1803.] 
on the 30th. 1 
were occupied by the Turkifh infantry, 
and nearly four thoufand cavalry were in 
order of battle to the left. Reynier’s di- 
vilion halted in front of the town, and 
that of General Friant made an oblique 
movement to the left, in order to turn the 
enemy’s horfe ; but the latter no fooner 
faw this movement, than they immediate- 
ly fled ; on the other hand the artillery: 
was employed in anfwering the fire from 
the town and fortrefs. 
The divifion under Friant continued to 
advance without experiencing any ferious 
oppofition; the Turks, having been dri- 
ven from their mof advantageous pofi- 
tions, threw themfelves into one of the 
forts, where they defended themfelves for 
the remainder of the day. The night 
was employed, on the part of the French, 
in making preparations for an attack ; 
but on the morrow the Turks agreed to 
furrender the place, provided they.receiv- 
ed permiffion to join the Ottoman army, 
and carry off their arms. This laft con- 
dition having been refufed, they conti- 
nued their fire; butthe fuperiority of that 
of their opponents was fo evident, at the 
fame time that they were totally deftitute 
of water, that they were compelled to fur- 
render at difcretion. Their leaders only 
were allowed to retain their arms. They 
took the road to Salahie, leaving ten pieces 
of cannon* in the town and environs, 
without reckoning what remained in the 
forts, or had been left by the French at 
the time of their evacuation. They 
quitted Belbeys to the number of eight 
hundred ; three hundred of their dead 
were found in the town, moft of them in 
the wells. 
General Kleber, judging from the dif- 
ferent accounts he received, that the Otto- 
man army was confiderably diminifhed, as 
well from their loffes in battle, as their 
feparation from the troops near Cairo, 
ordered General Friant to march towards 
that city, where an alarming infurreftion 
had broken out, with a few light-pieces, 
and a detachment of cavalry, with orders 
to keep up the communication between all 
the fortrefies until his return, and to 
avoid any attack which might occafion too 
great lofs on his part. 
Inthe mean time General Reynier Jed 
his divifion to Salahbie. The Commander 
in Chief began his march about two 
hours after, with one demi-brigade, the 
* Amongift thefe pieces of cannon were 
two of Englifh manufaéture, with the mot- 
to ** Honi foit qui mal y penfe.” 
Biographical Account of General Kleber. 
The fortrefs and town ’ 
335 
guides, and’ a regiment of Huffars ; 
{carcely, however, was he in motion, when 
he received a letter from the Vizir, pro. 
poling to ftop the maich of the two ar- 
mies, to open a conference at Belbeys, 
and enter into a new explanation as to the 
execution of the treaty. Kleber deferred 
fending his anfwer till the next day, and 
pafied the night at Seneka. He refimed 
his march at day-break, and, arriving in 
the neighbourhood of Corami, he heard a 
brifk cannonading in front of that village, 
which cireumftance gave him reafon to 
fuppofe that Genera] Reynier, who was 
within a league of him, was in warm ac- 
tion, He immediately gave orders to Ge- 
neral Beliard to quicken his march, and 
pufhed cn himfelf in order to be prefent at 
the engagement. On his ariival at the 
{pot, he faw the artillery of Reynier’s di. 
vifion employed in driving back four 
thoufand horfemen who furrounded it. 
Notwithftanding the vigorous charge they 
made, they were driven back with the 
lofs of three hundred killed and wounded. 
On -this fpot Kleber fent his anfwer ta 
the Vizir’s propofal, and gave him to un- 
derftand that he was on his march to Sa- 
lahie. In fact, the army moved on the 
following day, with a full determination 
to engage the enemy ; but while they 
were in motion, Kleber was informed that 
the Vizir had fled acrofs the defart, with, 
{fearcely five hundred followers. The 
French army now entered Salahie, where 
an immenfe quantity of baggace was 
found.. Genéral Le Clerc received orders 
to continue the purfuit to the bridge of 
Trefor. i 
The expulfion of the Turkifh army had 
been the principal objeS% of General Kle- 
ber: this being accomplithed, he tyrned 
all his attention to the interior of Egypt : 
Damietta and Lefbeh were both im the 
eneny’s power. The Pacha Dewich was 
matter of Said, and almoft all the inhabi- 
tants of Lower Egypt were in infurrection 
againft the French. 
After making all neceffary arrange- 
ments, General Kleber left Salahie, and 
fet out for Cairo with one demi-brigade, 
two companies of grenadiers, one regi- 
ment of huffars, and two of dragoons.— 
He threw a few fhells into Boulac, and, 
croffing the gardens, reached his head- 
quarters, which were then befiezed. He 
now learnt that a rebellion had broken 
out in Boulac a few hours after the battle 
of Heliopolis. The inhabitants, under 
the direGlion of 3 fmall number of the 
Keys, hoifted the white ftandard, and arm- 
ing themfelves with fibres and mufkets 
area: fallied 
