Order of the Crescent.—Selim III presented a series of gold medals to the officers who took part in the operations. These varied in weight and size, some being set with diamonds, while a few of the larger ones were enamelled crimson in the centre. The medals, being struck from different dies, have the crescent either on the right or left of the star. The principal naval and military officers received medals measuring 21∕10 in. in diameter; those ranking next received a lighter and smaller medal, 19∕10 in. in diameter; while a third medal, given to captains, was still lighter and only 1⅞ in. in diameter. The non-commissioned officers received a silver medal 14∕10 in. in diameter, so that one may gauge by the size the rank of the officer who received it. The medals were suspended from an orange-coloured ribbon by means of a hook and chain. I have seen specimens without attachment for suspension.
The army which landed under Abercromby included the 1st Battalion of the Coldstreams and the Scots Guards; the 1st Royal Scots; 2nd Queen's Royal; 8th King's; 13th, 18th Royal Irish; 19th, 28th; 23rd Welsh Fusiliers; 28th, 30th, 40th (flank companies), 42nd Black Watch; 44th, 50th, 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 54th, 58th; 79th Cameron Highlanders; 89th, 90th Perthshire Light Infantry; 92nd Gordon Highlanders; one squadron of the 11th Light Dragoons; the 12th and 26th Light Dragoons (unmounted); Artillery and Engineers; also Dillon's and De Rolle's Regiments; a detachment of Baron Hompesch's mounted riflemen, and the Corsican Rangers. The army was further strengthened by a squadron of the 8th Light Dragoons; the 10th and 27th Foot; 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 89th, and the Queen's German Regiment.
The 22nd Light Dragoons; two battalions of the 20th Regiment; the 24th, 25th, and 26th Regiments; as well as the Ancient Irish Fencibles, the Chasseurs Britanniques, and De Watteville's Regiment, did not reach Egypt until July 1801. The medals of men attached to the regiments which first landed and drove the French off to Alexandria, following up their retreat, and particularly those who took part in the most furious fighting, are the most sought after; those of the Black Watch and Gloucesters being especially and rightly valued, likewise those of the 8th and 13th Foot.
The Red Heckle.—There is even now a common notion that the Black Watch (which lost 54 officers and men killed, and 262 wounded) had its white heckle changed to red because of its prowess against the French "Invincible Legion" in the historic ruins outside Alexandria, where, it is alleged, the heckles in the fallen bonnets became dyed with the blood of the slain, and in honour of their part in the battle of Alexandria they were granted this signal favour. Such, however, is not the correct story, for it is now generally conceded that the red heckle was granted for their courageous conduct in retaking some guns, at Gildermaslen on January 4th, 1795, which the 11th Light Dragoons had abandoned. The Dragoons wore a red feather in their helmets, and this was passed on, so to speak, to the Black Watch, and the "red heckle" has distinguished the gallant regiment ever since.
Highland Society's Medal.—For the "distinguished and brilliant manner in which the 42nd acted at Alexandria," the Highland Society of London had a medal struck to commemorate the capture of the "Invincibles'" standard, and one was presented to each officer and private, and to the relatives of the dead men. The medal is 2 in. in diameter, and bears on the obverse the bust of Sir Ralph Abercromby and the inscription ABERCROMBIUS DUX IN EGYPTO CECIDIT VICTOR 28 MAR 1801, and on the reverse a Highlander capturing a French standard, with the inscription in Gaelic NA FIR A CHOISIN BUAIDH' SAN EPHAIT 21 MAR 1801, which being interpreted means "These are the heroes who achieved victory in Egypt." On the edge of the medal is engraved in Gaelic O'N CHOMUN GHAELEACH D'ON FHREICEADAN DUBH NA XLII RT ("From the London Highland Society to the Black Watch 42nd Regiment"). In this battle the 28th (the 1st Gloucester Regiment) gained the distinction of wearing their badge at the back and front of their helmets, they having—while in line—turned about to meet an attack in the rear by cavalry while repelling an attack on their front by infantry.
THE MAHRATTA WAR
Dowlat Rao Scindiah, aspiring to the conquest of Hindustan, entered into negotiations with other Mahratta (Máráthá) leaders to attack the British and the Peishwah, who having allied himself to the British had been restored to his ancient position. The treaty of Bassein, in which the British agreed to restore him, has been described as "the greatest diplomatic triumph the world has ever witnessed." The war did not last long.