His conceptions were most prophetic, and all his plans were executed in a masterly stile. Reaching Caiffe upon the 11th of March, he afterwards steered for St. Jean d'Acre, where he arrived on the 15th, and concerted a system of defence with Djezzar.
On the 18th he chaced and captured the looked for flotilla off Cape Carmel, afterwards landed the ammunition it contained, and mounted the heavy cannon upon the ramparts of the Syrian bulwark and capital. Its works were much strengthened under the able eye of Colonel Philippeaux, and never were a few critical hours better applied than those which preceded the investment of St. Acre. The greater part of the Marines of the Tygre, Theseus, and Alliance were disembarked, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel (now Sir John) Douglas, who was vested by Sir Sidney with the Brevet Commission of Colonel, in order that the Turkish Forces, and the Seamen, who were also landed, might be under his orders.
From the 17th to the 23d of March the boats of the Tygre and Theseus were constantly employed in union with some gun vessels, in harassing the enemy's posts, checking his approaches, and cutting off his coasting supplies, upon which services Lieutenant Burton and the Marines under his command were distinguished for persevering gallantry.
Upon the 20th the French opened their trenches against the front of the salient angle, on the East side of the town, and within 900 yards. Between that and the 1st of April, they kept up a cannonade, when it appearing to the enemy that a breach had been made in the tower, against which their fire had been levelled, and conceiving also that the counterscarp had suffered from a mine they had sprung, the republicans advanced to storm it. In both, however, they were deceived; and though the Turks were at first panic struck, yet stimulated by the heroic examples of the Seamen and Marines, they returned to their post, and continued to pour down a shower of stones and grenades upon the assailants, until they retired with a heavy loss.
The squadron having been driven from its anchorage in the Bay, encouraged the French to push on their approaches to the counterscarp, a part of which they destroyed, and also made a lodgment in the North East angle of the wall, whence they began to undermine the tower. To avert its effects a sortie was deemed, advisable on the 7th of April, in which the British Seamen and Marines were to dash into the mine, while the Turks were to attempt the republican trenches to the right and left. Colonel Douglas led this attack, in three columns, at the head of each of which were the Marines, just before the break of day, and it would, most probably, have been a surprize, if the undisciplined clamour of their Mahometan Allies, had not proclaimed their approach to the enemy.
This handful of Seamen and Marines carried the first and second lines of the French trenches, parallel to the mine, although defended by the flower of Buonaparte's Army, and maintained them, until the mine was destroyed by the gallant exertions of Lieutenant White and his Sailor pioneers. That Officer very much distinguished himself, and with many others, who were badly wounded, was indebted for an escape from captivity to the cool intrepidity of Sir John Douglas and the remains of his little detachment, who bore them off into the garrison amidst a tremendous fire from the enemy.
I must here pause to render justice to the memory of one of the mildest and bravest of men, who unfortunately fell upon that day. I mean Major Thomas Oldfield of the corps of Marines. No eulogy of mine is necessary to adorn his tomb. I go to the records of a brave foe, where his epitaph is written, and who witnessed and recognized his valour. It is the honest testimony of a Soldier—of Gen. Berthier, whose own name has often been conspicuous amongst the splendid details of the Armies of France. He speaks in these emphatic terms: "On the 18th Germinal (7th April) the enemy, at break of day, came on with an attack on our left and our centre; each column was headed by British Marines belonging to the ships, and their colours were seen waving with those of Djezzar, and the batteries were all manned by English troops. The enemy made an attempt to surprize our advanced posts; but their design was seen through. We received them with a brisk fire from our parallels, and all that appeared were either killed or wounded. The enemy ultimately retired without gaining an inch towards destroying our works. The central column acted with more obstinacy. Their object was to penetrate to the entrance of our mine; they were commanded by Major Thomas Oldfield. He advanced boldly towards the entrance of the mine, at the head of some of his intrepid countrymen; they attacked like heroes, and were received by heroes; death only checked their bold career; the remainder retreated, and took refuge in the fortress. The approaches of our parallels remained covered with the dead bodies of English and of Turks. The corpse of Major Thomas Oldfield was carried off by our Grenadiers, they brought him to our Head Quarters, he was on the point of death, but on his arrival he was no more. His sword, to which he had done so much honour, was also honoured after his fall—it remains in the hands of one of our Grenadiers; he was buried amongst us, and has carried with him the esteem of the whole French Army."
This was the effusion of a brave enemy. I will superadd the animated address of Sir Sidney Smith to a meeting of the Anniversary of the Naval Asylum, on the 2d of June, 1802, and with it shall close this tributary theme.
After having spoken of the many virtues of the amiable Captain Miller, Sir Sidney thus enlarges upon the merits of his departed friend, Major Oldfield:—"The next is Major Oldfield, of the Marines. I will tell the company where the body of this brave man was contended for, and they will judge where and how he died; it was a sortie of the garrison of St. John D'Acre, when attacked by General Buonaparte, that Major Oldfield, who commanded a column, was missing. On our troops advancing he was found—his body was found at the mouth of one of the enemy's mines, and at the foot of their works. Our brave men hooked him by the neckcloth as he lay dead, to draw him off; the enemy at the same time pierced him in the side with a halbert, and each party struggled for the body. The neckcloth gave way, and the enemy succeeded in dragging to their works this brave man; and here I must do them justice, which such gallant foes are justly entitled to, they buried him with all the honours of war."
Lieut. Beattie, of Marines, was wounded in this ever-memorable sortie, which reflected a bright lustre upon all that composed it.