บท 34: Chapter 34: The Battle of Alexandria
After successfully dealing with the island of Malta, on the 19th, the fleet continued to sail with favorable winds, and after 11 days of navigation, they reached the vicinity of Egypt. On June 30th, the fleet successfully docked at the port of Alexandria.
"All ashore!" As the ships drew closer to the shore, Napoleon finally gave the order.
At Napoleon's command, the prepared soldiers quickly disembarked and boarded special small boats to row towards the shore.
"Is this Egypt? It's just as I imagined, all sand," Roland observed as his Seventh Battalion reached the shore. He felt a bit bored because he wanted to see the famous pyramids of Egypt, not the endless sand.
"Marmont, where are we exactly?" At the same time, Napoleon also landed and, after surveying the surroundings with his telescope, turned to his aide-de-camp, Marmont, with the question.
Marmont, an artillery general and also Napoleon's deputy for this expedition to Egypt, responded, "General, based on our navigation route, we should be near the port of Alexandria. However, I am not entirely sure of our exact location. The surroundings are all sand, with no landmarks to refer to." After a quick check with the map he carried, Marmont confirmed that the French forces were near Alexandria's port.
"It seems we have not deviated from our course! As for where exactly Alexandria's port is? We need to ask someone."
"Ask who?" Marmont asked, puzzled.
Napoleon quickly provided an answer, mustering his voice to command loudly, "Desaix! Form the First Battalion into combat teams and scout the surroundings. Report back immediately if you spot any Egyptian locals or villages."
"Yes, General." Upon hearing Napoleon's orders, Colonel Desaix saluted and quickly departed to execute the command.
Desaix acted swiftly, and in no time, a force of several thousand men began to move. They wore serious expressions, gripped their rifles tightly, and quickly dispersed in all directions.
About an hour after the reconnaissance troops were dispatched, they returned with news of a small fishing village named Marabou, located just a few kilometers from the port of Alexandria. This discovery exhilarated Napoleon; with a clear location established, he could now direct his troops to attack the port of Alexandria.
On the night of July 4th, the first division of Napoleon's main force entered the desert south of Alexandria. However, as soon as they arrived in the desert, they encountered difficulties. The soldiers were not prepared for the harsh conditions and soon suffered from the unfamiliar environment, experiencing back pain and weakness in their limbs.
Despite these hardships, the French troops persevered. After enduring a grueling march, they finally neared the port of Alexandria.
At this time, Alexandria was far from the bustling metropolis it would become in later centuries. It was a small city with only 160,000 inhabitants and appeared as a dilapidated town. When the French forces landed, the local garrison was completely unaware of their presence.
Concerned about being detected by the Egyptian guards due to their large numbers, Napoleon had brought only about 4,000 men and some light artillery.
"General, I've had men scout the town roughly. The garrison seems to be about 2,000 strong, and they have not noticed our presence," reported Desaix, approaching Napoleon slowly.
"Attack and take this town," Napoleon responded decisively.
"Position all artillery and bombard the enemy's camp," he ordered.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
At Napoleon's command, a dozen French cannons in front of their position unleashed a fierce bombardment. Countless cannonballs flew towards the Egyptian camp, igniting violent explosions and sparks within.
Many Egyptian soldiers were still asleep when the sudden barrage hit, causing immediate chaos and casualties among them.
"Ah!"
"What's happening?"
The surprise of the attack created panic and confusion within the Egyptian ranks, giving the French a significant advantage as they began their assault on Alexandria.
"What's happening?" The surviving Egyptian soldiers scrambled out, still in shock, their faces a picture of confusion. They couldn't understand why they were suddenly under attack, having just been peacefully asleep.
But what frightened them more were the dismembered limbs of their comrades. Although Napoleon had only brought light artillery, its effectiveness was not to be underestimated; it was still deadly enough to kill with ease.
"Now is the time. Order all infantry to engage. I want you to take control of this town within two hours."
As Napoleon saw the Egyptian camp ablaze under the artillery fire, hearing the Egyptians' screams even from a distance, he knew the moment had come. He immediately ordered all troops to charge, capitalizing on the enemy's confusion to take them down in one fell swoop.
The sound of the attack horns blared, and the prepared French soldiers charged towards the nearby town. As Napoleon had predicted, the disoriented Egyptians stood little chance against the seasoned and valiant French infantry.
A gunshot rang out. An Egyptian soldier fell to the ground, shot by Roland who was leading his Seventh Battalion in the attack. "Edward, take your men and secure the street across. The church there is one of the highest points in this town. If we take the church, we can control the southern part of the town."
While attacking, Roland also demonstrated his extensive command experience. He fired his rifle while continuously scanning the terrain with his eyes.
Eventually, he spotted a church, a strategic location within the town. Controlling it would allow them to dominate and strike the Egyptian forces from an elevated position.
"Understood, Captain," Edward nodded, then moved according to Roland's orders towards the church deep within the street.
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