While this action was taking place, we (the 14th Brigade) descended the hill from Sheikh Abreik, crossed a bridge, which was at a great height over the river Kishon[26], and, turning to the right off the road, dismounted and watered from it with buckets.  It was here that, owing to over-keenness on the part of two horses in the Squadron, they broke away, and, trying to drink from the river, fell in!  Fortunately both were rescued, but not without great difficulty.  Meanwhile, shelling was going on; luckily the shells all fell short of us, although having descended the hill, as mentioned, we had attracted the attention of the Turkish gunners.  Later on in the day we moved into Haifa[27] along the road which had been the scene of the action.  Passing the results of the work of the 15th Brigade and of the “S.R.Y.” which, to judge from the numbers of killed and wounded along the road (which were being dealt with by the Cavalry Field Ambulance), must have been of a very strenuous character, we at length encamped upon the sea-shore, under date palms, within a mile north of the town!  The distance covered that day was 25 miles.

The 13th Brigade, meantime, had captured Acre[28] on the north, after only slight opposition, yet it had effected, within a few hours, the feat which Napoleon had entirely failed to accomplish after a siege of 60 days!  Incidentally, it may be mentioned, that heaps of his cannon-balls were found at Haifa.

The next morning (24th), our men and horses bathed in the sea!  A short distance out, underwater, it was found that barbed wire had been fixed.  This the Turks had evidently placed in position with the object of preventing a landing from the sea.  These entanglements, however, in no way impeded the bathing as they could easily be seen in the clear water.  Our troops were also allowed to visit the town, which was found to be very interesting; there being many modern houses, it was, in several respects, superior to any town we had previously visited in the interior.  It is not too much to say that many of the inhabitants were delighted to see the British.  They even said that they had expected us the previous year!

FOOTNOTES: 

[25] Mount Carmel extends from the sea coast at Haifa, inland 15 miles, in a south-easterly direction, thus forming a separating ridge between the Plains of Sharon and Esdraelon.  Its height is about 500 feet at the sea, and 1,800 feet at its inland extremity.  The mountain has always been associated with the name of the Prophet Elijah.  It was here that he was said to have sought shelter when Ahab was seeking his life.  A monastery stands over what is thought was the spot, and was used as a hospital for the wounded when Napoleon was besieging Acre.  After his withdrawal it was destroyed by the Turks and afterwards re-built through the energy of a monk who travelled and begged for 14 years to obtain funds for the present building.  The Biblical references to the mountain are:  Josh. xix, 26; Deut. xiv, 5; I Kings iv, 23, xviii, 13; Isa. xxxv, 2, lv, 12, xxxiii, 9; Amos i, 2; Song of Solomon vii, 5; Micah vii, 14.

    [26] See Judges iv, 13, and v, 21.