underwent, I shall mention a few observations upon Cosseir, in
Upper Egypt. This place is well known as a seaport, and it is,
perhaps, one of the most miserable spots in the universe; a few
wretched mud-houses placed along the beach, with some narrow
lanes branching off at right angles, in all about two hundred
_habitations_, compose this abominable little town. Just above it,
stands a fort which the French had put into a tolerably defensible
state; at all events, it was an _impregnable fortification_ against
the combined native force of Upper Egypt. About three-quarters of
a mile to the westward of it, was the ground where the Indian army
was encamped; this situation is in nature the most sterile and
arid, not a blade of any kind of verdure to be seen,--vegetation of
every description is totally wanting,--and the wearied eye meets
no object but the bare, rugged, and burnt-up hills which bound the
view towards the desert. This frightful country appears quite
unfit for the existence of human beings; nature has furnished it
with no sources of fresh water, and that indispensable necessary
of life is only to be obtained by digging wells in the sand, into
which oozes a kind of bitter salt water, the most _offensive thing_
to the taste imaginable; and its effects are no less noxious,--as
people who drink it are always (at first) attacked with a violent
vomiting and purging, which is accompanied by the most intolerable
and burning thirst. Our soldiers were nearly to a man, in a more or
less degree, afflicted with this disease, and though it only proved
fatal to a few, still it handled very roughly all those who were
under the necessity of using this detestable water. The heat when
I was at Cosseir was almost intolerable. Provisions were plentiful
and cheap,--the fish excellent; but although the inhabitants
possess as fine wheat as any in Europe, their bread was detestable,
being a kind of dough cake half-baked, or rather burnt, in the
dusty ashes.
_July 18th._--Every preparation having been made, I marched at six
o’clock, P.M., with the troops, followers, drivers, &c., as already
stated; and our line of march was considerably increased by a
number of asses, the property of individuals, who had loaded these
useful animals with an independent supply of water. We continued
our route, keeping a large range of rocky and burnt-up hills on our
left; a very fine moon shone only to render this dreary scene the
more awful; the setting sun brought us little, if any, relief as
to heat. After marching about five miles we came to some springs,
or rather a black rivulet of water, very bitter, which crosses
the valley through which the road leads. I endeavoured in vain to
prevent the soldiers from drinking of this infernal brook; thirst
was _too imperious_, and I soon found that my orders had been
disregarded by all the rear. Many of the men soon felt the ill
effects of their folly, and began to fall back faint and oppressed,
and this was much aggravated by the very extraordinary closeness of
the heat: what air did exist, was like the breathing of a furnace.
At twelve o’clock we reached the new wells. I reckon the distance
about thirteen miles, where I found a subaltern officer and a few
Sepoys stationed to take charge of, and protect them. After placing
the necessary guards, &c., I ordered the detachment to lie down,
and we enjoyed a most refreshing repose for about three hours. At
this time the captain of the rear-guard came up, and reported that
a great many stragglers were _still_ behind.
I ordered the drums to beat half an hour before day, when the camp
was pitched, and the men sheltered from the sun, which rose with
a most blazing and fiery aspect. From midnight, until a little
after sunrise, the air in the desert is delightfully cool and
refreshing (I mean comparatively with the rest of the twenty-four
hours); nature, I suppose, has kindly ordained this comfort to the
unfortunate travellers, and still more miserable inhabitants of
this dreary waste.
_July 19th._--It was late in the day when all our stragglers
came up. I was much concerned to find that the mussacks[9] (or
water-bags) had leaked considerably, and that I should be under the
necessity of replenishing them from the wells of this post. I must
here observe, that General Baird had caused, both at this and other
posts on the desert, wells to be dug, in order to procure a supply
of that greatest of all necessaries of life (in such a climate as
this)--water. In these scanty sources, it was thick and muddy;
however, even this, could we have obtained it in abundance, would
have been reckoned a luxury; but, alas! a very limited supply was
all we could get: therefore, at half-past five, P.M., I marched.
We passed for some hours through a long and winding valley; high,
brown, rugged mountains, with here and there a solitary eagle
perched upon a projecting crag, were the only gloomy objects that
presented themselves. We continued our route northerly, through the
same desolate wilderness, and at one o’clock I judged it necessary
to halt; but this halting-place was not to be distinguished from
any accommodations, not from a spring or rivulet of water, not from
any shelter from the scorching sun, and more suffocating hot wind,
but it became a place of repose merely from the total incapacity
of the troops to move a mile further: here then I ordered the
baggage to be unloaded, and the detachment to lie down to rest. I
never suffered the tents to be pitched until just before sunrise,
as I found the soldiers always marched more refreshed by letting
them take their rest the instant they halted, than to undergo the
fatigue and confusion of pitching their tents in the dark. No dew
falls in the desert; the air is so greedy of moisture, that the
least wet is instantly absorbed, and sleeping in the open air was
here a luxury.
