Help Id'ing Zouave Image

[Missouri Rebel]

Just picked up this tintype. Can anyone id which unit he may have been in. Image was found in Michigan.
Thanks.

 

[E_just_E]

Close to 14th Brooklyn (and very similar color schema,) but no cigar.

There are a few things about his uniform (pants, lack of gaiters, boots, cummerband, epaulets, no insignia whatsoever, esp on the kepi) plus the lack of weapons to make me think that this is not an ACW Zuave uniform. Remember, Zuave units for parading and entertainment purposes were very famous from the 1850s on. So I think that this belongs to one of those. Maybe.

 

[major bill]

Michigan did have several Zouave companies. For most there is very little information about. In general the jacket would match the jacket shown in a photograph of the Elder Zouaves of Lansing Michigan. Because you can not be sure it is even a Michiagn Zouave I can not add much more. I will give you some information on Michiagn Zouaves, sorry it is a bit long and I did not edit it.

The Detroit Light Guards a.k.a. the Light Guard (Detroit) was considered the primermilitia company in the state and was first on the State Military Board's order of merit in the years prior to the Civil War. They were considered the best-dressed, best drilled militia company in Michigan. They became Company A, 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment. After hosting the Chicago United States Zouave Cadets, in 1860 the Detroit Light Guard adopted a semi Zouave uniform for fatigue. This consisted of gray roundabout jackets (possibly the same gray shell jackets as before), gray Zouave trousers with dark trefoils and gray Sardinian caps. For fatigue dress the Detroit Light Guard wore gray jackets, gray Zouave pants and gray Sardinian caps.http://civilwartalk.com/#_edn1 The Detroit Daily Tribune on August 30 1860 states that the Detroit Light Guards now have a very pretty light infantry cap and grey Zouave pants in addition to their usual garb. A jaunty Zouave cap was also used as winter wear in 1860.[ii]
The company fatigue dress was gray jackets, gray Zouave pants and gray caps.[iii]
The Detroit Daily Tribune of 1860 called the trousers, gray Zouave pants and the caps Light Infantry caps (M1851 Light Infantry Cap? or M1854 Light Infantry Cap?).[iv]
A photograph of the Detroit Light Guard, taken in 1860, shows them in dark shell jackets (nine buttons?) with gray Zouave moderately baggy trousers with dark trefoils. The trousers are worn with medium colored leggings. Sergeants have light colored downward pointed chevrons (white) on the sleeves. Dark kepis (blue) with unknown badges (tiger head?) are worn. Enlisted men have white waist and cross belts.
Two officers in the photograph wear dark frock coats and one officer a dark short jacket. All officers wear gray Zouave trousers identical to their men and are wearing leggings. The officers are wearing dark kepis and white waist belts.
Their jacket had small standing collars. The sleeves appear to be plain. Gray Zouave trousers with thin dark trefoils are worn. White leggings (mostly likely canvas) are worn over shoes. A short dark cap is worn. The cap appears to have strait sides and does not sloping forward at the front as a kepi would. A white pompom with holder (possibly shaped like a tiger head) adorns the kepi. A white waist belt with square belt plate is worn. A white cross strap is worn joined by a round plate with what appears to be a tiger head on it. A black cap patch pouch and ammunition pouch is worn. A pack is worn with the straps visible. A roll (possibly rubber coated) is attached at the top of the pack.

The Coldwater Zouave Cadets a.k.a. the Coldwater Cadets they becameCompany C, 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry. The Cadets were a new company formed in 1860. The "Zouave" title was not used for any length of time; they were usually referred to as the Coldwater Cadets. The fatigue uniforms were blue Zouave jackets with scarlet trousers and army cap.[v]

The Adrian Guard (Adrian) became Company B, 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. They were the state's second oldest militia company dating from 1842. After the1860 visit of the United States Zouaves Cadets of Chicago, the company acquired Zouave uniforms consisting of blue roundabout jackets with gilt buttons and scarlet a la Zouave pants. The pants were not gathered at the ankles and were worn loose. Their caps were red.[vi] A Detroit Free Press article of September 1 1860 gives the fatigue uniforms as Zouave uniforms with blue jackets, red pants and red caps.[vii]
The Detroit Daily Advertiser in 1860 gives the dress uniforms as gray with red trim. The dress headgear was bearskins. The fatigue uniforms were loose blue Zouave jackets with red trim, the pants and caps were red.[viii]

The United States Zouave Cadets a.k.a. United States Zouave Cadets of Detroit (Detroit) a.k.a. Detroit Zouave Cadets wasformed in July of 1860. Members were to be between 20 and 23 years of age. They adopted a full Zouave dress, which differs somewhat from that worn by the Chicago United States Zouave Cadets.[ix] This should mean a short blue Zouave jacket with trim, red chasseur trousers and kepi, however the Detroit Daily Advertiser indicates they were to wear genuine French Zouave uniforms including bag pants and turbans.[x]
Hudson Zouave Cadets (Hudson) was for boys 12-16 years old. In 1861 they ordered caps from J & A Herzof of Chicago. (Could this be the same company as the Hudson Cadets?)

