Brave MacRae

Sergeant John Macrae, a young man about twenty two years of age, in the expedition to Egypt in 1807, showed
that the broadsword in a firm hand is as good a weapon in close fighting as the bayonet.

If the first push of the bayonet misses its aim, or happens to be parried, it is not easy to recover the
weapon, and repeat the thrust when the enemy is bold enough to stand firm; but it is not so with the sword, whichs may be readily drawn from its blow, wielded with celerity, and directed to any part of the body, particularly to the heart and arms, while its motion
defends the person using it.

Macrae killed six men, cutting them down with his broadsword, when at last he made a dash out of the ranks on a Turk whom he cut down ; but as he was returning to the square he was killed by a blow from behind, his head being nearly split in two by the stroke of a sabre. Lieutenant Christopher Macrae, who bronght
eighteen men of his own name to the regiment as part of his quota of recruits for an ensigncy, was killed in the affair, with six of his followers and namesakes besides the sergeant.

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