_July 20th._--I was much grieved at daylight to find that about
forty men were still behind. I trembled at the horrors these poor
fellows would be exposed to, should they be left destitute and
forlorn in the desert. After seriously reflecting upon this most
melancholy circumstance, I sent for the chief Arab, who, as a kind
of scheik, had some sort of control over the camel-drivers, and
ordered him to collect some of the principal ones; as soon as they
came to my tent, I told them the apprehensions I was under, and
proposed to them to return in the track we had come the day before
for at least seven miles, and promised to reward them liberally for
every soldier they should bring up. All their attention was called
forth by the mention of money, and they became eager to be useful.
Twenty camels set off, and my brother, Captain Frederick Barlow,
SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, very humanely volunteered, notwithstanding
the _intolerable_ heat, to attend the camels. I filled a cag
with a mixture of port wine and water, which he took with him,
and it proved of the most essential service. At the distance of
from four to six miles from camp, he picked up twenty-one poor
exhausted fainting wretches, who, without this assistance, must
have died in a very few hours: some not able to speak, and the
whole totally incapable of walking a step further. One fine lad in
particular, was so far gone, as to lay stretched out on the sand
as if expiring; but upon pouring some of the wine and water down
his throat, he gradually recovered, and he was brought into camp
in a man’s arms on a camel. Water, and afterwards some wine, soon
restored him to sufficient strength to enable him to proceed on
a camel, with other sick men, that afternoon: before two o’clock
all the absentees got into camp. This day we contrived to dine
tolerably well; but for want of water to wet the bags, our wine was
as hot as milk immediately from the cow,--the water we had to drink
was the same, therefore to quench our thirst was impossible.
At half an hour past nine I marched, and we had not proceeded
two miles, the heat absolutely suffocating, when we were met by
a convoy of camels, loaded with most excellent water. This very
seasonable supply had been forwarded to us from Moila, owing to
my having sent on to the officer commanding at that post, to say
how distressed I was for water from the leakage of our mussacks.
Many of the soldiers quitted their ranks, and eagerly ran up to
the camels to seize upon the water. I had no little difficulty
in restraining them. I even told the officers to acquaint their
men, that I would not permit the camels to be unloaded if the
least irregularity took place. This had an immediate effect; and
as the detachment stood in open column of half companies, the
whole, in less than an hour, were regularly served with an ample
supply, besides filling their canteens; as this water came in large
earthern jars, it was quite cool, and had such an astonishing
effect upon the troops, that we were enabled to get on with great
vigour, and at half-past one on the 21st of July, we reached Moila.
This extraordinary spot is situated in a ravine between steep and
rugged rocks, and is uncommonly romantic. Here, then, I found it
absolutely necessary to halt, that is, to remain till the evening
of the 22nd, as the men stood in the greatest need of a little
repose. In the course of the day many Arabs came to the camp with
various articles of provisions for sale. Mutton we received as
rations in abundance,--indeed at every post in the desert where
water was to be had, even in the smallest quantity, General Baird
had made depôts of provisions; therefore we had only to carry the
necessary supply for those halting-places where _no water was to be
found_. All our stragglers reached the camp before two P.M. of this
day.
