James Baquet

In war, as in sports, some speak of a “homecourt advantage,” the benefit of defending one’s territory against assault.

But who can claim such an advantage when both armies — or, in this case, navies — are far from home?

This question arises when we consider the “Battle of the Nile,” which was fought at Aboukir (sometimes Abu Qir) Bay in Egypt in early August of 1798.

Yet Egypt was not one of the combatants. Instead, this was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy, under Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson (some seven years before his famed victory at Trafalgar) and the French fleet under Francois-Paul Brueys d’Aigalliers, who was at the time transporting General Napoleon Bonaparte. Bonaparte’s plan was to take Egypt on his way to the capture of British India.

Despite Napoleon’s attempt at secrecy, the British had dogged the French fleet across the Mediterranean at every step. After over two months, they finally clashed decisively in the Nile River Delta east of Alexandria.

The fleets were of approximately equal size, both presenting 13 ships of the line and assorted smaller craft. Despite these roughly equal forces, Nelson’s maneuvers saved the day. Splitting his fleet, he surrounded the French and subjected them to a crossfire. Most of the French warships surrendered, though the center held. But British reinforcements arrived, and when the French flagship “Orient” exploded, the battle was over.

(Incidentally, the death of a boy on the “Orient” inspired the bathetic and much-parodied British poem “Casabianca,” which begins: “The boy stood on the burning deck/ Whence all but he had fled; / The flame that lit the battle’s wreck / Shone round him o’er the dead.”)

The British had suffered 218 deaths, with 677 wounded; firm estimates of French casualties are hard to come by, but they seem to have ranged between 2,000 and 5,000. Only two French warships escaped; the British lost none.

This victory solidified Nelson’s image as a public hero, and brought about the fame of his officers as “Nelson’s Band of Brothers” (a nickname taken from a speech in a Shakespeare play).

Vocabulary:

Which word above means:

1. large group of ships

2. ship carrying the commander

3. overly sentimental

4. being shot at from opposite directions

5. went after with determination

6. place to play on one’s own ground

7. tactics; moves

8. heavy warship for the front line of battle

9. from where

10. ship or other vehicle