Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt, (Volume 1) - Softcover

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This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1803. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... camp, surrounded by a clumsy moat, and defended by twenty-eight pieces of artillery. As soon as the enemy was discovered, the army formed; and when Bonaparte had given his final orders, he said to the soldiers, pointing to the pyramid: "Push on, and "recollect that from the summit of thofe "monuments forty centuries watch over "us." Desaix, who commanded the advance-guard, proceeded to the other side of the village; Regnier followed to the left; and Generals Dugua, Vial, and Bon, also to the left, formed a half-circle by approaching the Nile. Murad-Bey, by whom we were reconnoitered, and who could not perceive any cavalry, threatened to cut us up like gourds; (this was his expression). In consequence of this determination on his fide, the most considerable body of the Mamelukes, which was in front of Embabey, moved, and charged Dugua's division with so much impetuosity, that he had scarcely time to draw up his men. They received the enemy with a discharge of musketry, by which they were stopped; and, by a want of address on their part, were on the point of falling on the bayonets of Desaix's division. A fire by files, well kept up, was productive of a second surprise: the enemy hesitated for a moment, and then, endeavouring suddenly to turn the division, passed between those of Reynicr and Desaix, receiving the cross fire of both. In this way the discomfiture of this body of Mamelukes commenced. Having no further project, a part of them returned to Embabcy, while another part entrenched themselves in a park planted with palm-trees, to the west of the two divisions, from whence they were dislodged by our riflemen. They now took the the road of the desert of the pyramids; and it was afterwards by these Mamelukes that our passage into upper Egypt was disputed. Duri...