Click to big up. A meeting of the two groups in 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War, comparing mustaches as it would seem. Note the British Martini-Henry rifle with the Royal Marines (left), while the U.S. Marines, who should have had Model 1879 Lee Rifles, instead seem to have Springfield cartridge conversions and very Civil War-style uniforms.
During the Anglo-Egyptian War, the U.S. Navy sent three ships to North African ports to make sure American citizens and interests were followed. The elderly 18-gun screw-sloop USS Lancaster (flagship of the European squadron) the gunboat USS Nipsic and the corvette USS Quinnebaug.
None of these were particularly mighty warships, built for economical overseas service such as waving the flag and chasing the occasional smuggler. They could, however, scrape together a force of some 130 bluejackets and Marines to send ashore (along with a neat little 12-pounder howitzer from Quinnebaug). Back in the old day, these types of naval shore parties were common.
They remained in Alexandria and the region for nearly two months, being some of the first foreign troops into the city, even meeting in a sharp battle around the U.S. consulate with Islamic Urabi Rebels who were threatening to burn it down.
It seems the more things change…