_July 22nd._--I this day ordered the men to wash their persons,
and otherwise to put themselves into as clean and good order as
circumstances would permit. At six o’clock P.M. we marched. The
road leads through a most romantic valley; at about six miles’
distance, under some craggy rocks on the left hand, are three wells
or springs of water. Three miles from these are the nine mile
wells, where we arrived at about ten P.M. Here I found an officer
and a party of Sepoys, but was informed by him, that my detachment
was so numerous it would very soon drain the pits or wells he was
posted at; and the next day not a drop of water was to be got from
them. At five P.M. I marched, and just before sun-set we saw a wild
beast, which proved to be a lion. We continued our route over the
dreary, desolate, and solitary waste for seven hours, when I found
the men were excessively fatigued. Accordingly I gave orders to
halt, although we had not arrived at the half-way distance between
the nine mile wells and Legattah. We lay down upon a large and
extensive desert plain, and at daylight, as usual, the camp was
pitched. I had despatched a light camel or dromedary to Legattah
with a letter to the officer stationed there, requesting him to
send a supply of water to meet me on my march to that place; and
relying upon his being able to comply with my request, I emptied
the mussacks before I left this dreary halt, which was by much the
worst we had as yet experienced. At six P.M. we marched from this
abominable and burning spot. After six hours’ march the men began
to complain grievously from the want of water, and I confess I
almost feared the officer at Legattah had not found it possible to
send a supply as I had required; however, a little after midnight,
I had the inexpressible satisfaction to perceive a large escort
coming towards us,--the first thing that attracted my attention
was the glittering of the Sepoys’ arms, the moon shining in great
splendour,--which proved to be twenty-eight camels loaded with
water. Words cannot express the sensations of our poor fellows when
I rode along the line of march, telling them a convoy of water was
in front. I halted, and upon inquiry found that a great number had
fallen behind; after supplying all the others in an ample way, I
caused a captain’s guard, a surgeon, and seven camels’ load of
water, together with every light and unloaded camel we could spare
to remain in this spot, in order to bring up the stragglers. I
then told the rest that those able to march might go on with me,
as after an hour’s rest I was resolved to push on for Legattah
(then distant nine miles) with the treasure and those of the troops
capable of proceeding. To my great surprise, almost the whole said
they could march from the comfortable supply of water they had
first had, and the short repose I had given them; therefore, after
leaving some of the most weakly with a captain, two subalterns,
one surgeon, the water and camels as above stated, I continued my
route, and after two hours’ march had the satisfaction to come in
sight of the lights of Legattah camp. So fatiguing was this forced
march, that I was frequently in danger of falling from my horse
from sleep. An officer of the Tenth Regiment fell from an ass he
rode, and hurt himself considerably. I got in just before the dawn
of day, _all of us exceedingly exhausted_; and it was not until
three P.M. that the captain with the rear-guard and stragglers
came up; this made it impossible for me to leave the camp until
the evening following,--the poor fellows who dropped in during the
day, panting and fainting, were incapable of further exertions. The
thermometer in my tent was here at 114°.
At Legattah we found a large detachment of Sepoys, under Captain
Mahony, of the Seventh Bombay Regiment: he behaved to us in the
most attentive and liberal manner. We were supplied with every
necessary by this officer; and he fulfilled the duties of his
post, not to the strict letter of his orders, but to the fullest
extent of every humane and hospitable construction of them. The
ensuing march to Buramba was to be a very long one; and I found
it necessary to make it in two, as follows: at six P.M. of the
26th, we left Legattah, and continued our route for six hours
and a half by my watch, when I ordered the detachment to halt,
caused the treasure camels to be unloaded, and directed the rest
with the tents, baggage, sick, &c., to proceed on Buramba. I then
ordered the detachment to be served with plenty of water, when we
all lay down and enjoyed three hours’ most refreshing sleep. A
little before day the drums beat, the treasure was reloaded, and we
proceeded, and arrived at Buramba at six A.M. of the 27th. Here we
first saw verdure: this agreeable prospect opened to us immediately
upon the dawn of day, and infused spirit into everybody. This
village seemed to us a little paradise, and, like sailors arrived
at a shore of plenty and ease, after the perils of shipwreck,
distress, and want, was looked upon by all as a blessed haven.
At noon I despatched an officer with a report to General Baird,
Commander-in-Chief of the Indian army, who was at Kenè on the Nile,
of my having reached Buramba without the loss of a single man; and
at two o’clock A.M. on the 28th, I marched (having previously at
midnight sent on the tents and baggage). Shortly after daylight
we passed two miserable Arab villages; we then found ourselves in
_cultivated ground_, and were eagerly looking out for the glorious
Nile, whose direction we could easily trace from the date-trees and
vegetation apparent upon its banks, although we could not see that
noble river; shortly afterwards we got sight of Kenè, and a mile
or two from it were met by General Baird and his suite. He ordered
me to proceed to the banks of the Nile, and at seven o’clock we
encamped about a quarter of a mile westward of the town of Kenè,
and fifteen yards from the brink of the river. One cannot picture
the joy we all felt at arriving amongst our brother soldiers, after
the ten days of uncommon fatigue we had just experienced. Kenè
abounded with every kind of provision, such as mutton, poultry,
fish, milk, vegetables, &c., the whole at the most reasonable
rates. The heat in this camp was excessive, certainly greater than
at Cosseir. The General ordered the troops to be in readiness to
embark in d’jirms, already collected to convey the army down the
Nile, and which were to rendezvous at Cairo, where the General
meant to collect all his army, in order to carry it entire to
Rosetta, from which place he could make every arrangement for our
junction with the English army before Alexandria. We embarked on
the 2nd of August; the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, about 900 strong, was
allowed seventeen d’jirms, and fell down with the current. The
distance to Cairo is about 400 miles. We arrived at that celebrated
place on the 11th. The army encamped on the island of Rhoda on the
Nile, between Cairo and Gaza; and on the 28th, the whole being
collected, we re-embarked and proceeded towards Rosetta; and on
the 31st we landed and encamped at El Hamed, four miles to the
southward of that town; two days after which the General changed
his camp to Aboumandour, so called from the tower which stands
just above the Nile, about one mile and a quarter to the S.E. of
Rosetta: it was from this tower that Pousseilgue made such accurate
remarks upon the memorable battle between the English and French
fleets in Aboukir Bay.
