General Stuart was stationed during the battle south of Rashid and with the rest of the British army. When he realized the greatness of the catastrophe that had befallen his forces in Al-Hammad, he quickly lifted the siege on Rashid and took the initiative to withdraw before the Egyptian army attacked him. He spiked his cannons that he could not carry and retreated to Abu Qir in disappointment. In spite of concealing the withdrawal measures, the people of Rashid and the neighboring towns harassed him in his withdrawal until he reached Lake Idku and skirmishes took place on the shore of the lake between him and the Egyptians, which ended in the retreat of the Egyptian skirmishers; despite this, the British continued to withdraw until they reached Abu Qir and from there they boarded waiting Royal Navy ships and sailed back to Alexandria.