48 
their fre on the town to the last moment 
that could be spared, and were then destroyed 
and buriec 5 ali spare ammunition and stores 
Were set fire ‘oand blown up, The picquets 
femained in their fleeches until the freld- 
train, the wounded, and the stores wer® as- 
sembled in the plains, under the chargé ‘of . 
the 78th and De Roll’s regiment, which 
formed a square round them. The brave 
3th then retreated followed by the picqueto. 
Fhe enemy, sallying from the town in ail 
Girections, surrounded our square; but the 
bold frent which the 35th kept, under the 
€oimmand of Captain Riddle, and the Hanking 
position of the light infantry battalion, under 
Major O’Kecie, on the heights of Abouman- 
éour, prevented hint making any impression. 
: Bothits could surpass the steadiness of the 
froops you had entrasted.to my command. 
Th- 334 regiment fired by its wings and pla- 
foons retiring, and the 78th, with its front 
fank kneeling, as during the movements of 
a freld day. Under the directions of Colonel 
Oswala, who regulated the proceedings in 
the rear, I felt confident of the good conduct 
of the whole. About ten o’clocik our little 
army advanced across the sandy plain, ina 
Girection for the Lake Edko, and the right of 
the Hamet position. We arrived there about 
One o'clock, under continual fire, and after a 
sultry march our loss was not, however, con- 
Sicerable, the greatcr body of the enemy be- 
ing kept at a distance, by the fire of our artil- 
lery from the flanks of the square. To my 
Surprise, not an individual of the Hamet de- 
facéhment joined us on this march, nor could - 
. firing be heard in that direction ; our last ac- 
eount of their proceedings left them warmly 
engaged near to the village of Hamet on the 
Rosetta side. Failing to meet them on the 
Shore of the lake, it was necessary, in some 
Measure, to retrace our steps, and to look for 
them nearer to E] Hamet. This could be ef- 
fected by gaining some sand hilis, which 
were about a mile on our left. Our march 
was accordingly directed towards them, the 
light infantry now leading the front of the 
Square, advanced with activicy, and the ene- 
my who occupicd them, dispersed in all di- 
fections. From those hills, which com- 
pletely commanded a view of the plain and 
Hamet position, the enemy were seen to be 
in possession of the latter, and not any ap- 
pearance of our detachment in the former. 
it was apparent they had either effected a se- 
parate retreat to Edko, es been completely 
defeated ; in either case it was advisable, us- 
der all circumstances, that the army should 
continue its original retreat. Tihis was re- 
sumed in the same good order as before ; the 
Jeft being flanked by the lake, the enemy 
ceased to pursue us. Our casualties during 
this retreat did not exceed fifty killed and 
wounded, and none were captured. The loss 
of our enemy was considerable, but we made 
no prisoners. By sun-set we arrived at the 
depot. Lrveutenant Tilly, with his usual ac- 
tivity, lad in consequence of my express to 
State of Public Affairs in July. 
rAug. 1, 
him in the morning, safely embarked all pro- 
visions and stores. Having left our wounded 
and our twelve pounder on board germs here, 
ard refreshed the army, we advanced to Edko, 
and took up our former position about two in 
the morning. On the 22d the whole of the 
stores which were at Edko were safely em- 
barked for the Caravansera, when the army 
marched for that pest, and arrived in the af- 
ternoon without opposition. On the succeed- 
ing day the troops embarked for Aboukir’s 
Wells 5; the Caravansera was blown up under 
direction of Captain Hallowell. No certain 
intelligence has reached me respecting the 
fate of the detachment under Lieutenant-Co- 
lonel M’Leod. General report confirms their 
defeat in the forenoon of the 21st, and states 
many of them to be prisoners. On this I 
will make no comment. Every step which 
a sense of duty could dictate was taken, in 
order to secure the post of Hamet; and it 
will, I sincerely trust, appear to you that 
none which prudesice could suggest were 
omitted, in order that a junction should be 
formed with the detachment. That our an- 
fortunate comraaes did their duty must not 
be doubted, that all was lost, save honour, 
when they surréndered, must also not be 
doubred, 
In closing this letter I am hound to state, 
that I have been ably supported by those who 
were under my orders. ‘ 
To Colonel Oswald I owe every thing 
that a commander can owe to his second in 
command. To Lieutenant Tilly for his ex- 
ertions on the Lake, and to Captain Nicholls 
for his services at the Caravansera, our army 
was indebted for its uninterrupted supply. 
Wherever naval assitance has been required, 
it has been given, under the able superin- 
tendance of Captain Hallowell, with a zeal 
$0 peculiar to our naval operations. In every 
department and to each commanding offiger, 
our country is under much obligation, for they 
exerted themselves to the utmost. They all 
deserve that better fortune should have at- 
tended their zealous endeavours. 
I have the honour to inclose a return of 
the killed, wownded, and missing, since the 
1gth instant. The missing imply the de- 
tachment at Hamet alone, none being mis- 
sing from the muia army. 
I have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) W. Stewart, Brig. Gen. 
Return of killed, wounded, and missing of the 
army serving againf: Rosetta, from thé 19tb 
ta the 21st of April, inclusiwe, 1807. 
Five rank and file killed. 1x Captain, 3 
Lieutenants, 10 Serjeants, 35 rank and file, 
7 horfes, wounded ; 1 Licut. Colonel, 2 Ma- 
Jors, 10 Captains, 15 Lieutenants, 4 Ensigns, 
2 Staff, 30 Serjeants, 15 Drummers, 733 rank 
and file, 26 horses, missing, 
Return of prifoners taken by the Enemy, tranf- 
mitted by Major General Fraser, the 20th 
May, 1807. 
Twentieth light dragoons—z Captain, 4 
Assistant Surgeon, 6 rank and file.—-Royal 
Artillery 
