Hawkins' Zouaves

[Private Watkins]

Beautiful image of a Corporal in the 9th New York... aka the Hawkins' Zouaves...

The regiment was raised by Rush C. Hawkins after which the regiment was aptly named. They participated in Burnside's North Carolina Expedition in early 1862. Later that summer they became part of the Army of the Potomac and fought at South Mountain and Antietam where they took heavy casualties. The battle of Fredericksburg would follow. The year 1863 was uneventful for the regiment mostly serving garrison duty for a short period before the expiration of their term in May of that year. Hawkins was a meticulous man when it came to details and that trait was clearly evidenced in the design of the uniform issued to the 9th New York. Every detail of the uniform and the equipment the men were issued were thoroughly thought out and planned. The result being a regiment which became highly coveted in their discipline and appearance.

Does anyone else have an image of a Hawkins' Zouave to share...?

 

[major bill]

Although they were called Zoauves they did not wear Zoauve uniforms. Hawkin's Zouaves wore a modified Algerian Tucos (Tirailleurs Algerian) uniforms. Zoauve uniforms were style on the uniforms worn by French Army Zoauves (originally raised among the Zouaoua tribe). Algerian Tirailleur units worn uniforms similar to Zouave uniforms but made of light blue cloth.

 

[major bill]

I believe I have color plates in 6 books and a couple of other plates that show the Hawkin's Zouaves. .

 

[frontrank2]

A Matthew Brady image of the 9th NY, aka Hawkins Zouaves

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Beautiful image of a Corporal in the 9th New York... aka the Hawkin's Zouaves...
View attachment 99630

The regiment was raised by Rush C. Hawkin's after which the regiment was aptly named. They participated in Burnside's North Carolina Expedition in early 1862. Later that summer they became part of the Army of the Potomac and fought at South Mountain and Antietam where they took heavy casualties. The battle of Fredericksburg would follow. The year 1863 was uneventful for the regiment mostly serving garrison duty for a short period before the expiration of their term in May of that year. Hawkin's was a meticulous man when it came to details and that trait was clearly evidenced in the design of the uniform issued to the 9th New York. Every detail of the uniform and the equipment the men were issued were thoroughly thought out and planned. The result being a regiment which became highly coveted in their discipline and appearance.

Does anyone else have an image of a Hawkin's Zouave to share...?

Old Veterans of this unit are featured in the DVD "Memories of the Blue & Gray" marching in Veterans parades. Future president, Chester Arthur was elected Colonel at one time but turned it down.

"In 1861, Arthur was appointed to the military staff of Governor Edwin D. Morgan as engineer-in-chief. The office was a patronage appointment of minor importance until the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, when New York and the other northern states were faced with raising and equipping armies of a size never before seen in American history. Arthur was commissioned as a brigadier general and assigned to the state militia's quartermaster department. He was so efficient at housing and outfitting the troops that poured into New York City that he was promoted to inspector general of the state militia in April 1862, and then to quartermaster general that July. He had an opportunity to serve at the front when the 9th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment elected him colonel early in the war, but at Governor Morgan's request, he turned it down to remain at his post in New York. He also turned down command of four New York City regiments organized as the Metropolitan Brigade, again at Morgan's request. The closest Arthur came to the front was when he traveled south to inspect New York troops near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in May 1862, shortly after forces under Major General Irvin McDowell seized the town during the Peninsula Campaign. That summer, he and other representatives of northern governors met with Secretary of State William H. Seward in New York to coordinate the raising of additional troops, and spent the next few months enlisting New York's quota of 120,000 men. Arthur received plaudits for his work, but his post was a political appointment, and he was relieved of his militia duties in January 1863 when Governor Horatio Seymour, a Democrat, took office. When Reuben Fenton won the 1864 election for governor, Arthur requested reappointment; Fenton and Arthur were from different factions of the Republican Party, and Fenton had already committed to appointing another candidate, so Arthur did not return to military service.

Arthur later joined the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) as a Third Class Companion, the honorary membership category for militia officers and civilians who made significant contributions to the war effort. In addition, Grand Army of the Republic posts in Ogdensburg, Wisconsin and Medford, Oregon were named in his honor."

Rush Christopher Hawkins

Enlisted on 5/3/1861 at New York City, NY as a Colonel.

On 5/4/1861 he was commissioned into Field & Staff NY 9th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 5/20/1863 at New York, NY


He was listed as:
* Wounded 4/19/1862 Camden, NC


Promotions:
* Brig-General 3/13/1865 by Brevet


Other Information:
born 9/14/1831 in Pomfret, VT
died 10/25/1920 in New York City, NY

 

[major bill]

Although they were called Zoauves they did not wear Zoauve uniforms. Hawkin's Zouaves wore a modified Algerian Tucos (Tirailleurs Algerian) uniforms. Zoauve uniforms were style on the uniforms worn by French Army Zoauves (originally raised among the Zouaoua tribe). Algerian Tirailleur units worn uniforms similar to Zouave uniforms but made of light blue cloth.

I should note that some uniform experts seem to believe that the American Zouave regiments that wore dark blue jackets and dark blue trousers based their uniforms on Zoauve uniforms and not Turoc uniforms. I consider the Hawkins Zoauves uniforms Zoauave uniforms because I prefer to use the color of the trim as a deciding factor. Turco wore light blue jacket and pants with yellow trim and Zoauves wore dark blue jackets with red trim and red pants. The issue being how do you classify dark blue jackets with dark blue pants?

 

[AUG]

Nice! Not a photograph but I've always liked Keith Rocco's depiction of Hawkins' Zouaves at Antietam, titled Always Ready - the regiment's motto. They suffered heavy losses in the afternoon phase of the battle of Antietam.

 

[major bill]

Note that the image in post # 1 was tinted by the photographer and he did not do a good job with the red paint. He changed the piping on the jacket and sleeves. The image in post #7 shows the proper trim.

 

[major bill]

These are form Zoaves the First and the Bravest by Michael J. McAfee. He is considered the for most expert on Civil War Zoauve uniforms. They sometimes wore black gaiters which were rare during the Civil War.

 

[Private Watkins]

These are form Zoaves the First and the Bravest by Michael J. McAfee. He is considered the for most expert on Civil War Zoauve uniforms. They sometimes wore black gaiters which were rare during the Civil War. View attachment 99645 View attachment 99646

What about this zouave uniform... what info do you have on it... type, unit, history, origin, etc.?

 

[Private Watkins]

View attachment 99646

Love the humpback M1855 he's sporting in this image... does anyone know if the Hawkins' Zouaves were issued and used the M1855's across the whole regiment...? Or was this likely just a photographer's prop?

 

[reading48]

A Matthew Brady image of the 9th NY, aka Hawkins Zouaves

View attachment 99640

This would be a good challenge for Zuzah....if he had the time

 

[Private Watkins]

This would be a good challenge for Zuzah....if he had the time

Agree... that would be stunning!

@Zuzah what do you think...?

 

[Private Watkins]

Here is a very nice Hawkins Zouaves veteran's badge...

Just what one of these old boys would have been wearing...

 

[Legion Para]

 

[Billy1977]

The officers in the group photo all have different stripes on their trousers.