The British commanders assumed that a continued bombardment would cause a loss of morale among the city garrison and compel them to surrender. The British dispatched a messenger to the city, informing them that if the demand of surrender was refused a naval and land bombardment would commence. The Egyptian's prior victory at the Battle of Rashid had convinced them of the futility of a possible British bombardment, which commenced soon after the return of the messenger to to the British fleet. The garrison occasionally left the city during the bombardment to skirmish with the British forces encamped on land, and the bombardment lasted for twelves days but was unable to achieve any results, and the city remained in Egyptian hands.