Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/341

The French advanced to the charge with bayonets. The Turks completely exculpated themselves from the suspicion of cowardice having been the cause of their delay; for when the enemy were within ten yards of them, they rushed on, sabre in hand, and in an instant completely routed the first line of the French infantry. The day was ours for the moment; but the impetuosity of Osman Aga and his troops, occasioned them to quit the station assigned them as a corps of reserve, and to run forward in pursuit of the fugitives; European tactics were of course advantageously employed by the French at this critical juncture. Their body of reserve came on in perfect order, while a charge of cavalry on the left of the Turks put them completely to the route in their turn. Our flanking fire from the castle and boats, which had been hitherto plied with evident effect, was now necessarily suspended by the impossibility of pointing clear of the Turks in the confusion. The latter turned a random fire on the boats, to make them take them off, and the sea was in an instant covered with turbans, while the air was filled with piteous moans, calling to us for assistance. It was (as at Aboukir) a duty of some difficulty to afford it them, without being victims to their impatience, or overwhelmed with numbers; we however persevered, and saved all, except those whom the French took prisoners by wading into the water after them; neither did the enemy interrupt ug much in so doing.”

On the 20th December following, a detachment of Marines under Colonel Douglas, Lieutenant-Colonel Bromley, Captains Winter and Trotte, and Mr. Thomas Smith, Midshipman of the Tigre, accompanied an advanced body of the army of the Grand Vizier from Gaza to El Arish. The French Commandant refusing to capitulate, the fort was reconnoitred by the above English officers; and on the 24th, and following days batteries were erected, the fire of which was attended with complete success. On the morning of the 29th, the enemy having ceased firing, the fort was taken possession of. Notwithstanding every exertion was used to restrain the Turkish troops, three hundred of the French garrison were put to the sword. The chearful manner in which the detachment from the British squadron performed their duty, exposed as they were on the Desert, without tents, very ill fed, and with only