Obtain British Victory In Egypt, 1801: The End Of Napoleons Conquest Expressed By Piers Mackesy Issued As File

British Army was the laughingstock of Europe, A year later, after forty years of failure, its honour and reputation had been redeemed,
British Victory in Egypt, recounts and analyses the story of the expeditionary force that ejected Bonaparte's crack troops from Egypt.
Piers Mackesy shows how the future of the British Empire depended on the dislodging of the Napoleonic force in the Middle East.
Outlining the daring assault and the masterly planning and discipline that brought victory against the odds, this book also reveals how vital Sir Ralph Abercromby, an elderly Scot and leader of the army, was to the final success of the venture.
The part played in the victory by the Highland regiments is still celebrated in Scotland,
British Victory In Egypt, charts a critical episode in European and military history, It also reveals the training, tactics and strategy of a unique campaign and its executors, One of the best military histories of the Napoleonic wars I have read, . . and I've read a fair few, This is how history should be written, Mind you, it does help that this is an obscure campaign with the freshness that brings to most readers, Nevertheless it is hard to see how anyone could do it better in telling the story comprehensively and as a story it is told of Britain defeating Napoleon's languishing army in Egypt.


The maps are excellent, liberally scattered through the book and sensibly hand drawn to purpose for the life of me I can't understand why more writers don't do the same Every place name is easily found

and the units well labelled.


The chapters are well organised either to the events or to a theme, In fact the only slight criticism I could make is that sometimes chronology gets out of kilter given these chapter themes.
However the themes make the book truly comprehensive, leaving no stone unturned, giving backgrounds and differing perspectives for example of Admiral Keith who doesn't come out with a lot of credit, albeit he does his duty, the Turks and the French.


The story Mackesy gives us is of an inept British army at last restoring its reputation in the eyes of nation and navy, under the benevolent discipline and organisation of Abercromby.
My own impressions reading the story are that perhaps the theme is over sold and Abercromby while indeed deserving much credit, is probably less worthy than his successor Hutchinson.
Abercromby is beloved, exhibits planning and strength of will and whilst the discipline of his friend Dundas' new drill book was an absolute necessity to the restoration of the British army in the end his rigidity was far too expensive in his soldier's lives and his own.
One question not answered was whether the infantry fought in two or three lines I suspect three as per the regulations

In difference to Abercromby, Hutchinson his unpopular successor is visionary as well as tremendously organised.
The contrast of Abercromby becoming the fallen hero and Hutchinson neglected for further military commands is a travesty, Surely Hutchinson would have been the ideal commander for the Walcheren expedition instead of Chatham and how differently things would have turned out.
Certainly he would have been more worthy than Generals Harry Burrard and Hew Dalrymple to supersede Wellesley after Vimeiro, but it would be hard to measure anyone against Wellesley.
Surely petty personality politics never did greater disservice, Seldom has there been a more magnificent achievement than the 'British Victory in Egypt',
Piers Mackesy was a British military historian who taught at the University of Oxford, Earning his D. Phil at Oriel College, Oxford, he taught at Pembroke College, Oxford until his retirement in, He was elected a fellow in the British Academy in, .