

CHAP. XXIII.] WAKS OF THE REVOLUTION. 



359 



steady and co ardent French veterans never wavered an 

 instant, the musketry and artillery fire was at once 

 opened, and the steady aim and the continuous tempest 

 of well-directed bullets soon made great gaps in the 

 enemy's masses, and soon erected a rampart of dead 

 men and horses in front of the squares, behind which 

 the French infantry gallantly maintained the unequal 

 combat for over six hours. ^ 



Napoleon, who had marched to Kleber's assistance with 

 a large reinforcement, then arrived upon the heights 

 which overlooked the field, and detected Kleber's position 

 in the midst of the turbulent swarm of Orientals, by the 

 regular and incessant volleys which flashed out from 

 the French squares and marked their presence from afar. 

 Napoleon's resolutions were promptly taken. A detach- 

 ment of cavalry and light artillery was despatched under 

 General Lecourbe, against the Mamelukes who were in 

 reserve, while Napoleon himself, with Bon's division in 

 two squares, advanced to attack in flank and rear, the 

 Turks who were engaged with Kleber. The immense 

 superiority of the discipline and tactics of the French 

 troops soon gave them the victory, and the Turks with 

 heavy losses were driven from the field. 



This extraordinary victory over 30,000 enemies, half of 

 whom were cavalry, was accomplished by only 6.000 

 French veterans. 



The last great battle which took place in Egypt 

 between the French and the Mamelukes was fought at 

 Heliopolis, on the 20th March, 1800, and resulted, like 

 all the other actions between them, in a glorious victory 

 for the former. 



Kleber, who had concentrated his army from all parts 

 of Egypt, had only 12,000 men w^hom he formed up in 

 four squares, with artillery at the angles, and the cavalry 

 in the intervals between the squares. Companies of 

 grenadiers were made use of to double the corners, and 

 were ready for offensive movements in case of need. An 

 attack was made upon the camp of the Janissaries in 

 the village of Matarieh, which was advanced far in front 



^ Alison, i. 



59-^ 



