The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-07-21
TwENrY-FlRsT OF MLY.


This 10 the anniversary of the battle Of the
Pyramids, gained by General Bonsparte over
the Mamelukes, tl79S.) who were command
ed BY the celebrated Mourad Bey.
Alter having landed in Egypt, in the begin
ming Of July, and taken Alexandria, Bonapar.e
marched MP the left bank ofthe Nile in pursuit
Of the Mamelukes, who retired before n'nn'-
On the 18Th he gained the combat OF cneoe'sS'
and on the evening of the 18th the army ar
rived a, (,mediuar. where, for the first time,
they caught sight ofthe Pyramids. In an in-
slant all the glasses belonging to the army
ware fixed upon these wonderful structures,
,he most ancient monuments Of art existing in
the world. At that distance, they might have
been mistaken for enormous masses Of rocks.
piled BY the hand Of nature, had not the angu-
lar regularity Of their outlines betrayed the
hand of man. They closed the horizon Of the
valley OF the left bank of the Nile, to those who
looked from Omednar.
As the French army approached Cairo, Be-
naparte learned from the inhabitants OF the
country that the Mamelukes, united with the
militia, and with a considerable number of
Arabs, Jauissares and Spahis, were waiting
his arrival between the Nile and the Pyramids,
covering Gizeh. They were in high spirits,
and boosted that they meant TO put the finish
ing stroke 10 the French.
The French army remained at Omedinar
their great fatigue and to prepare for the battle
which was evidently at hand. They were in
the worst possible spirits, prey to the most
profound melancholy produced by the aspect Of
the country which they had come 10 conquer.
II the children of Israel, wandering in the Des-
ert, murmured against Moses, and longed for
the Aesh-pots Of Egypt, the regrets of the
French were not less lively, nor more restrain
ed, when they remembered Italy. 1t was in
vain that they were told that Egypt was the
most fertile country IN the world, and, that in
this respect, not even Lombardy was COM
pared to it. They could not be made to be-
iieve this of a country in which they could OBJ
tain neither bread nor wine. They were en-
camped, it is true, in the midst of immense
crops of grain, but there were neither mills
from Alexandria, had given out, and the sol
der wa compelled to crush the corn between
two stones, and bake the cakes made of the
-four thus obtained, in the ashes. Some
parched the corn in frying pans, and after
wards boiled it. This was the best substitute
for bread, but still it was not the thing itself.
The dissatisfaction grew to such pitch, that
many of the soldiers said it was all lie about
Cairo's being great city /; that it was moth
ing but collection Of wretched huls, like Da-
manhour, destitute of every convenience which
could render life agreeable, OF even endurable.
10 such degree were the imaginations of
some wrought upon, that two dragons threw
themselves, armed and accoutred, into the
Nile, and were drowned. They had, it is true.
neither bread nor wine, but the substitute for
the former which they found in corn. heavy
meat, and even pigeons, all of which existed
in great abundance, prevented them at least
from suffering for the want of food. But the
evil consisted in the exaggerations of dis
eased fancy, to which nearly all of them bad
given way. The officers complained more
even than the soldiers, because the contrast be.
tween their situation in Egypt, with their sit.
uation in Italy, was greater. Bonaparte, in
order to set an example, habitually encamped
in the midst of his troops, and in the least
agreeable spots. Neither he nor his staff, had
tents, and their ordinary dinner was dish OF
lentils. The soldiers spent the evening in
talking politics, wrang!ing and murmasing.-
What axe we sent here to do ?" said some
"The Directory has transported US, as if we
were felons." "Cafarelli," said others, sis
the agent who has been made use of to deceive
the General in Chief" Others, observing tina,
whenever they came across any vestiges of an.
tiquity, they were sketched with great care
broke out into inyectives against the saraas
whom they accused of having gotten up the
expedition to fill their portfolios. Jests and
sarcasms rained upon them. They said o.
Caffarelli, who had lost leg, "he does moi
care; he has one foot in France" But bott
lie, and the saraas, soon re established them
selves in the good opinion of the troops.
On the 2lst, at in the morning, the French
army began its march from Omedinar. At day
break, for the first time since the action a
Chebress, an advanced guard of thousant
mounted Mamelukes was seen. 1t fell bach
without attempting anything, as soon as the
advanced guard ofthe French fred few shot
At 10 o'clock, the whole force of the Name.
lukes was seen, in order Of battle, near Emba-
beh- Its right was appuyed upon the Nile,
where they had constructed large entrenched
camp, fortified with fony cannons, and de-
Tended by 10000 infantry, Janssaries, spahis,
and Cairo militia. The line of Mameluke ca.
valry aPpayed its right on the entrenched
camp, and extended its left in the direction Of
the Pyramids, occupying both sides of the G;.
zeh road. As far as could be Judged. thew
were nine or ten thousand strong. Tbe;,
whole force, including the infantry, and lie
foot soldiers Of which every horseman was
attended by several. was about 10000. Two
or three thousand Arabs, posted on the extreme