1807.] 
as totally to prevent the second division from 
approaching the shore. The next morning, 
however, with infinite difficulty and-risk they 
were landed; but finding my situation now 
from the increased height of the surf and ap- 
‘pearance of the weather, to be very precarious, 
both with respect to getting provisions or 
stores on shore, or having any communica- 
tions with the transports, I determined at all 
hazards to force my way tothe western side, 
where I could receive supplies from. Aboukir 
Bay, at the same time resolving to attempt 
(in passing), to get into the town even 
with the small force I had, and push my way, 
_if possible into the forts that commanded it, 
a matter I had reason to believe from Major 
Misset and others, would not be very difficult 
to accomplish. 
I therefore moved forward about eight 
o'clock in the evening of the 18th, and in 
Qur way pallisadoed intrenchment, with a 
deep ditch in front of it, (that had been 
thrown up by the Turks, as a defence against 
the Mamelukes and Arabs on the western side) 
stretching from fort des Bains to lake Ma- 
reotis, strengthened by three batteries mount- 
ing 8 guns, exclusive of fort des Bains on its 
right flani: mounting 13 guns. This we ef- 
fected with very little loss, though under a 
heavy fire of cannon and musketry, and pro- 
ceeded within a few yards of Pompey’s Gate, 
where we fuund the garrison prepared to re- 
ceive us, the gate barricaded, and the walls 
lined with troops and armed inhabitants: 
this, added to the smallness of my force, (not 
exceeding one thousand men of all descrip- 
tions), led me to think the risk too great, and 
I determined to proceed to the Westward, as 
J had originally intended, where I arrived in 
the morning of the 19th, and took up my po- 
sition on the ground the British troops occu- 
pied in the action of the 21st, immediately 
sending detachments to take possession of 
Aboukir Castle, and the cut between the 
lakes Maadie and Mareotis, by which com- 
munication the reinforcement of Albanions 
was expected in Alexandria; in both these 
attempts we succeeded. 
The next day, the 20th, Isentin(by a 
friendly Arab that had stolen out of townand 
joined us) a manifesto, addressed to the inha- 
bitants, warning them of the danger.of im. 
plicating friends and foes, in the event: of 
taking the place by assault, and urging them to 
force the governor to capitulate. ‘This had 
the desired effect; a flag of truce was sent 
out, and a capitulation (of which I herewith 
inclose a copy) was agreed toand signed. Al- 
though this service has fortunately not been 
of long duration, yet from the scantiness of 
@ur numbers, and scarcity of all sorts of sup- 
plies, as well military stores as provisions 
(which the boisterous state of the weather 
completely prevented our receiving) ; our si- 
tuation was for some time rather criti- 
cal ; and I am happy to have it in my power 
te bear Testimeny to the patience and cheer. . 
Capture of Alexandria. 
491 
fulness with which the troops bore every. 
privation, and the ardour and splrit they 
shewed in the attack of the enemy’s works, 
as well as the inclination andthe wish they 
displayed to have stormed the'place, had I 
deemed that step adviseable. To Major-Gee 
neral Wauchope, Brigadier-General Stuart, 
and Colonel Oswald, who landed with and ac- 
conipanied me, I feel myself under great obli- 
gations for their exertions and assistance in 
carrying on the service; andI.am much in- 
debtetl to Licutenant-Colonel Airey, acting 
as deputy-adjutant-general, and Captain 
Green acting as deputy quarter-master-gen¢- © 
ral, for the great attention and zeal shewn by 
them in forwarding and executing the duties 
of their respective departments; and 1 think 
it but justice to Captain Pym, and to the of- 
ficerg and men of the detachment of the royal 
artillery, that was with me, to mention the: 
very great zeal and alacrity which they dis 
played on every vocasion, which I am confi- 
dent would have been equally conspicuous on 
the part of Capt Burgoyne and the officers of 
the engineers, had circumstances permitted 
them to have acted. : 
To Captain Hallowell, and the officers and 
seamen of his Majesty’s ship Tigre, 1 cannot 
sufficiently express my acknowledgments for 
the assistance they alforded me, and for 
the readiness with which they stood forward 
on all occasions. Captain Hallowell landed 
and marched with me to the attack of the © 
enemy’s entrenchments and tothe very gates 
of the city, and remained on shore until the 
place surrendered; from his advice and local 
knowledge I derived much useful information. 
‘Captain Withers of the royal navy, agent of- 
transports, is also entitled to praise, for his ac- 
tivity in landing the troops, and for the exer- 
tions he afterwards, made for supplying them 
with provisions. Isend you herewith a re- 
turn of the killed, wounded, and missing, to- 
gether with returns of the prisoners made, 
and of the public stores of different descrip- 
tions, found in the several batteries and maga- 
zines. I have the honour, tobe, &c. 
(Signed) A. M. FRASER, 
Maj. Gen. 
“P. S. The Apollo, with 19 missing trans- 
ports came to anchor in Aboukir Bay, on the 
morning of the 20th, and Sir J. Duckworth’s 
squadron here on the 2¢d. # 
Return of the Killed and Wounded of the Army, 
in the Atiack of the 18th of March, 1807, 
under the Command of Major-General Fraser « 
1st Bat. $5th Reg. 2 Rank and File, killed ; 
1 Subaltern, 1 Serjeant, 4 Rank and File, 
wounded.—Reg. De Roll, 1 Assistant Sur- 
geon, 2 Rank and File, killed; 1 Rank and 
File, wounded.—Sicilian Volunteers, 2 rank 
and File, killed.—Royal Artillery, 1 Bom- 
bardier, 1 Gunner, wounded.—-Total, 1 Offi- 
cer, 6 Rank and File killed; 1 Officer, 1 Sere 
jeant, 8 Rank and File, wounded. Assistant- 
Surgeon, Catanazo, killed ; Lieut. Cameron, 
wounded, 
3R2 REPORT 
