On being passed in revue before the French Military Intendant at Alexandria in January 1863, shortly before embarkation, the Battalion consisted of; 1 Chief of Battalion [ Bimbachi, Egyptian for Commander of 1,000] Bimbachi Yabritallah Effendi, 1 Interpreter [Drogman] , 1 Captain [ Yusbachi, commander of 100], 1 Lieutenant [Melasemevel] , 1 Sargeant-Chief [Bach-Tchiaouch] , 6 Sargeants [Tchiaouch] , 1 Quartermaster [Belukemin], 16 Corporals [Ombachi, commander of 10] and 372 regular soldiers, plus "about 100" new recruits.
On arrival at Vera Cruz they were formed into a Battalion of 4 companies with the addition of some French and Algerian officers and n.c.o. volunteers, the remainder of the cadre being "fleshed out" by promotions from the ranks. The unit served throughout in the "hot lands" around Vera Cruz, on garrison and anti-guerilla duties, convoy escorts etc. In 1865 they raised a company of 58 mounted men, which formed a mobile column along with the "Turco" mounted company, for escort duties.
After a bad start, they seem to have eventually become a fairly good unit [50 Egyptians being picked for the Honour Guard of the Imperial couple on their arrival in Mexico, along with equal numbers of Austrians and French Marine Infantry]. They fought with some distinction in a number of small to medium sized actions in the region, the Mexicans often accusing them of brutality [on at least 2 occasions they were accused of massacreing an entire village] . Loiseau, an officer of the Belgian Corps, noted that "the Egyptians prefer to fight with the bayonet, and frequently cut off the heads of dead enemies."
Uniforms: Men
A "Stoppage" of 10 March, 1863, indicates that the French issued the Battalion: overcoats of wool, "vestes" and pantaloons of cotton, sashes, "caps", shirts, under breeches, stockings and gaiters, pouch and belt, "fusils" and bayonets. It was further noted that these items were to be procured "locally" [i.e. in Egypt], and that every attempt was made to maintain their "original dress".
This "original" uniform was to consist of; a red "tarbuch" [a sort of "fez"] with a black tassel, worn over a white cotton skull-cap which showed as a narrow edging around the bottom. A sort of white cotton shirt, closed with two buttons, with a standing collar [one source decribes corporals wearing a "white metal emblem" on each side of the collar, design unknown, possibly the same device as worn by officers ? ], some sources describe this item as having "pleats down the front", others as having only "a simple stitching".
For Full Dress, they were issued a "red veste" [or jacket] , further details being unknown [to judge from contemporary depictions and descriptions, they were probably quite plain, fastening down the front with hooks and eyes, the bottom front cut to a slight point, possibly with some sort of trim or facings on the collar and cuffs?] . Loose white cotton trousers or "pantaloons" [worn with both the red jacket and the white "shirt"], worn with white linen "laced" gaiters [of which each man was issued 2 pair] for normal wear, white stockings being worn for full dress [these trousers were "cinched" below the knee with a draw-string]. Black "low" shoes, red waist-sash, woolen "overcoats with hoods" [no description known, beyond this], black waistbelt with brass plate embossed with 3 stars and a crescent, with a cartridge pouch at the rear. On their arrival in Mexico it was noted that "only about half the men have packs [or "havresaca"] of oiled linen of French model, the others carring their baggage in "sacks" of every form and description".
Armament consisted of copies of the French model 1859 "musketoon", manufactured in Cairo, with the sabre-bayonets having a saw-toothed top edge. It was noted that this uniform was worn only by the "regulars", the conscripts [i.e. recruits] being "almost naked".
Mexican Campaign Equipment
On arrival in Mexico, French "campaign equipment" was issued to the unit [it was noted that they generally preferred "an Egyptian water-bottle" of natural brown leather than the issued French model. Their arms were immediately retired and stored in the Vera Cruz arsenal, being replaced with French "infantry fusils" [their original arms were replaced to them when they embarked for home]. It was noted that their rations were to be modified to suit their Moslem sensibilities, "no wine or liquor to be issued them".
Not surprisingly, these original uniforms wore out fairly quickly and had to be replaced from French sources [it being too expensive to send to Egypt for replacements] . The "Tarbuch" was normally replaced by "Zouave " or "Turco" "chechias" [these were slightly different in shape, with blue tassels]. Zouave turbans seem to have been sometimes issued [probably reserved for full dress, as was the case with the Zouaves].
The original "shirts" seem to have been generally replaced by white cotton plain "vestes" or jackets of local manufacture [one source describes them as having "7 buttons of white metal down the front and round cuffs with 2 buttons]. The French "light" blue calico cravat or neck scarf was often issued, as well as Zouave and Turco waist sashes [i.e. they were as likely to be blue as red], French gaiters and "overcoats with hoods of the Chasseur à Pied model". Trousers are seldom mentioned; probably they were issued the unbleached linen "hot weather" model of the Zouaves and Turcos. Contemporary pictorial material generally depicts them wearing belts with "S-Hook" fastenings. There are no mentions of the men wearing their red "dress jackets" after arrival [they may have been stored, along with their arms ?].
A Doctor Fuzier, of the French Medical Corps, did a number of excellent colour sketches of men of the Egyptian Battalion while in Mexico, I have re-drawn them for El Dorado [see plate].
Large Illustration (slow: 100K)
Fig. 1. Walking out, full dress.
Red "chechia" with blue tassel, over white skull-cap, all white uniform, including buttons and stockings, red sash, black shoes.
Fig.2. Campaign.
Same as fig. 1. no skull-cap, mid-blue neck scarf, white gaiters, black waistbelt with brass "S-Hook". Grey-Beige tent half [or blanket ?] on pack, not clear if the shoes are "native" or French ? [probably the latter].
Fig.3. In Overcoat.
Red "chechia" with blue tassel over white skull-cap, all white uniform, all grey "overcoat" with red piping edging the front "loop" fastenings [possibly the original overcoat; more likely a Zouave "mantle" re-tailored as a short overcoat, a rather common field modification. Not a Chasseur à Pied overcoat.]
Officers:
Very limited information. General confirmation of the red uniforms laced or embroidered with gold lace for full dress, "blue" uniforms for service dress. The Joseph Hefter plate of the Egyptians seems to match the available information pretty well. An 1863 article in "L'Illustration" gives details of rank insignia; officers were distinguished by "Hungarian knots" on the sleeves, collar devices and epaulettes for full dress as follows:
| Rank | Sleeve Knots |
|---|---|
| Chief of Battalion | 3 Gold strands |
| Adjutant Major | 2 Gold strands |
| Captain | 1 Gold and 1 Silver |
| Lieutenant | 1 Gold strand |
| Sub-Lieutenant | 1 Silver strand |
Collar Devices
Gold crescent with 3 gold stars within, for Chief of Battalion, the crescent gold and the stars silver for Captains, crescent and stars in silver for lower grades.
No details are given on the epaulet decoration, officers described as "generally carrying colt revolvers." The Battalion was awarded 11 Legion D'Honneur medals to officers, 55 Medaille Militaire for other ranks, 3 officers received the Order of Guadalupe and 2 other ranks the Mexican "Merite Militare" in silver.
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