J. J. BARLOW,
_Lieut.-Colonel, 61st Regiment_.
SIXTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
RETURN OF CASUALTIES during the PENINSULAR WAR, from 1809 to 1814.
+----------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Place and Date | NAMES OF OFFICERS. |
| | |
| of Action. +-----------------------+------------------------+
| | Killed. | Wounded. |
| | | |
+----------------+-----------------------+------------------------+
| | | Major R. J. Coghlan |
| | | Captain A. Hartley |
| | | ” W. Furnace |
| Battle of | Major H. F. Orpen | ” J. Laing |
| TALAVERA, | Captain H. James | ” D. Goodman |
| 27th and 28th | Lieut. D. J. Hemus | Lieut. G. Collins |
| July, 1809. | | ” H. T. Tench |
| | | ” G. McLean |
| | | ” J. Given |
| | | Ensign W. Brackenbury |
| | | Adjutant R. Drew |
+----------------+-----------------------+------------------------+
| Storming the | | |
| Forts at | | Captain J. Owen |
| Salamanca, | | Lieut. J. Given |
| 22nd June, 1812| | |
+----------------+-----------------------+------------------------+
| | | Major J. Downing (died)|
| | |Captain S. Favell (died)|
| | | ” J. Oke |
| | | ” W. McLeod |
| | | ” W. Greene |
| | | Lieut. S. Falkner |
| | Lieut.-Col. F. Barlow | ” H Daniel |
| Battle of | Captain G. Stubbs | ” J. Chapman |
| SALAMANCA, | ” P. B. P. Horton| ” J. Chipchase |
|22nd July, 1812.| Lieut. A. Chawner | ” T. Gloster |
| | ” J. Parker | ” N. Furnace |
| | Ensign H. Bere | ” J. Collis |
| | | ” J. Wolfe |
| | | ” W. Brackenbury |
| | | ” J. Royal |
| | | ” A. Toole |
| | | Ensign W. White |
| | | ” J. F. Singleton |
+----------------+-----------------------+------------------------+
| Siege of the | | |
| Castle of | | Lieut. G. Stuart |
| BURGOS, | | |
|in October, 1812| | |
+----------------+-----------------------+------------------------+
+----------------+--------+------------------------------------+
| Place and Date | | Total Loss. |
| | +---------+----------+---------+-----+
| of Action. | |Officers.|Serjeants.|Drummers.|Rank |
| | | | | |and |
| | | | | |File.|
+----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
| | | | | | |
| Battle of | | | | | |
| TALAVERA, |Killed | 3 | -- | 1 | 45 |
| 27th and 28th |Wounded | 11 | 10 | -- | 186 |
| July, 1809. |Missing | -- | -- | -- | 16 |
| | | | | | |
+----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
| | | | | | |
| Storming the |Killed }| | | | |
| Forts at | and }| 2 | 1 | -- | 12 |
| Salamanca, |Wounded}| | | | |
| 22nd June, 1812| | | | | |
| | | | | | |
+----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
| | | | | | |
| Battle of | | | | | |
| SALAMANCA, |Killed | 6 | 3 | 1 | 35 |
|22nd July, 1812.|Wounded | 18 | 22 | 1 | 280 |
| | | | | | |
+----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
| | | | | | |
| Siege of the |Killed }| | | | |
| Castle of | and }| 1 | -- | -- | 10 |
| BURGOS, |Wounded}| | | | |
|in October, 1812| | | | | |
| | | | | | |
+----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
+------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Place and Date | NAMES OF OFFICERS. |
| | |
| of Action. +-------------------------+----------------------+
| | Killed. | Wounded. |
| | | |
+------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| Battle of the | | Captain E. Charleton |
| PYRENEES, | | ” G. McLean |
| 28th July, 1813. | | Lieut. J. Wolfe |
| | | ” G. O’Kearney |
+------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| | | Captain J. Horton |
| Battle of the | Captain W. H. Furnace | ” M. Annesley |
| NIVELLE, | Lieut. C. Kellet | ” H. Eccles |
| 10th Nov., 1813. | | Lieut. R. Belton |
| | | ” A. Toole |
+------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| Battle of the | | Captain W. Greene |
| NIVE, | | ” E. Charleton |
| 9th Dec., 1813. | | |
| | | |
