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Description: | Engraving . This is a scene from the Battle of Abukir, the second battle of the French campaign in Egypt and Syria, fought between French General Friant and British Commander Sir Ralph Abercromby. It represents the moment Abercromby landed his troops at Abu Qir Bay in Egypt.
Abercromby, as Commander of British troops in the Mediterranean, restocked provisions and practised landing procedures, before the fleet sailed for Abu Qir Bay, arriving on 2 March 1801. Adverse weather conditions delayed the attack until 8 March but on that day 14,000 infantry, 1000 cavalry and 600 gunners were ferried ashore in a single day.
Hopes of a surprise attack were lost and the British sustained heavy losses during the disembarkation. The British nonetheless advanced to Alexandria, where a fierce battle was fought on 13 March, with the French sustaining some 3,000 casualties in contrast to 1,376 British casualties. One of these was Abercromby himself, who was struck in the thigh by a musket ball. He died as a result of the wound on 28 March. | Subjects: | hill military uniform rowing boat ship horse sea oar cannon horseback palm soldier General topography flag tree seascape/coastal scene bay Major General officer (army) Napoleonic Wars sword | Temporal: | 1804 | Source: | Government Art Collection | Creator: | Philip James de Loutherbourg (Artist) | Identifier: | http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/work.aspx?... | Go to resource |
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