Historical record of the Ninety-second Regiment, originally termed "The Gordon Highlanders" and numbered the Hundredth Regiment : $b Containing an account of the formation of the Regiment in 1794, and of its subsequent services to 1850Cannon, Richard
History
Historical record of the Ninety-second Regiment, originally termed "The Gordon Highlanders" and numbered the Hundredth Regiment : $b Containing an account of the formation of the Regiment in 1794, and of its subsequent services to 1850
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army. Gordon Highlanders
On the 9th of March, the regiment advanced about a mile further
towards _Alexandria_. On the day following, it marched to the heights
of _Mandora_, and remained in position, while the artillery and
stores were being landed. Nothing of importance occurred this day,
beyond a smart skirmish, as the enemy slowly retired.
The army again moved forward on the 12th of March, and came in sight
of the enemy, who was strongly posted with his right to the canal of
_Alexandria_, and his left to the sea.
About six o’clock in the morning of the 13th of March, the British
army advanced to attack the enemy’s position on the heights in front
of _Mandora_, the NINETY-SECOND being directed to lead the left
column into action. The enemy having opened a most destructive fire
from his artillery, enfiladed the column to its whole depth: orders
were consequently given to deploy into line. The enemy thought this
a favorable moment, and immediately advanced to the attack. The
NINETY-SECOND, being in advance of the line, was exposed to a very
galling fire of grape-shot, and at the same time was attacked by the
61st Demi-Brigade; the regiment, however, continued unshaken in its
advance to the very muzzles of the guns, and succeeded in taking two
field-pieces, and one howitzer, completely routing the enemy who
defended them, and possessing itself of the right of his position.
He was forced, therefore, to retire to the fortified heights of
Nicopolis, under the walls of Alexandria, to which they form the
principal defence from that side.
Lieut.-Colonel, afterwards General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson, in his
History of the British Expedition to Egypt, stated that—
“The British had not advanced out of the wood of date trees, which
was in front of Mandora Tower, before the enemy left the heights on
which they had been formed, and moved down by their right, commencing
a heavy fire of musketry, and from all their cannon, on the
NINETY-SECOND regiment, which formed the advanced guard of the left
column.” After eulogising the gallantry of the ninetieth regiment,
which formed the advanced guard of the right column, Lieut.-Colonel
Wilson, added:—
“The conduct of the NINETY-SECOND had been no less meritorious.
Opposed to a tremendous fire, and suffering severely from the
French line, they never receded a foot, but maintained the
contest alone, until the marines and the rest of the line came to
their support.”
The gallantry and good conduct of the regiment this day were most
conspicuous, and in commemoration thereof, the NINETY-SECOND
afterwards received the Royal Authority to bear the word “_Mandora_”
on the regimental colour and appointments.
His Majesty’s service, and the NINETY-SECOND regiment in particular,
sustained a great loss in the death of Lieut.-Colonel Charles
Erskine, who was mortally wounded early in the action, when the
command of the regiment devolved on Major Alexander Napier.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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