SHORT NOTES ON PROFESSIONAL SUBJECTS. 
22 
“ Planks joined together lengthways by staples and cordage, may be necessary, 
to travel the carriages upon over the heavy sands. The Prench, it is said, made 
use of raw hides, in passing the deserts with their field pieces; perhaps lengths of 
rope, about 30 ft. each with narrow netting between to receive the wheels upon, 
might be found as useful; and in our situation more readily procured. 
“The moving of heavy ordnance over the deserts of Egypt, the French thought 
impracticable, and attempted no larger calibre than 8 or 1.2-prs. Something more 
however seemed necessary for us to make trial of against an enemy so much more 
formidable than they had had to contend with, independent of the ambition of superior 
resource. 
“ Upon comparing all circumstances together it appeared likely that, whatever 
works they might have raised in the interior of the country since their possession of 
it, could not be very solid ones, even if composed of masonry, for want of time to 
settle and the cement to harden sufficiently in such substances; and earth alone in 
this climate, must soon crumble to dust or sand, and easily be destroyed by shells. 
From these considerations it was concluded, carronades might probably be found 
sufficiently powerful to breach them in either case, at moderate distances, and be 
easily conveyed by the double horse or camel barrow across the country if necessary. 
The circumstance being suggested to General Sir Ralph Abercrombie, and at the 
same time the means proposed of altering the carriages for this purpose, without 
affecting their sea service in the smallest degree. His excellency communicated the 
idea to Lord Keith, who immediately ordered several of these 24-pr. carriages 
(though larger ones were wished for) ashore from the ships of war, to undergo 
the necessary alteration. 
“ The ammunition for field service was usually conveyed on camels* backs, each 
carrying four of the altered 6-pr. packing boxes,* two on each side, in a sort of 
netted bag thrown over a pack saddle; but useful as these animals are generally for 
great weights, there are inconveniences attending them in this particular service: 
viz. when loaded (which of course must be daily repeated) they move very slowly, 
therefore quite unfit for horse artillery. In order to load or unload, they must 
first be made to kneel down, which is an action they are not always inclined to, 
and sometimes become very refractory and unmanageable; whatever quantity of 
ammunition is required for the gun must always be taken equally from both sides 
at the same time, to preserve its equilibrium, &c. 
“These reasons determined a trial of light carriages in their stead; first beginning 
with royal howitzer ammunition, it being the most dangerous and liable to injury. 
Some of the handcarts were selected for this purpose, and in order to travel the 
better, converted to curricles. The poles were accordingly lengthened, and cross 
bars fixed to support them in front by the horses collars, much in the same 
manner as the 3-pr. carriages formerly used in the horse artillery, only more 
simplified in other particulars. These carriages were drawn by four horses each, 
and went through all the marches of the army to and from Grand Cairo remarkably 
well, travelling very rapidly with forty-eight rounds of the howitzer ammunition, 
completed for immediate service, as already mentioned. 
“Our cavalry from their want of proper horses, being found very unequal to the 
capitally mounted French dragoons, it became necessary to aid that defect by the 
attachment of artillery. Four light 8-prs. (brought from Malta) were first prepared 
for this service, their original mode of travelling with shafts and single line of 
draught was altered to a double one, by cutting off the shafts of the limber at the 
cross bar and introducing a pole instead of them; together with other improve- 
Sixty rounds complete, and four extra case shot over. 
