PolarBear
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After the American Civil War, veterans from that conflict went to Egypt to advise the Egyptian Army. There were Union but mostly ex-Confederate officers who served in that role. These men were recruited for their positions by Gen. Wiiliam T . Sherman. One of these men Charles Chaillé-Long, a Union officer in the Maryland Volunteers eventually became General Charles "Chinese" Gordon's Chief of Staff. Here is part of his story:
He was appointed a Lieutenant Colonel in the Egyptian army in the autumn of 1869, was first assigned to duty as professor of French in the military academy at Abbassick, and later as chief of staff to the general-in-chief of the army.
Early in 1872 he was transferred to General Loring's corps at Alexandria. On 20 February, 1874, he was assigned to duty as chief of staff to General Charles George Gordon, then lieutenant-colonel in the British army, who had been appointed by the khedive governor-general of the equatorial provinces of Egypt. On 24 April he set out toward the equator on a secret diplomatic and geographical mission inspired by Ismail Pacha, the khedive. He was accompanied only by two soldiers and his servants, and arrived at the capital of Nyanda on 20 June, 1874, being the only white man save Captain Speke that had ever visited that place, and secured a treaty by which King M'Tse acknowledged himself a vassal of Egypt. He then turned north to trace the unknown part of the Nile that still left the question of its source in doubt.
In descending the river at M'roole he was attacked by the king of Unvoro Kaba-Rega with a party of warriors m boats and a numerous force on shore. Chaille-Long, with his two soldiers, armed with breech-loading rifles and explosive shells, sustained the attack for several hours, and finally beat off the savages.
He was promoted to the full rank of Colonel and Bey, and decorated with the cross of the commander of the Medjidich.
In January, 1875, he fitted out and led an expedition southwestward of the Nile into the Niam-Niam country, subjected it to the authority of the Egyptian government, and dispersed the slavetrading bands. On his return in March, 1875, he was ordered to go to Cairo, where, with orders from the khedive, he organized an expedition ostensibly to open an equatorial road from the Indian ocean along Juba river to the central African lakes. The expedition sailed from Sury on 19 September, 1875, took possession of the coast and several fortified towns, and occupied and fortified ***Comf, on Juba river.
On 1 September, 1877, Chaille-Long resigned his commission in the Egyptian army, on account of failing health, returning to New York, where he studied law at Columbia. He was graduated and admitted to practice, and in 1882 returned to Egypt to practise in the international courts.
The insurrection of Arabi culminated in the terrible massacre at Alexandria of 11 June, 1882, the United States Consul General remained away from his post at this juncture, and the United States consular agents fled from Egypt. Challie-Long assisted the refugees, hundreds of whom were placed on board of the American ships, and after the burning of the city, he reestablished the American consulate, and, aided by 160 American sailors and marines, restored order, and arrested the fire.
Colonel Challie-Long removed to Paris in October, 1882, and opened an office for the practice of international law. In March, 1887, he was appointed United States consul-general and secretary of legation in Corea. He has published "Central Africa : Naked Truths of Naked People" (New York, 1877) and "The Three ProphetsoChinese Gordon, the Mahdi, and Arabi Pacha" (1884).
Col. Long in the Egyptian Army:
He was appointed a Lieutenant Colonel in the Egyptian army in the autumn of 1869, was first assigned to duty as professor of French in the military academy at Abbassick, and later as chief of staff to the general-in-chief of the army.
Early in 1872 he was transferred to General Loring's corps at Alexandria. On 20 February, 1874, he was assigned to duty as chief of staff to General Charles George Gordon, then lieutenant-colonel in the British army, who had been appointed by the khedive governor-general of the equatorial provinces of Egypt. On 24 April he set out toward the equator on a secret diplomatic and geographical mission inspired by Ismail Pacha, the khedive. He was accompanied only by two soldiers and his servants, and arrived at the capital of Nyanda on 20 June, 1874, being the only white man save Captain Speke that had ever visited that place, and secured a treaty by which King M'Tse acknowledged himself a vassal of Egypt. He then turned north to trace the unknown part of the Nile that still left the question of its source in doubt.
In descending the river at M'roole he was attacked by the king of Unvoro Kaba-Rega with a party of warriors m boats and a numerous force on shore. Chaille-Long, with his two soldiers, armed with breech-loading rifles and explosive shells, sustained the attack for several hours, and finally beat off the savages.
He was promoted to the full rank of Colonel and Bey, and decorated with the cross of the commander of the Medjidich.
In January, 1875, he fitted out and led an expedition southwestward of the Nile into the Niam-Niam country, subjected it to the authority of the Egyptian government, and dispersed the slavetrading bands. On his return in March, 1875, he was ordered to go to Cairo, where, with orders from the khedive, he organized an expedition ostensibly to open an equatorial road from the Indian ocean along Juba river to the central African lakes. The expedition sailed from Sury on 19 September, 1875, took possession of the coast and several fortified towns, and occupied and fortified ***Comf, on Juba river.
On 1 September, 1877, Chaille-Long resigned his commission in the Egyptian army, on account of failing health, returning to New York, where he studied law at Columbia. He was graduated and admitted to practice, and in 1882 returned to Egypt to practise in the international courts.
The insurrection of Arabi culminated in the terrible massacre at Alexandria of 11 June, 1882, the United States Consul General remained away from his post at this juncture, and the United States consular agents fled from Egypt. Challie-Long assisted the refugees, hundreds of whom were placed on board of the American ships, and after the burning of the city, he reestablished the American consulate, and, aided by 160 American sailors and marines, restored order, and arrested the fire.
Colonel Challie-Long removed to Paris in October, 1882, and opened an office for the practice of international law. In March, 1887, he was appointed United States consul-general and secretary of legation in Corea. He has published "Central Africa : Naked Truths of Naked People" (New York, 1877) and "The Three ProphetsoChinese Gordon, the Mahdi, and Arabi Pacha" (1884).
Col. Long in the Egyptian Army:
