Battle of Mount Tabor (1799)
Napoleon Bonaparte stood in Nazareth on the 16th of April 1799, staring at a map that showed his army trapped between Acre and a massive Ottoman force. General Jean-Baptiste Kléber had received news of an enemy camp near Mount Tabor while waiting for orders from Napoleon. The Turkish and Mamluk army numbered 35,000 men under Abdullah Pasha al-Azm, ruler of Damascus. Kléber decided to engage this much larger force without explicit permission from his commander. He wrote to Napoleon about his intentions but sent the letter too late for any response. His division of 2,000 men marched toward the mountain hoping to launch a daring night raid on the Ottoman camp. Kléber planned to march around the northern side of Mount Tabor to surprise the forces at 2am.
Kléber arrived below Mount Tabor at 6am when the sun had already risen over the plain. The Ottoman forces consisted of 10,000 infantry and 25,000 cavalry who spotted the French advance guard immediately. Kléber formed two infantry squares to defend against attack since he could not hold the position indefinitely. His men ran out of ammunition while growing thirsty and starving as the day wore on. Some soldiers claimed to see bayonets advancing from the north while Kléber climbed to a vantage point with his telescope. He saw nothing because Napoleon's forces had marched behind head-high wild wheat that made them invisible from the battlefield. Napoleon found himself positioned between the Ottomans and their camp with 2,000 men under General Louis André Bon. He ordered part of his force to form squares and march upon an embankment visible to both armies. A salvo from his artillery announced his presence to distract the Ottoman forces briefly.
Napoleon sent three of his squares to march out between the Ottomans and their camp while sending 300 men into the camp itself. These 300 men set fire to all the tents and made a show of seizing supplies and camels. The destruction of belongings and blocked escape routes threw the Ottoman forces into confusion. Kléber saw his chance and ordered his men to charge forward. Soldiers under Napoleon supported this charge which transformed the Ottoman retreat into a general rout. Ottoman cavalry headed for the mountains in the south while infantry scattered toward the Jordan River. Recent rains had risen the water of the river and turned its banks into a quagmire. This poor timing resulted in thousands of casualties for the retreating Ottoman infantry as they struggled through the muddy waters.
French casualties numbered two dead and sixteen wounded according to records from Bonaparte et l'Égypte: feu et lumières page 117. Had Napoleon arrived just one hour later, casualties would have been far more serious for the French force. Although the Ottomans fled before really significant losses could be inflicted on them, it was estimated that 6,000 of the army of Damascus perished. The disparity in losses between the victorious French forces and the defeated Ottoman army remained stark throughout the engagement. With the threat of a relief army eliminated, Napoleon led his troops back to Acre to continue the siege. A month later when more men became sick with the plague he decided to abandon Acre and retreat back to Egypt.
The battle removed the immediate danger posed by Abdullah Pasha al-Azm's army near Mount Tabor. Napoleon could now focus entirely on resuming his siege of Acre without fear of being attacked from behind. The elimination of this relief force allowed him to carry on operations against the fortified city. However, the victory did not guarantee success at Acre since disease soon plagued his remaining soldiers. When more men became sick with the plague, Napoleon made the decision to abandon Acre and retreat back to Egypt. This strategic withdrawal marked the end of the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria for the time being. The battle proved decisive enough to prevent the Turks from reconquering Egypt through their combined efforts.
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Common questions
Who commanded the French forces at the Battle of Mount Tabor on the 16th of April 1799?
Napoleon Bonaparte and General Jean-Baptiste Kléber commanded the French forces during the battle. Kléber led a division of 2,000 men while Napoleon arrived with another 2,000 men under General Louis André Bon.
How many Ottoman soldiers fought against the French at the Battle of Mount Tabor in 1799?
The Turkish and Mamluk army numbered 35,000 men under Abdullah Pasha al-Azm, ruler of Damascus. This force consisted of 10,000 infantry and 25,000 cavalry who engaged the French troops near Mount Tabor.
What were the casualties for the French army after the Battle of Mount Tabor on the 16th of April 1799?
French casualties numbered two dead and sixteen wounded according to records from Bonaparte et l'Égypte: feu et lumières page 117. Had Napoleon arrived just one hour later, casualties would have been far more serious for the French force.
Why did thousands of Ottoman soldiers die during their retreat from the Battle of Mount Tabor?
Recent rains had risen the water of the Jordan River and turned its banks into a quagmire. Thousands of casualties occurred as retreating Ottoman infantry struggled through the muddy waters while fleeing toward the river.
When did Napoleon decide to abandon Acre following the Battle of Mount Tabor in 1799?
A month later when more men became sick with the plague he decided to abandon Acre and retreat back to Egypt. This strategic withdrawal marked the end of the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria for the time being.