+------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| Battle of | | |
| ORTHES, | | |
| 27th Feb., 1814. | | |
| | | |
+------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| At TARBES, | | |
| 1st March, 1814. | | |
| | | |
+------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| At GRENADA, | | |
| 2nd March, 1814. | | |
| | | |
+------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| | | Lieut.-Col. J. Oke |
| | | Captain W. Greene |
| | | ” E. Charleton |
| | | Lieut. A. Porteus |
| | | ” N. Furnace |
| | | ” T. Gloster |
| Battle of |Lieut.-Col. R. J. Coghlan| ” D. O’Kearney |
| TOULOUSE, | Lieut. H. Arden | ” J. Wolfe |
| 10th April, 1814.| Ensign W. A. Favell | ” E. Gaynor |
| | | ” W. White |
| | | ” J. Harris |
| | | ” G. Stewart |
| | | ” J. H. Ellison |
| | | Ensign J. Wright |
| | | ” C. Eccles |
| | | ” S. Bartlett |
| | | |
+------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
+-----------------+--------+------------------------------------+
| Place and Date | | Total Loss. |
| | +---------+----------+---------+-----+
| of Action. | |Officers.|Serjeants.|Drummers.|Rank |
| | | | | |and |
| | | | | |File.|
+-----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
|Battle of the |Killed }| | | | |
|PYRENEES, | and }| 4 | -- | -- | 70 |
|28th July, 1813. |Wounded}| | | | |
| | | | | | |
+-----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
|Battle of the |Killed }| | | | |
|NIVELLE, | and }| 7 | 5 | -- | 82 |
|10th Nov., 1813. |Wounded}| | | | |
| | | | | | |
+-----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
|Battle of the |Killed }| | | | |
|NIVE, | and }| 2 | -- | -- | 8 |
|9th Dec., 1813. |Wounded}| | | | |
| | | | | | |
+-----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
|Battle of |Killed }| | | | |
|ORTHES, | and }| -- | 1 | | 10 |
|27th Feb., 1814. |Wounded}| | | | |
| | | | | | |
+-----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
|At TARBES, |Wounded | -- | -- | -- | 4 |
|1st March, 1814. | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
+-----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
|At GRENADA |Killed | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
|2nd March, 1814. |Wounded | -- | -- | -- | 4 |
| | | | | | |
+-----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
|Battle of | | | | | |
|TOULOUSE, |Killed | 3 | 1 | -- | 13 |
|10th April, 1814.|Wounded | 16 | 7 | -- | 140 |
| | | | | | |
+-----------------+--------+---------+----------+---------+-----+
FOOTNOTES:
[1] BEATSON’S _Naval and Military Memoirs_.
[2] Lieutenant-General the Honorable James Murray’s answer to this
proposal is printed in BEATSON’S _Naval and Military Memoirs_, and
is as follows:--
“_Fort St. Philip, October 16, 1781._
“Sir,
“When your brave ancestor was desired by his sovereign to
assassinate the Duc de Guise, he returned the answer which you
should have done, when the King of Spain charged you to assassinate
the character of a man whose birth is as illustrious as your own,
or that of the Duc de Guise. I can have no further communication
with you but in arms. If you have any humanity, you may send
clothing to your unfortunate prisoners in my possession; leave it
at a distance, because I will admit of no contact for the future
but such as is hostile in the most inveterate degree.
“I am, &c.,
“JAMES MURRAY.”
“_To the Duc de Crillon._”
[3] Lieut.-Colonel Barlow wrote a journal of this march, which is
printed at the end of this Record.
[4] The grenadier company of the SIXTY-FIRST was selected
by Major-General Stuart, for his personal escort during the
reconnoissance which he made before the battle.
[5] Casualties at the battle of Salamanca,--
Officers. Soldiers.
Strength in the field. 27 420
Killed and wounded 24 342
-- ---
Remaining 3 78
Six reliefs of officers and serjeants were shot under the colours.