General Belliard learned that 2000 Mekkains and more than 1000 Arabs,
conducted by Hassan, had attacked the flotilla at Benouth, and captured
it, notwithstanding an active resistance. Although he had with him only
600 men of the 21st light dragoons, he crossed the Nile, and sought the
enemy now strengthened by the arrival of 400 Mamelukes. The fight was
long and obstinate. The enemy lost their cannon, and fled in alarm; part
to the boats, where the French soldiery, in their fury, soon reached
them; more to Benouth, and into the castle, which they had previously
fortified. There they defended themselves fiercely, and repulsed several
attacks. The order was then given to burn the village and the castle;
and its occupants were soon surrounded with flames, which they were
unable to extinguish, and which closed up every means of egress; their
only chance of escape was to cut their way through the French soldiers,
which they attempted as a forlorn hope, when they were repulsed by a
body of riflemen, whilst a column rushing upon a breach made in the
wall, kept them within the castle, where they all perished.--_March,
1799._
The original of this painting, by M. Langlois, is in the Orleans
Gallery, at the Palais Royal.
[Illustration: THE FIGHT AT BENOUTH.]