POST-CAPTAINS OF 1804.
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was obtained; it is incumbent on me, however, to make known to your Lordship that the commander-in-chief has again been pleased to express his approbation of the exertions of the seamen and their officers; and I am happy in being able to testify that their conduct was, if possible, more praise-worthy than on the day of disembarkation, the labour they had to go through was considerably greater, and the fire they had to undergo in the passive employment of dragging up cannon for more able gunners to fire, was much more heavy, and of longer duration. It is impossible to distinguish any particular officer, where all behaved equally well, each doing his utmost to keep the guns up with the line; which was, of course, difficult hi sandy uneven ground, when the troops pressed forward in their eager approach to, and ardent pursuit of the enemy. The great and laudable efforts of Lieutenants Fisher and Davies, with the petty officers, and men, at the Swiftsure’s and Northumberland’s field-pieces, at a most trying moment, enabled them to recover their station in the line, which they had lost only by the impossibility of keeping up with the troops: such service, under a heavy fire of grape and musketry, could not be performed without loss; that of the Tigre’s men has been the greatest; but Lieutenant Hillier informs me, the remainder redoubled their exertions, and brought the guns on most opportunely, at the moment the &0th repulsed a charge of cavalry. Captain Ribouleau, the senior Commander, exerted himself in the most praiseworthy manner, along the whole line on shore, together with Captains Guion, Saville, and Burn, each in his division: Captain Hillyarkept the enemy in check, on the left, by the occasional fire of the armed flat-boats on the lake, and the troops on that flank seem sensible of their utility, in preventing the enemy’s numerous cavalry from attempting to turn them where the isthmus widens into a plain. Lieutenant Woodhouse, of the Foudroyant, (a volunteer on the ground) very handsomely offered his services to supply the place of Lieutenant Wright, who was actively employed near Sir Ralph Abercromby, and undertook to convey my orders along the line on foot, which was particularly acceptable and useful, at a time when my orderly dragoon was wounded, and both our horses disabled by a discharge of grape , 1 have to request your Lordship, to excuse his delay in returning to his duty on board, as I undertook to justify his stay in the field. We are now on the heights at the head of the lake Mahadic, with our left to the canal of Alexandria, and our right to the sea; the enemy occupy a very strong position on the ridge immediately between us and the Rosetta gate of Alexandria. I have made an excursion, with a few dragoons, on the road to Damanhour, to open an intercourse with the Arabs; I find them friendly, and the markets begin to be supplied. We are all much indebted to Captain Cochrane, and the officers under him, for the ample supplies of ammunition and provisions which he has forwarded to the army by the lake; the boats’ crews of the whole fleet have been indefatigable in this important service. Eleven French boats, seized on the enemy’s right by Lieutenant Wright, have been likewise employed therein, under Captain Hillyar, and also in conveying the wounded, both English and French, to the hospital, so that
