Service with the Ottoman Empire Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

von moltke (left) advises ottoman commander hafiz pasha @ nezib

in 1838 moltke sent adviser ottoman general commanding troops in anatolia, carry on campaign against muhammad ali of egypt (for details see ali s rebellion.) during summer moltke made extensive reconnaissances , surveys, riding several thousand miles in course of journey. navigated rapids of euphrates , visited , mapped many parts of ottoman empire. in 1839 army moved south fight egyptians, upon approach of enemy general refused listen moltke s advice. moltke resigned post of staff officer , took charge of artillery. in battle of nezib (modern-day nisibis) on 24 june 1839, ottoman army beaten. great difficulty moltke made way black sea, , thence constantinople. patron, sultan mahmud ii, dead, returned berlin arrived, broken in health, in december 1839.

once home moltke published of letters had written letters on conditions , events in turkey in years 1835 1839. book received @ time. next year married young english woman, maria bertha helena burt, daughter of john heyliger burt esq of st. croix in danish west indies, married sister augusta. happy union, though there no children.

in 1840 moltke had been appointed staff of 4th army corps, stationed @ berlin , published maps of constantinople, and, jointly other german travellers, new map of asia minor , memoir on geography of country. became fascinated railroads , 1 of first directors of hamburg-berlin railway. in 1843 published article considerations should determine choice of course of railways?.

in 1845 moltke published russo-turkish campaign in europe, 1828–1829; book received in military circles. in year served in rome personal adjutant prince henry of prussia, allowed him create map of eternal city (published in 1852). in 1848, after brief return general staff in berlin, became chief of staff of 4th army corps, of headquarters @ magdeburg, remained 7 years, during rose lieutenant colonel , colonel.

in 1855 moltke served personal aide prince frederick (later emperor frederick iii). accompanied prince england (for marriage), paris , saint petersburg coronation of alexander ii of russia.