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Vice Admiral de Bryues (DBSA) (1753-1798) in Abukirskom battle courage and determination redeemed errors. Only a rearguard inaction led to the defeat, which could easily become a victory.
Napoleon had made peace in the Campo-Forma collapse of the first antifrantsuzskoy coalition. Another aim of Egypt elected Directory. For the expedition entrusted to Napoleon Bonaparte, in the ports of the Mediterranean Sea were concentrated 13 battleship, 9 frigates, 11 smaller vessels and 232 transport, which were followed by troops and cargo for them. Napoleon later pointed out that most of the ships and two-thirds of commanders were good, but they have an experienced commander, Vice Admiral Bryues, who the year before that led the fleet in the Adriatic Sea, was considered one of the best seamen of the war. Troops were sent secretly to the ports of landing from different points. However, the fleet, attaching 15 May squadron Marseilles, Toulon came out only on 19 May, 20 days later than the deadline, because there is a risk of a resumption of war on the mainland. In England it was reported on the preparations for the expedition to Italy. But so far sent reinforcements arrived from the Thames to Toulon, the French base saw only a slight Nelson squadron of three ships that were in disrepair.
French navy was moving towards the goal, adding to the road convoys from Italian ports. From the extermination of the ships of Nelson Bryues refused, because to learn that the English flagship expects 10 ships from England. The fleet of 13 ships was linear in three columns. Convoy under the protection of 2 Venetian ships, 4 frigates, and numerous small vessels in case of danger should have been hiding in a friendly port.
Taken June 12, Malta, the expedition continued its movement. June 27, when the squadron was in Crete, frigate, arrived from Naples, reported that Nelson June 20, appeared before the city and then went to Malta. Napoleon went to Alexandria, by sending frigate to more exploration. Since the port was not anything threatening, the fleet continued its voyage on 31 June and reached the goal. From the French Consul was aware that the June 28, nelson with 13 ships and frigate approached Alexandria, then went to the coast of Asia Minor in search of the French Army.
The evening of 31 June has started planting. The French occupied the fort marabouts. However, the news raised mamlyukov and the Bedouins, which began July 1, resistance. The evening of July 2, the convoy came to the old port, with the front two 64-gun ships and frigates to guard. Managed to reassure the local population.
However, the Turkish pilots refused to carry out in the harbor great ships, which left the flag on the roads Abukira to remove the goods. The report of Captain Barre, carried out the measurements, reported that the squadron may enter without fear. Napoleon gave the order to immediately enter the ships in the harbor. However, convened by Vice-Admiral Rear-admirals Board and the captains of the 1 st rank, decided to conduct an audit. It is not influenced by order of Napoleon, even re-enter boats in the harbor, which the commander gave the speech in front of Cairo. Napoleon said Bryuesu that if you enter a squadron is not possible, you need to go with her in Corfu, and expect the order of an envoy to Constantinople. In the absence of an order - to go to Toulon, and take a convoy under the protection of weaker forces. Barre soundings conducted from 7 to 12 July and 18 July, presented a report Bryuesu and detachment commander Dyumanuaru. Barre is the channel depth of 25 feet and suck his buoy. Dyumanuar endorsed the measures proposed to enter squadron, and advised the vice-admiral, who replied on 20 July that, with 22 foot draft ships risky to rely on perfect weather. Bryues commissioned captain search to see if the fairway is better, and a detailed report on the work carried out before the chief.
The army, supported by the Nile flotilla Rear Admiral Perre made from Alexandria, defeated mamlyukam 13 and 21 July and 23 July, came to Cairo. The French troops have already begun to move towards the Upper Nile, when the news came on the defeat in the squadron Abukire 1 August.
Prior to July 30, Napoleon received only three letters Bryuesa: on 10 July that the Commission investigates a new channel from July 15 - about the clashes with the Arabs sailors on shore, and from July 20 - Nelson on the squadron, which saw the Greek sailors, and on the successful arrangement of a squadron on the roads Abukira.
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The advent of the British was to Bryuesa surprise. Vice Admiral, it seems, believed parked off the coast of Egypt vacation. The report from the Alexandria Napoleón reported that the navy did not send patrols and does not attempt to apprehend the unknown vessels appearing in the sea, no exercise, a lot of boats from ships on the shore, as sailors - in the city and on the beach. Napoleon was in a letter to Bryuesu discontent about these facts, and expressed bewilderment why the navy has not yet been in the harbor, where it can be safe. General believed that the island on the left flank is useless until it has no battery shells with yadrokalilnymi furnaces. He did not understand why the vice-admiral did not put in a line facing the harbor ships, frigates, 6 bombard and 10 gunboats, why not added the crews of combat vehicles by convoy from Alexandria. Sam was a leader confident in the safety and the despatch of 30 July, the chief received on 2 August, calming, wrote that the channel is furnished with buoy measurements and the batteries from the old port in a brilliant manner, that in a few days squadron will be in the harbor and you can sleep peacefully . But these days he has not left.