The Tecumseh Volunteers a.k.a. Tecumseh Light Infantry (Tecumseh) for a short time in 1861 they wore uniforms provided by the citizens of Tecumseh. The uniforms were blue jackets, red pants and red caps.[xi] This was a Zouave type uniform.[xii] They went in to 4th Michigan as Company G. They received state issued gray uniforms.

The Independent Zouaves (Lansing) was active for three months in 1861 and may have obtained same type of distinctive uniforms. The seemed to disappear when the Elder Zoauves formed and these may in fact be the same company. The Elder Zouaves went into the 3rd Regiment and were issued gray uniforms by the state.

The Student Battalion from University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) are shown in a photograph of three Captains. All of the Captains wear battle shirts and strait leg trousers The Ellsworth Zouaves, a.k.a. Ellsworth Cadets Captain wears a darker shade of the battle shirt without any trim. The shirt had a pocket on the left side (perhaps the right side as well). His kepi is medium or dark. He has a light sash with sword belt. All wear their kepi straps under their chins. There is no information on what the enlisted members of these student companies wore but they are described as being in full uniforms.

. Hastings Zouave Cadets (Hastings) in 1861 reportedly wore uniforms.

Women in Grand Rapids in 1861 when they presented the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment with a regimental flag wore a type of semi uniform. Twenty young ladies were in Zouave jackets and brown jockey caps trimmed in red, white and blue.

Lafayette Guard (Detroit) wasformed in 1861 by citizens of French decent. They decided to wear uniforms based on French infantry uniforms. This included French style blue frock coats and red trousers.[xiii]


http://civilwartalk.com/#_ednref1 Detroit Free Press, September 1 1860.

[ii] Detroit Daily Advertiser, February 13 1860.

[iii] Detroit Daily Advertiser, August 30, 1860.

[iv] Detroit Daily Tribune, August 30 1860.

[v] The Grand Rapids Daily Enquirer and Herald, October 7 1860.

[vi] Adrian Daily Expositor, August 27 1861 also described in Charles Lindquist, Adrian The City ThatWorked.

[vii] Detroit Free Press, September 1 1860.

[viii] Detroit Daily Advertiser, August 30, 1860.

[ix] The Detroit Free Press, July 25 1860.

[x] Detroit Daily Advertiser, August 14 1860.

[xi] Diary of Harrison Danields.

[xii] Adrian Daily Expositor, May 4 1861.

[xiii] Detroit Free Press, May 9 1861. Detroit Daily Tribune, May 10 1860.

 

[major bill]

from a different data base, this one has post Civil War Zouaves.

Possibly Civil War era Edler Zouave form Lansing Michigan.

Civil War

Detroit Light Guard Michigan premiere militia company in 1860 adopted new fatigue dress uniforms of gray jackets with gray Zouave pants and gray Sardinian caps.1 A photograph from 1860 shows the Detroit Light Guard in dark blue roundabout jackets (nine buttons?) with gray moderately baggy Zouave trousers with trefoils that appears in the photograph to be dark. The trousers are worn with light colored leggings. Sergeants have light colored chevrons (white) on their sleeves pointed down. Dark colored kepis with unknown badges are worn (in another photograph a white pom pom is worn). Enlisted men have white waist and cross belts and black cartridge and cap pouches.

Two officers in the photograph wear dark frock coats and one officer a short dark jacket. The officer's trousers are light in color and are worn with leggings and do not appear to have leg stripes (the photograph is not clear enough to see if there was trefoils). The officers are wearing dark kepis. The officers wear white waist belts.

The men who did not join the regiment on active duty formed the Detroit Light Guard Reserve Company and may have continued to wear the Zouave uniform for fatigue.

Adrian Guard in1860 after a visit of the United States Zouaves Cadets of Chicago the company acquired Zouave uniforms of blue jackets trimmed in red with gilt buttons and scarlet pants.2 Their caps were red.

