charge;
and was obeyed with such spirit and alacrity, that the french were
driven back to their intrenchments in the greatest confusion, with
the loss of several killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. ■
On the night of the 1 8th major general Coote opened his batteries
against the castle of Marabout, which was likewise attacked
by some turkish sloops, and the boats of the fleet, under the direction
of the hon. captain Cochrane. On the night of the 21st
the fort capitulated; and the next morning major general Coote
marched to attack a strong corps posted in his front, in order to
cover the approach to Alexandria. His able and judicious conduct
was attended with complete success; he drove the enemy
sD