IX 
358 EGYPT. 
CHAP. Sij. Kalph Ahercromhie, with a view, as it is related, 
of rallying t\\Q forty-second, and restoring order 
among their ranks, hastening towards the dread- 
ful conflict in the Ruin upon the right, where the 
action was hottest, was nearly surrounded by 
a party of French cavalry. A dragoon made a 
thrust at him; but Sir Ralph, receiving the 
sabre between his breast and his left arm, 
wrested the weapon from his antagonist. At 
this instant, an English soldier, seeing another 
riding towards the General to aim a blow at 
him, and being without ball, thrust his ramrod 
into his musket, and with it shot the dragoon. 
Soon after, Sir Ralph was seen without his horse, 
the animal having been shot under him ; when 
Sir Sidney Smith coming up, supplied him with 
that on which he was mounted. It was on this 
occasion that Sir Ralph presented to Sir Sidney 
the sabre he had wrested from the dragoon '. 
Soon after, our venerable Commander received, 
in the hour of conquest, the fatal wound in his 
thigh, of which he afterwards expired. 
Victory now declared itself for the English; 
and it may be said to date from the moment 
when Ahercromhie received his mortal wound. 
(l) Sir Sidney has since placed this sabre upon the Monument of Sir 
Ralph Abercromlie. 
