In 1800 the British Army was the laughing-stock of Europe. A year later, after forty years of failure, its honour and reputation had been redeemed. British Victory in Egypt, 1801 recounts and analyses the story of the expeditionary force that ejected Bonaparte's crack troops from Egypt. Piers Mackesy shows how the future of the British Empire depended on the dislodging of the Napoleonic force in the Middle East. Outlining the daring assault and the masterly planning and discipline that brought victory against the odds, this book also reveals how vital Sir Ralph Abercromby, an elderly Scot and leader of the army, was to the final success of the venture. The part played in the victory by the Highland regiments is still celebrated in Scotland. British Victory In Egypt, 1801 charts a critical episode in European and military history. It also reveals the training, tactics and strategy of a unique campaign and its executors.

This richly detailed account reveals how Sir Ralph Abercromby's strategy restored the honour of the British army and averted disaster for the Empire. In 1800 the British army's reputation was in tatters, having experienced nothing but failure in wars across the world for forty years. At home, a divided Cabinet had to face the problem of Egypt, which had been occupied by Napoleon's Army of the Orient since 1798. The momentous task of ejecting France fell to a disparate band of soldiers led by Sir Ralph Abercromby, an elderly general with a dubious military record. Yet, against all the odds, Abercromby's force decisively defeated the French army on 21 March 1801, bringing Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign to a definitive and crushing end. Piers Mackesy vividly brings to life the events of the battle and the characters involved, revealing how Abercromby's carefully planned and brilliantly executed strategy, and the discipline of the soldiers he had welded into cohesion, restored the honour of the British army, averted disaster for the Empire, and set the standard by which all future battles would be fought.

Publisher description

Two fine accounts of the British at war with Napoleon's French Army in Egypt While there can be no doubt as to the colossal stature of Napoleon Bonaparte in world history, it is equally certain that, despite his genius as a strategist and military tactician, he was a fundamentally flawed character given to embarking on seemingly illogical endeavours-often with disastrous consequences in loss of life-for no realistically achievable gain. His 'adventure' into the Middle East and Egypt (a strategic cul-de-sac) with his 'Armee d'Orient' must rank in the forefront of those debacles. Nevertheless, Britain was at war with France and wherever the enemy was to be found it had to be engaged. Indeed, Nelson was able to inflict a decisive naval defeat on the French navy at the Battle of the Nile in 1798, and in 1801 a British force stormed ashore at Abukir Bay to engage French troops in Egypt. On the burning North African sands this force fought the by now abandoned French force (Napoleon had returned to France) inflicting a decisive defeat at Abukir itself, Mandora and finally at Alexandria-though with the loss of General Ralph Abercrombie who was killed in the final battle. This unique Leonaur book contains two essential works on the campaigns in Egypt. The principal piece is an outstanding history and first hand account of this little reported Napoleonic campaign, and the second is an illustrated historical overview by regarded military historian Colonel W. W. Knollys. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.