The 18 year old Chigot enlisted in a regiment of Chasseurs à Pied, (light infantry) in 1842. It was a defining moment in his life. Many years after he had demobbed he was still wearing aspects of military uniform. Chigot served in Algeria with French forces under Governor-general Maréchal Bugeaud in 1844 and saw action in the Battle of Isly on August 14, 1844. The French forces routed a larger but poorly organised Moroccan force under Sultan Abderrahmane. Chigot performed bravely earning a citation and promotion to a higher non-commission post. He was also present at the recapture of the Marabout of Sidi Brahim, from Abdelkader El Djezairi's Algerian forces on December 23, 1847. As a painter Chigot would return to these years and paint academic Orientalist paintings. He remained fascinated all his life by ... scenes of the oriental life, the sparkling fantasies, the golden rocks scorched in the warm light... the red sunsets of the desert...