Charles Chaillé-Long
Encyclopedia
Charles Chaillé-Long was an American soldier from Maryland
, active in East Africa and Egypt.
He fought in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
, taking part in the battle of Gettysburg
. He enlisted as a private, and finished the war with the rank of Captain.
He took a commission as lieutenant-colonel in the Egyptian Army
in 1869, arriving in Egypt in 1870. Serving under Charles Gordon
in the southern Sudan
, he travelled south to present-day Uganda
, signing a treaty with Mutesa I of Buganda. In 1874 he was the second western explorer of Lake Victoria
, and the first to discover Lake Kyoga
. While on his return journey, he was attacked by the forces of Bunyoro
. Further missions of exploration were to the Azande
in 1875, and the Juba River in Somalia
in 1876. He wrote a book on his adventures, in extravagant style.
In 1875, he commanded Egyptian forces in the McKillop expedition, to the Indian Ocean coast. He resigned his commission in 1877, returned to the United States, and attended Columbia Law School
. Subsequently he was a diplomat in Korea, and writer.
His 1884 book, The Three Prophets, took a very negative line on Charles Gordon. His comments were later taken up by revisionist writers, notably Lytton Strachey
in Eminent Victorians. Critics have attacked Chaillé-Long for a lack of accuracy as an author. He also wrote, among other works, My Life in Four Continents.
He was awarded the Charles P. Daly Medal
by the American Geographical Society
in 1909., a Cross Medjidieh and a Cross Osmanieh from his service in Egypt, the Cross of Chevalier of The Legion d'Honnever, and a Gold Medal from the General Assembly of Maryland.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, active in East Africa and Egypt.
He fought in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, taking part in the battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
. He enlisted as a private, and finished the war with the rank of Captain.
He took a commission as lieutenant-colonel in the Egyptian Army
Egyptian Army
The Egyptian Army is the largest service branch within the Egyptian Armed Forces and holds power in the current Egyptian government. It is estimated to number around 379,000, in addition to 479,000 reservists for a total of 858,000 strong. The modern army was created in the 1820s, and during the...
in 1869, arriving in Egypt in 1870. Serving under Charles Gordon
Charles Gordon
Charles Gordon may refer to:People:* Charles Gordon , American cornerback* Charles Gordon , Canadian football player* Charles Gordon , watercolor artist...
in the southern Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, he travelled south to present-day Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, signing a treaty with Mutesa I of Buganda. In 1874 he was the second western explorer of Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
, and the first to discover Lake Kyoga
Lake Kyoga
Lake Kyoga is a large shallow lake complex of Uganda, about in area and at an elevation of 914 m. The Victoria Nile flows through the lake on its way from Lake Victoria to Lake Albert. The main inflow from Lake Victoria is regulated by the Nalubaale Power Station in Jinja. Another source of water...
. While on his return journey, he was attacked by the forces of Bunyoro
Bunyoro
Bunyoro is a kingdom in Western Uganda. It was one of the most powerful kingdoms in East Africa from the 16th to the 19th century. It is ruled by the Omukama of Bunyoro...
. Further missions of exploration were to the Azande
Azande
The Azande are a tribe of north Central Africa. Their number is estimated by various sources at between 1 and 4 million....
in 1875, and the Juba River in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
in 1876. He wrote a book on his adventures, in extravagant style.
In 1875, he commanded Egyptian forces in the McKillop expedition, to the Indian Ocean coast. He resigned his commission in 1877, returned to the United States, and attended Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
. Subsequently he was a diplomat in Korea, and writer.
His 1884 book, The Three Prophets, took a very negative line on Charles Gordon. His comments were later taken up by revisionist writers, notably Lytton Strachey
Lytton Strachey
Giles Lytton Strachey was a British writer and critic. He is best known for establishing a new form of biography in which psychological insight and sympathy are combined with irreverence and wit...
in Eminent Victorians. Critics have attacked Chaillé-Long for a lack of accuracy as an author. He also wrote, among other works, My Life in Four Continents.
He was awarded the Charles P. Daly Medal
Charles P. Daly Medal
The Charles P. Daly Medal is awarded to individuals by the American Geographical Society "for valuable or distinguished geographical services or labors." The medal was established in 1902. This medal was originally designed by Victor D. Brenner, but the destruction of the dies caused the medal to...
by the American Geographical Society
American Geographical Society
The American Geographical Society is an organization of professional geographers, founded in 1851 in New York City. Most fellows of the society are Americans, but among them have always been a significant number of fellows from around the world...
in 1909., a Cross Medjidieh and a Cross Osmanieh from his service in Egypt, the Cross of Chevalier of The Legion d'Honnever, and a Gold Medal from the General Assembly of Maryland.
Works
- Central Africa: Naked Truths of Naked People (1876)
- The Three Prophets (1884)
- Les Sources du Nil (1891)
- L'Égypte et ses provinces perdues (1892)
- La Corée ou Tschösen (1894)
- My Life in Four Continents (1912)