Here is a link to ACW Civil War Toy Soldiers kind of cool it has the Italian Unit. I wonder if the colors and uniforms were accurate.
http://www.acwtoysoldiers.com/Confed Soldier Pics/1st_div__n_o_,_la.htm
Your toy soldiers are replica's of Major Wheat's "LA. tigers" Special Brigade. The wore Zouaves a French type uniform.
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Infantry Sgt and Tiger Zouave
The origin of the term came from the "Tiger Rifles," a volunteer company raised in the
New Orleans area as part of
Major Chatham Roberdeau Wheat's battalion of Louisiana infantry. A large number of the men were foreign-born, particularly
Irish immigrants, many from the city's wharves and docks. Many men had previous military experience in local
militia units or as
filibusters. They (and the
regiments that later became known as the Tigers) were organized and trained at
Camp Moore.
Originally, Company B of Wheat's Tigers wore distinctive uniforms similar to the
French zouave, with straw hats or red cloth
fezzes, blue-striped
chasseur-style pants, and short dark blue jackets with red lacing or tombeaux. As time went on, this garb was replaced by Confederate uniforms and what clothing the men could purchase or otherwise obtain from civilians. Within months of arriving in
Northern Virginia, Wheat's entire five-company battalion began to be called the Louisiana Tigers. The battalion first saw combat during the
First Battle of Manassas, where it anchored the left flank on Matthews Hill for several hours until reinforcements arrived.
In early 1862, Wheat's Tigers were assigned
Brig. Gen. Richard Taylor's First Louisiana Brigade in the army of
Stonewall Jackson. They participated in his 1862
Valley Campaign, proving instrumental in Confederate victories at the battles of
Front Royal,
Winchester, and
Port Republic.
In late spring, Jackson's force was sent eastward to participate in the
Peninsula Campaign. Following Wheat's death at the
Battle of Gaines' Mill, his battalion was merged with
Coppens' Zouaves within the Army of Northern Virginia. The combined unit was heavily depleted during the
Northern Virginia Campaign and the subsequent
Maryland Campaign, where its leader,
Colonel Auguste Gaston Coppens, was killed. The amalgamated battalion was disbanded shortly after the
Battle of Antietam and the men dispersed among other units.
The 10th LA. Infantry regiment mention in the thread was call "Lee's Foreign Legion". They fought until only 4 officers and 13 men surrendered at Appomattox..
Bringing the