pour des travaux inutiles. Vous devriez songer particulièrement à la redoute de Cléopatre, et à celle près la Porte de Pompée, les armer, et y placer des troupes pour soutenir la retraite, si le camp est forcé. Ce qu'importe le plus actuellement, c'est de faire une bonne résistance à Alexandrie. L'expédition sera inutile aux Anglais, tant qu'ils n'auront pas cette place: et faisant des bons travaux et plaçant bien toutes les troupes, on peut s'y défendre long-tems. Si les negociations sont entamées, on peut d'un moment à l'autre espérer l'annonce d'un traité; mais songez que les approvisionnements d'Alexandrie sont bien foibles, et qu'il ne faut pas attendre, que l'honneur de l'armée soit un fois compromis par une capitulation avilissante. Vous avez établi un régime semblable à celui de 93, inconnu jusqu'à présent dans toutes les armées. Par un entêtement inconcevable de faire toutes espèces de sottises, vous avez conduit l'armée à un état déplorable. Les militaires de bons sens et jusqu'aux soldats, sentent vos fautes: mais n'y voyant pas de remède, et contenus par les liens de la discipline, ils se taisent; d'autres intimidés par toutes les atrocités, n'osent examiner leur situation; un bien petit nombre est assez vil, et ignorant pour les approver; mais prenez garde à l'explosion, qui est terrible lors+ qu'on a été fortement opprimé. Craignez-la pour vous et l'armée; toutes vos intrigues pour rejetter vos fautes sur d'autres seront inutiles. L'honneur de l'armée sera vengé: c'est vous-même qui avez procuré la victoire aux Anglais, vous seul serez chargé de toute la honte. Je me tais sur vos procédés infâmes envers moi. L'armée seroit heureuse, si, comme moi, vous aviez moins songé à ce qui vous est personnel, qu'à la gloire de l'armée, et aux intérêts de la République. This letter was sent by Reynier to his friends at Cairo, from one of whom a copy of it was taken, and remained in the hands of Mr. Rosetti, the Imperial Consul. Camp, MEMORANDUMS for Lieutenant Colonel CARRUTHERS, ..YOU will proceed with the detachment under your orders on the evening of the 20th instant to the New Wells, distance about eleven miles. The wells are a little off the road, therefore be careful not to pass them, nor allow your camels and baggage to miss them. An officer's party is stationed at the wells. On your arrival there, which will be about eleven o'clock at night, you should not allow your men to straggle about, or keep each other awake, as a good night's rest will enable them to make the march of the next night with more alacrity. In the morning half a pint of wine should be issued to each man, and their rice, which they must cook for that day and the following. The men's canteens should be filled with congu, or the water in which rice has been boiled; and just previous to their marching, another half pint of wine should be given them, to mix with their congu. The men should be kept in their tents, and as quiet as possible during the heat of the day. The mussecks or water bags will be filled up at the wells, if any should have leaked out. As you will find plenty of water at the wells, of course you will not use any of the water carried from this. But be extremely careful of your mussecks, that they do not get damaged, particularly in lifting them on and off the camels, which ought to be done with a tent pole. On the evening of the 21st you will proceed half way to Moilah, which is about thirty-three or thirty-four miles from the wells: therefore if you start from the wells at five o'clock in the evening, and march till twelve at night, you will have marched seventeen miles and a half (at the rate of two miles and a half an hour), or half way to Moilah. You will halt there, and in the morning issue half a pint of wine per man, and the rice, which was cooked the preceding day. No water is to be had at this halting place; you will therefore issue to the troops and followers, from your casks and mussecks, a proportion of เ water. Two gallons of water for each man is sent with you, with an allowance for leakage. You should therefore in the morning issue a gallon per man, and fill the canteens in the evening before you march. If you find you still have water to spare, you will issue it at your discretion. On the evening of the 22d you will proceed to Moilah, where you will find an officer's party. Water and provisions are to be had there. You will indent on the commissary for two days provisions, to be carried with you, to serve on the way to Legaitte. If you find your men much fatigued, you may halt one day and night at Moilah, and on the following evening you will proceed to the advanced wells about nine miles beyond Moilah. There you will fill up your mussecks, and cook rice for the following day. Your next march is half way to Legaitte, which is about thirty-five miles from the advanced wells. You will take the same precautions and measures on this march as directed in that from the wells to Moilah; for as there is no water until you arrive at Legaitte, you must carry your provisions cooked for one day, and be very careful of your water. Your next march is to Legaitte, where you find water and provisions. You may halt there a day and night, if you find it necessary. Your two next marches carry you to Ghinna, distance twenty-eight miles. Every halting day the camel drivers are to receive forty comasses for each camel. The deputy quarter master general will advance the money if you require it-450 comasses are equal to one dollar. You will endeavour to conciliate the drivers as much as possible, lest they desert. One head man will have the charge and direction of them, and you will give your orders through him. You will write to me from the New Wells, Moilah, and Legaitte, mentioning any inconveniencies or impediments you may have met with, and whether you halt, in order that the succeeding divisions may be guided by it. You will find fresh meat at Moilah and Legaitte, which you will issue to your men, also spirits, as your wine must be used only on marching days. You have with you one gallon of wine for each European soldier, which is to be issued on marching days, at the rate of one pint per man. You will endeavour to dissuade your men from drinking a great quantity |