Responding to the possibility of war between Britain and Egypt, three United States Navy warships from the European Squadron under the command of Rear-Admiral James W. Nicholson were ordered to sail to Alexandria in mid-1882.

Though a British Royal Navy fleet under the command of Admiral Beauchamp Seymour had anchored off Alexandria in May, the conflict did not break out until July 11.

Remnants of Urabi's forces along with elements of the civilian population began attacking foreign residents, including American citizens.

United States Marine Corps captain Henry Clay Cochrane, along with two lieutenants, was assigned to command a force of 70 U.S. Marines and 57 American sailors with orders to occupy the American consulate, patrol the city, and fight the spreading fires which were ravaging the European section of Alexandria.

[3] This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.