GENERAL ORDERS.
Horse-Guards, 16th May, 1801.
The recent events which have occurred in Egypt have induced His Majesty to lay his most gracious commands on His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, to convey to the troops employed in that country His Majesty's highest approbation of their conduct; and at the same time His Majesty has deemed it expedient, that these his gracious sentiments should be communicated to every part of His Army, not doubting that all ranks will thereby be inspired with an honourable spirit of emulation, and an eager desire of distinguishing themselves in their country's service.
Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes the successes that have attended the exertions of his troops in Egypt, to that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons; but his Majesty desires it may be most solemnly and most forcibly impressed on the consideration of every part of the army, that it has been a strict observance of Order, Discipline, and Military System, which has given its full energy to the native valour of the troops, and has enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national military character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under circumstances of peculiar difficulty.
The illustrious example of their Commander cannot fail to have made an indelible impression on the gallant troops, at whose head, crowned with victory and glory, he terminated his honourable career; and His Majesty trusts that a due contemplation of the talents and virtues, which he uniformly displayed in the course of his valuable life, will for ever endear the memory of Sir Ralph Abercrombie to the British Army.
His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief having thus obeyed His Majesty's commands, cannot forbear to avail himself of this opportunity of recapitulating the leading features of a series of operations so honourable to the British Arms.
The boldness of the approach to the coast of Aboukir, in defiance of a powerful and well-directed artillery,—the orderly formation upon the beach, under the heaviest fire of grape and musketry,—the reception and repulse of the enemy's cavalry and infantry,—the subsequent charge of our troops, which decided the victory, and established a footing on the shores of Egypt, are circumstances of glory never surpassed in the military annals of the world!
The advance of the army, on the 13th of March, towards Alexandria, presents the spectacle of a movement of infantry through an open country, who, being attacked upon their march, formed, and repulsed the enemy; then advanced in line for three miles, engaged along their whole front, until they drove the enemy to seek his safety under the protection of his entrenched position. Such had been the order and regularity of the advance!
Upon the 21st of March, the united force of the French in Egypt attacked the position of the British Army.
An attack, begun an hour before daylight, could derive no advantage over the vigilance of an army ever ready to receive it. The enemy's most vigorous and repeated efforts were directed against the right and centre. Our infantry fought in the plain, greatly inferior in the number of their artillery, and unaided by cavalry.