The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-05-08

fore his career was half expired, be con-
coded the dominion Of the ocean to his
great enemy Ever after the Egyptian
campaign, his endeavor looked more
and more to the creation Of a Continen-
tail power which should countorvail
British supremacy on the deep. The re-
suit to, him of the battle of the Nile was
in every way disastrous. The effect OF
1t was calculated to inspire distrust in
France, encourage the Coalition, and to
reanimate the Mamelukes.
Complaints broke out In the French
army. Though victory came, depriva-
ton came also. The soldiers were
scorehed on the blistering plains, and
had little to eat but watermelons.
Nevertheless, Napoleon went steadily
on with his scheme.
On the 22nd of October, ut precon-
oerted signal, Cairo broke into insurrec-
tion. For while the French occupancy
vas endangered; but the revolt was
Suppressed, and terrible vengeance was
wreaked on Its authors. Meanwhile,
Napoleon conceived the project of max
ing O campaign into Syria, and attack
ing the English strongholds of Jaffa and
St Jean d'Acre The situation was
chs: France and Turkey were nominal
ly OF peace. Napoleon had overthrown
the Sultan's rebellious beys in Egypt.
Therefore he was a friend of the Sui
tan; and he Of him. But the thick brain
Of the Porte at length cleared sufficient
ly to see that Murad and Ibrahim Beys
were not half SO dangerous as the for
eign lion that now sat ON his launches
at Cairo, licking his month for more
The Sultan perceived that the French
must be expelled. Napoleon had seen
that this conclusion would be reached,
and that Turkish army might be ex.
pected to come against him out Of Syria
Therefore he would better preoccupy
Syria. Moreover, the hated English had
got the coast of the Eastern Mediterra-
mean. The Turkish army might not be
expected during the winter; but the
English were there already. Hence the
Syrian expedition.
Napoleon divided his forces. He left
about twelve thousand men to occupy
Egypt, and with like number set out,
on the 18th of February, 1899, in the d.
rection of Suez and Palestine The
march was accompanied with great
hardships. AT the wells of Messoudiah
the French found water; and soon aft
EDWARDS the green and fertile plains of
Syria arose to view El-Arish was taken
on the 18th of February. On the lst Of
March, Napoleon slept ct the convent
Of Ramleh. He passed within q few
miles of Jerusalem, and then made his
way to Jaffa. A siege was Immediately
begun, and ON the 9th of March the
place WAS taken, with pillage and mas
sacre. About four thousand of the pris-
oners were, after three days of delibera-
ton, set in lines on the seashore and
shot This was done under the terrible
necessity Of tho French to preserve
themselves in the enemy's country.
Next came the horror of the plague.
With the fall of Jaffa, the march was
begun against st. Jean d'Acre The
Arabs now made common cause with
tho Turks Lannes, pursuing the wild
men into the passes of Nablous, was
ambushed, and lost considerable num-
Der of men. On the 18th of March the
French arrived at Acre, and found that
tho Pasha Djezzar had cut off the head
of Napoleon's envoy, and thrown his
body into the sea- The English under
Sir Sidney Smith, and the Turks, held
the town.
Acre was besieged until the 4th Of
May, when the French ammunition be-
gan to fail. General Caffarelli, one of
Napoleon's favorite officers, already one
legged from heroism, died from the am
pusation of an arm. On the 10th of the
month the French made an assault, and
gained the trenches During the sixty