1803.} 
prize to many how Kleber was fuffered 
toefcape. Time only can enable them to 
penetrate the myftery which covered the 
proceedings of the time. 
Bonaparte, having now made a conqueft 
of all Italy—having compelled the Auttri- 
ans, by his increafing victories, to ac- 
knowlege themfelves conquered—and dic- 
tated conditions of peace at Campo-For- 
mio, came to Paris, where he meditated in 
filence on that famous expedition which 
has carried the French name to the very 
defarts of Arabia. He endeavoured to 
gather round him thofe perfons who were 
moft likely to render his projects fucce(s, 
ful: Kleber was not forgotten : he was 
fo much the more gratified at the choice, 
as he was called trom a ftate of negle&t, to 
putake the dangers and glory of a Gene- 
ral whom he fincerely admired. 
Kleber made halty preparations for his 
departure. On the 3oth day of Fioreal, 
in the 6th year of the Republic, he em- 
barked in the fleet which was dettined for 
the conquett of Egypt; on the 12th of 
Meffidor the army was before Alexandria. 
General Kleber commanded the centre 
column in the attack on this. city, in 
which he was wounded by a mufket- ball 
in the head, while mounting the walls 
with his ufual gallantry and intrepidity. 
Bonaparte, afterwards directing his 
march towards Cairo, left the command 
of Alexandria to General Kleber 3 but in 
a thort {pace of time he joined the army, 
which was in purfuit of the Mamelukes 
and Turks. He next received orders to 
embaik with his divifion at Damietta, 
and make the beft of his way by the lake 
of Menzalech, of which the French were 
now mafters, to Tineh, and thence to 
Cathich, fo asto arrive by the 16th of 
Pluviofe. Haying reached the fortref of 
El Arifch, it was blockaded by the troops 
of his divifion. ; 
After the furrender of this fortréefs, Ge- 
eral Kleber fet out, at the head of his 
divifion, from El Arifch to Kan-Younes, 
the firtt village that appears in Paleftine 
after quitting the defart, His guides, 
however, loft their way in their progrefs 
through the defart ; but having opt fome 
Arabs whom he met with, he obliged 
them to conduét him to the right road, 
from which they were aday’s march dif- 
tant. His divifion arrived at Kan-Younes 
in the morning of the 6th of Ventofe, after 
a painful journey of~ forty-eight hours, 
without having been able to procure them. 
felves a drop of water. 
_ Bonaparte, after poflefling himfelf of 
Gaza, marched towards Jaffa, On the 
; 
Biographical Account of General Kleber. 531 
13th, Kleber arrived with his advanced. 
guard. Athis approach the enemy with- 
drew into the interior of the place, and 
began to cannonade his eclaireurs. 
The cavalry and the divifion of Kleber 
were ordered to cover the fiege of Jaffa, 
by means of a pofiticn on the river Hoya, 
fituated at about two leagues diftance from 
Acre. The works and town of Jaffa 
were taken by affault. 
His troops now encamped themfelves 
at Mifky, in front of the pofition which 
they had occupied for the purpoie.of co- 
vering the fiege. On the 25th, the whole 
army marched towards Zeta. The Pa- 
cha ,Abdallah- had potted himfelf, with 
two thoufand horfe, on the heights of 
Konoum, haying on his lefta body of ten 
thoufand Turks, who were in pofleffion, of 
the mountain. The divifions of Kleber 
and Bon formed themfelves into a {quare, 
and marched towards the enemy’s caval. 
ry ; but the latter deciined an action. 
Bonaparte foon after laid fiege'to Acre. 
The enemy had affembled all their forces 
for the defence of this city. .General Ju- 
not, who was encamped at Nazareth for 
the purpofe of watching the enemy, 
marched towards Loubi, .where a great 
body of men was forming. Being under 
the neceliity of engaging.in a plain, he 
was attacked by three thoufand horfe ; 
he neverthelefs cut his way through 
them, and gained, one after another, the 
eminences as far as Nazareth. i 
Bonapzrte, at the news of the battle of 
Loubi, ordered General Kleber to fet out 
from Acre with the remainder of the ad- 
vanced-guard, and join General Junot 
at Nazareth. Kleber paffed the night 
under arms at Bedaonia, and on the next 
day marched to Nazareth, in order to pro- 
cure provifions. Being informed, how- 
ever, that the enemy had not quitted their 
pofition at Loubi, he determined to march 
againft them, and attack them on the 
morrow. Scarcely had he reached the 
eminence of Sed-jarra, at a quarter of a 
leagues, diftance from Loubi, when the 
enemy defcended from the heights, and 
filed off in the plain. Kleber, furround- 
ed by four thouland horfe and fix hundred 
foot, who were making immediate: prepa- 
rations to charge him, anticipated their 
intentions, and at the fime moment at- | 
tacked the cavalry and the°camp at. Sed- 
Jarra, which was carried by ftorm. The 
enemy now abandoned the field of battle, 
and retreated in diforder towards the Jor- 
dan, whither Kleber would have purfued 
them, had not his divifion been in want 
of cartridges. 
Uuz2 After 
; 
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