IS, 



CHAP. XXIII.] WARS OF THE REVOLUTION. 355 



The horse appointments of the Mamelukes were very 

 massive and highly ornamented. The bits were so large 

 and powerful that the most fiery steeds were readily 

 checked in full career. The stirrups were short, and the 

 saddle had the pommel and cantle so high, that the 

 horseman could hardly be unseated even if wounded. 

 As tliey carried no baggage whatever, the horse was not 

 overloaded, although the trappings were heavy. 



Such was the force the French army had to encounter 

 in Egypt. Napoleon had but few cavalry, and they 

 quite incapable of coping individually with the Eastern 

 horsemen, so th t he was obliged to rely altogether upon 

 his infantry and artillery. The first skirmish to^k place 

 at Ramanieh upon the Nile, Desaix, who was attacked, 

 commanded the second division, and formed his troops 

 in squares, with artillery at the angles, and the baggage 

 in the centre, and succeeded in dispersing his assailants 

 by one discharge of grapeshot. 



Napoleon's dispositions for fighting the Mamelukes 

 were peculiar, and yet admirably fitted for the enemy 

 he hp,d to encounter. He formed his army into five 

 divisions. Each composed one square, six deep, with 

 the artillery at the angles, and companies of grenadiers 

 in platoons kept in readiness to support menaced points. 

 The cavalry, then only 200 in number, were placed in 

 the centre of the square. The troops marched in this 

 formation, the front of the square marching in line, the 

 rear the same way, the two side faces marching in 

 column. When attacked, the whole halted, faced out- 

 ward, and steadily and firmly awaited the charge. 

 When the French were to advance to he attack, the 

 three front or outside ranks formed column and charged, 

 while the square remained in the same formation but 

 only three deep, and constituted the reserve. 



The five divisions so organised, moved on towards 

 Cairo, continually watched and surrounded by the Mame- 

 lukes, who were ever ready to take advantage of any 

 carelessness. The first great battle took place at the 

 Pyramids, or more properly at the village of Embabeh, 

 near Cairo, where Mourad Bey, with about 8,000 superb 



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