The French squadron was deployed in line. On the left stood the old 74-gun "Gere" and "Konkeran. They were "Spartiat and Akvilon" behind "Gere" was 36-gun frigate "serious." Center were 74-gun "ash-sovereign," the 80-gun "Franklin" (under the flag of Rear Admiral Blanca du Shayla), 120-gun flagship "Oriana", the 80-gun "ton", a 40-gun frigate Artemiz "two small corvette behind the flagship. Right flank consisted of 74-gun ships "era", "Timoleon," 80-gun "William Tell" under the flag of Rear-Admiral Villeneuve, 74-gun "Mercure" and "Généreux and best navy in the 44 -- gun frigate "Diana" and "Zhyustis.
More July 20, Vice Admiral wrote to Napoleon that left the island covered Al Bekeyr 400 tuazah front of the port and the island took 50 soldiers to two 12-pound field guns. Under the cover of the island, he has a bad ships - "Gere" and "Konkeran. Place in the center of a 120-gun and two 80-gun ship, he thought that he would not be able to get 74-gun ships of the enemy, and the right flank, dangling in the air, felt covered the fact that at this time of constantly blowing north-west wind . Bryues intended in the event of an attack on the right flank of the enemy ships to attack the left flank and center. He was sure that visible on the horizon of 11 ships 74-gun, one 50-gun corvette, and (two more straggler ship was not visible) does not choose to attack. However, the English squadron with a strong north-westerly wind came under all sail. Bryues ordered to declare war anxiety, withdraw the lifeboat, stood on the shore, led to the transport vessels at the port of Alexandria, sailors to support the crews. As the British approached, and followed orders to be alert and ready to be released into the sea. Exit the Vice Admiral did not, because the sailors from the coast arrived only about 21 hours. He decided to take the fight to the anchor, and ordered to open fire.
At sea the French squadron, also not expected that the British choose to attack with 11 ships. In particular, the captain "Gere" and "Konkeran" prepared to fight for only one battery, debris gun side, facing the beach.
Nelson ordered to fight each ship to cut the nose of a hostile and fight one on one.
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"Vengard" stood at anchor, to cut the nose "Spartiatu, it was followed by" Defense "," Bellerofon "," Majestic "and" Minotaur. " In the battle had been involved all the ships of French avant-garde and the center to the "ton", inclusive, while the 5 ships rearguard did not participate at all. "Léandre" tried to remove bones "collodion".
Since the first French side to cease fire "Gere" and "Konkeran. But the most powerful ships of the French Center "Franklin", "Oriana" and "ton" during the battle prevail on a light English. "Bellerofon, losing the mast and rigging, lowered the flag, two more ships with masts left the battlefield. "Léandre" leaving "collodion", entered into battle, and later came "Alexander" and "Suiftshur" bust "Franklin" and "Orianom. However, the fate of the battle is far from been solved.
The battle lasted for several hours, but the 5 ships and 2 frigates rearguard it and did not participate, although their guns can solve the battle in favor of Frenchmen, for the loss of the parties were still equal, but the power of large ships had Bryuesu advantage. Vice-Admiral Villeneuve by means able to count on a victory, because with all the courage of Nelson and his subordinates the French ships were stronger. However, the fate judged differently. Villeneuve did not come to the rescue. Later, he justified the fact that the smoke could not read the order of the commander of a squadron. Approximately 21 hours on "Oriane" fire broke out, an hour later the ship exploded, which stopped for half an hour battle. Then the remaining Spartiat, Akvilon, ash-sovereign, " Franklin "," ton "continue to fight. From 3 to 5 in the morning light verse, but then resumed with the same force. Only by noon on 2 August the battle ended. The English fleet was in such condition that in the evening at the Nelson had no power to compel seamen "ton" lower the flag. Rear Admiral was very pleased to see that afternoon trailing enemy ships "Généreux," "William Tell", frigate "Diana" and "Zhyustis" under the flag of Villeneuve instead help fellow fled the bay.
In the battle the British lost 800 men killed and wounded. They took the 7 battleship in line, 2 ships and frigate aground, the ship and the frigate were put ashore from the coast and burned crew. The number of prisoners and killed up to 3000 people. Alexandria arrived in 3500, including 900 wounded, the British returned.
Napoleon wrote to the commander of a squadron that Bryues "equanimity and fearlessness corrected, as far as it depended admitted his errors" (the refusal to enter boats in the old port of Alexandria, the absence of the regular patrol and inspection of ships and the fact that he had not availed himself of the forces which has stood at the port). Commander thought that if Villeneuve joined the battle, the victory could win a French Fleet.
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