On the 17th the Commodore went with the Tigre’s boats to the anchorage of Khaiffa, in order to intercept the maritime portion of the French expedition, which he was convinced would soon make its appearance. At ten o’clock the same night he discovered the enemy’s advanced guard, mounted on asses and dromedaries, marching by the sea-side; he immediately returned on board, and sent Lieutenant Bushby in a gun-boat, to the mouth of a little river (the brook Kishon of the Scriptures) that flows into the bay of Acre, to guard and defend the ford of the same. At break of day this officer opened a fire on the French, so unexpected and vigorous, that they were soon driven from the shore, and dispersed in confusion on the skirts of Mount Carmel. The main body of the republican army being exposed to a similar attack, advanced by the road of Nazareth; and after driving in the Turkish outposts, encamped upon an insulated eminence, skirting the sea in a parallel direction, at the distance of about 1000 toises, and which extending to the northward as far as Cape Blank, commanded to the west a plain of about a league and three quarters in length, terminated by the mountains that lie between St. Jean d’ Acre and the river Jordan. On the 20th, the trenches were opened at 150 toises from the place, favoured by the gardens, the ditches of the old town, and by an aqueduct that joined to the glacis.
The assistance and encouragement afforded by the Commodore to the Governor of Acre, had operated greatly on his hostile inclinations, and determined him to a vigorous resistance. The works had been materially strengthened under the direction of Colonel Phélypeaux[1], and Captain Miller[2], of
- ↑ M. Phélypeaux was an officer of the Engineers in the service of Louis XVI. He was a man of talents, and very worthy. Though young, he had been engaged in many extraordinary adventures; having served in all the campaigns of the army of Conde. He commanded in Berri, and escaped death by breaking out of a state prison. He accompanied Sir Sidney to England, at the time he effected his escape from the custody of the Directory, and afterwards to the coast of Syria, where he served as a volunteer. He died at Acre, of a fever, May 2d, 1799.
- ↑ Captain Ralph Willett Miller was posted in 1796, and commanded the Captain, 74, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Nelson, in the action off Cape St. Vincent, 14th Feb. 1797. He was afterwards appointed to the Theseus, 74, which ship he commanded at the battle of the Nile.
