BATTLE OF ABOUKIR - 1801 antique print

About this Item

c1890s SEPIA PRINT RARE ANTIQUE MILITARY BATTLESCENE PRINT COMES WITH FOLIO SIZE TISSUE THAT HAS ENGRAVINGS OF THE ARMS AND ARMOUR OF THE PERIOD BRITISH BATTLES - COMES WITH DESCRIPTIVE TEXT BATTLE OF ABOUKIR - 1801 SCANS MINIMIZED TO FIT PAGE THE BATTLE OF ABOUKIR, 1801 - THE RESULT OF SEA POWER When Nelson shattered the French fleet in the Bay of Aboukir he foresaw, as his despatches showed, that the army of Buonaparte in Egypt was land-locked. Such a great naval historian as Captain Mahan has dwelt on this fact; hence the weightiness that is implied in the term Sea-power." Buonaparte, having made an unsuccessful attempt, after traversing the Palestine desert, to effect the siege of Acre, defended by Sir Sidney Smith, was obliged to anticipate the retreat from Moscow, and wearily trudge back to Egypt. Next his ambitious stake for Empire recalled him to France, and he left Egypt hurriedly and the army of occupation to its fate. Eventually the British Government, alive to the fruits of Nelson's victory, despatched Sir Ralph Abercromby to dislodge the imprisoned French battalions and to capture the covetable land of Egypt. In March, 1801, Abercromby, with Smith of Acre, and Moore, afterwards of Corunna, was prepared to disembark on the shore affronting the castle of Aboukir. The whole thing was a plunge into the unknown. The General had no maps, no clues of military topography. Everything depended upon his imperturbable coolness, and on that intrepid and resourceful spirit and action of the men in his command. Wolfe had taken Quebec; why should not Abercromby take Egypt? The blood of heroes ran hot in the veins of Englishmen. And it runs still. Thus although every Frenchman was entrenched, and every cannon posted, there was no flinching. In the early morning every man for the landing was in his position in his boat. In the fury of the cannonade three boats were sunk, but a fair number out of the 180 men involved were saved. The captain of this enterprise of seamanship was Alexander Cochrane, of the famous family of Dundonald. Eventually the troops plunged through the surf, with bayonets fixed and flags flying, and dashed up the steep sandhills. The 42nd Highlanders, rapidly clambering up, raced up to the French defenders, and closed with bayonet and butt. end. In the meantime the French cavalry had courageously ridden into the sea and cut down many of the close-packed troops in the landing boats. Again, too, squadrons charged into the ranks of the alert invaders, but they were repulsed with heavy casualties. Nothing could stop the fearless headway of the dauntless infantry, seamen and marines. General Moore. was the life and soul of this wondrous attack, which, however, caused him the loss Of (nearly 700) killed and wounded. The affair was almost as acrobatic as that of Quebec, and the Frenchmen had a quick awakening from their experiences of native troops. In a few hours after the original order for landing, the scattered enemy was in headlong retreat on the road to Alexandria, upon which, as will presently be shown, the elated English eagerly prepared to advance. Henry Louis Dupray 1841-1909. French military artist Henry Dupray's military paintings, many of which were produced as small sepia prints PUBLISHED DATE c1890s PAGE SIZE: approx 11 1/2 INCHES x 8 1/4 INCHES IMAGE SIZE: approx 11 1/4 X 8 INCHES Engraved Tissue SIZE: approx 16 X 11 INCHES CONDITION SEPIA PRINT - Blank on the back.Excellent Condition. As Scanned.The image is clean, clear and sharp with beautiful depth and detail.This beautiful rare item would look great matted and framed. Seller Inventory # 6155

Bibliographic Details

Title: BATTLE OF ABOUKIR - 1801 antique print

Binding: no binding

Condition: very good