Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-03-02
TO JOIN THE IRISH IN EGYPT.

According to circumstantial narrative to
appear in the Chicago Inter. Ocean to-day,
the Fenian and other revolutionary circles
Of Chicago, including the advanced revolu-
tionary league, the most rabid of the dyna.
mite bodies in this city, have been quite ac-
tive the last few days, and indeed since the
late London explosions, in making prepara-
tions for an important forward movement.
Letters have been received at Chicago from
Paris, the headquarters in Dublin of the Irish
revolutionary brotherhood, and the Fenian
Council in New York, calling upon the &C.
tive reyolutionists of Chicago to furnish
their quota to the Irish brigade or legion
now in process of formation and destined for
active service against England in Egypt.
None will be accepted for this important
enterprise except men who saw service in
the late war, and the material selected for
the officers of the Irish legion will comprise
such soldiers as have made record in the
armies of the Confederacy as well as in the
armies of the Union. Four officers have
already accepted positions who have made
gallant record as guerrlllas under
Mosby, and will report at Chicago at
an early day. The names of these officers
are: Captain Coventon, of Fauquier county,
Va. Lieutenant Dick Morton, of Culpeper !;
Lieutenant Golding, of Falls Church, Va,
and Sergeant Blakely, of Richmond.
Seven officers of the Union forces now res
idents of Chicago have been selected, one
of whom for some time past has been doing
newspaper work in that city. The names
Of these gentlemen the Fenian Centre, to
whom reporter is indebted for the above
facts, refused to give, though they will
doubtless be made known in few days.
The sum of $4,000 will be subscribed in
the city for the Chicago contingent, and
like sums for the New York, Philadelphia,
Buffalo and Boston contingents It is also
stated that high command in the new
Irish brigade has been offered to distin-
guished soldier, and rumor has it that he
other than General Fitzhugh Lee, who will
be allowed the selection Of his own staff,
which will be composed altogether OF Irish
officers who have served with distinction in
the armies of the Confederacy. The organ
ization seems to be we'll planned, we'll di-
gested and cohesive in all it's parts, the
various cities contributing quotas being re-
ported as enthusiastic to the last degree
ready with men and all the money that may
be required.
brigade will be mounted upon their arrival
in the Soudan, and serve as guerrllas, these
companies 10 be under the command OF
some of Mosby's old soldiers and Two or
three of Quantrel's ex officers. The brigade
will consist Of one thousand men, the III
fantry to be armed with Remington rifles,
while the mounted men, or cavalry, will
carry sabres and Spencer rifles. These men
will report in New Y ork iu Lwos and thrces,
and from thence they will sail to some port
in France, by some believed 10 be Mar
seilles.
In private letter to a well known Fenian
in Chicago, O'Donovan Rosa says: when
this brigade gets in the field, England will
have no longer occasioa to say that dyna-
mite is not legitimate weapon Of warfare.
The Mahdi will make it legitimate, and the
Irish brigade, in making use Of it, will
avenge the wrongs of centuries by blowing
English war vessels aud English red coats
to h wherever they meet them. The dy-
Mantle will be manufactured in the Irish
camps and Irish soldiers will instruct the
benighted Egyptian how to make and use
it. Oh, we will soon have merry times in
the Soudan, depend on it. We will make
the English sup sorrow and bring them to
their knees in q way that will astonish the
world, and that before the year is out"
The question was put to the gentleman
furnishing the above information What
is Chicago's quota for the Irish brigade"
"About 200 men,"
"Will there be any difficulty in getting
them ?"
"Not the slightest We could raise 1000"
"Will you have any difficulty in raising
tho SIS 5,000?"
"Less difficulty than in raising the men."
'How long will bo the term of enlist
ment?"
"For the war"
"Will the men be married or single?"
"Every man enlisted will be single"
"When will the Chicago contingent
start ?"
"Inside of fourteen days.