Conflicting command orders could collapse an entire Egyptian cavalry brigade
Evidence
When the Guardia Regiment started to engage with the enemy both our colonel and our lieutenant-colonel gave orders to assume the line formation. I did not hear the Brigadier give this order. Before we had assumed the new formation however both the brigadier and the colonel gave the orders to attack so we attacked but our left wing started to retreat and the whole brigade got muddled with itself (liva beraberine karişdi). The standard bearer was wounded and the officers were forcing the soldiers to return by forcing them around with their swords (zabitan kiliçlar ile askeri cevirdi). We then gathered our battalions, separated them from each other and put them in order … The trumpeters then gave the signal to deploy in column and we soon took that formation. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 1104
Categorization
Category: Factual Claims
- QUESTION: The Arabic/Turkish phrases in parentheses suggest Fahmy is quoting an Ottoman-language regimental record - what archive collection holds these Egyptian army court-martial and military documents?