United States Zouave Cadets a.k.a. United States Zouave Cadets of Detroit formed in July of 1860. Members were to be between 20 and 23 years of age. They adopted a full Zouave dress, which differs somewhat from that worn by the Chicago United States Zouave Cadets.[3]

Tecumseh Volunteers a.k.a. Tecumseh Light Infantry formed in 1861. For a short time they wore Zoauve uniforms of blue jackets, red pants and red caps provided by the citizens of Tecumseh.[4] They joined the 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment as Company G.

Ellsworth Zouaves, a.k.a. Ellsworth Cadets in 1861 were part of the University of Michigan Student Battalion. In a photograph the captain of this company wears a medium colored battle shirt without any trim. The shirt had a pocket on the left side (perhaps the right side as well). His kepi is medium or dark in color. He has a light sash with sword belt.

Hasting Zouave Cadets in 1861 obtain uniforms of unknown style.

Brother Jonathan Zouave a.k.a. Brother Jonathan Guards (Detroit) ca.1861—1862 was a home guard type unit for youths. Uniforms were blue jackets and scarlet pants with scarlet Zouave caps.[5]

Detroit Zouaves ca. 1860 was a boy company. Little information about them exists

Coldwater Zouave Cadets a.k.a. Coldwater Cadetswent in to 1st Mich Vol Inf Rgt in1861 as C Company.Soon after forming they paraded in uniforms consisting of nothing more than shirt sleeves and black pants. They soon obtained their Zouave-styled fatigue uniforms which consisted of blue Zouave jackets worn with scarlet trousers and scarlet army caps.[6]

The Hudson Zouave Cadets a. k. a. The Hudson Cadets (Hudson, Lenawee

County) were formed in May 1861. This company consisted of boys twelve to sixteen years old.[7] For uniforms they wore red pants and blue shirts with red Zouave caps. They ordered caps from J. & A. Herzog, 152 Lake, Chicago Illinois and these arrived in April of 1861. Some newspaper reports tell use they had full uniforms and made a 'handsome' appearance, but the exact nature of the uniforms worn in this parade is not recorded and it is unclear if they ever obtained jackets.

The Independent Zouaves was organized in Lansing in April 1861. Apparently it disbanded or became the Elder's Zouaves.

Elder's Zouaves was formed in Lansing in July of 1861. Became co. G, 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. A photograph attributed to this company exists.

First Zouaves, a.k.a. Irish Zouaves or Irish American Zouaves was forming in Detroit 1861. Little information on the company is available and it may have quickly dissolved.

Marshall Zouaves was formed by young men in 1861, probably short lived.

Woodbury Zouaves was home guard company. They are mentioned have been forming but the city is not identified. No further information has been found.


Other information. The State of Michigan Archives has a photograph of Alonzo Palemer Co. F 16th Michigan wearing a wearing a Zouave jacket and false vest.

A photograph of a father and son in the 5th Michigan Infantry Regiment shows then in Canadian caps or Fezs.

Stephen Hamlin of the Co. F 12th Michigan Infantry Regiment was photographed in a fez.

When the 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment was presented with its flag the 20 ladies who presented it to them wore matching Zouave jackets.

Women in Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids, Kent County) wore a type of semi uniform. In 1861 when the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment was presented with a regimental flag 20 young ladies were attired in red Zouave jackets and brown jockey caps trimmed in red, white and blue.

The Washington Hose Company (Monroe, Monroe County) in new uniforms

like the Chicago Zouaves. Note they were not a militia company, only a fire company.



Michigan Post Civil War companies:

Jackson Zouaves no date given

Valley City Zouaves ca.1866

Porter Zouaves (Flint) formed in1868

Sherman Zouaves ca. 1869-1870

Tecumseh Zouave was Co E 1st Reg State Troops 1870

Alger Zouaves (Grand Rapids) ca. 1889 militia

Elder Zouaves active in the1890s

Withinton Zouaves formed in the 1890s. They were originally Devlin Business

College Cadets. They changed their name to the American Legion Zouaves. This drill company performed drill on television and in a move in the1950s.




1 Detroit Free Press on September 1 1860

2 Charles Lindquist, Adrian The City That Worked.

[3] Detroit Free Press, p. 1, Aug 29 1860.

[4] Diary of Harrison Daniels

[5] Detroit Free Press, p. 1, Jul 4 1861.

[6] New Military Organization, The Grand Rapids Daily Enquirer and Herald, October 7 1860, p. 3, col. 1.

[7] Hudson Zouave Cadets, Hudson Gazette, May 18 1861, P. 3, col.1.