History and Album of the 165th New York Infantry (2nd Battalion Duryee Zouaves)

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The 165th New York Volunteer Infantry (aka "2nd Battalion Duryee's Zouaves" or "Smith's Zouaves").

One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Infantry.—Lieut.-Cols., Abel Smith, Jr., Governeur Carr, William R. French; Majs., Governeur Carr, Felix Angus, William W. Stephenson. The 165th, the 2nd battalion, Duryea's Zouaves, was originally recruited for a nine months' term, but was afterwards changed to three years. Only six companies were recruited, principally from New York city and Brooklyn, and were mustered into the U. S. service between, Aug. and; Dec., 1862, for three years. In 1864, four new companies joined the battalion in the field and were consolidated with the original six companies. The battalion left the state Dec. 2, 1862, sailing for New Orleans, and on its arrival was assigned to the 3rd brigade, 2nd (Sherman's) division, 19th corps, Department of the-Gulf. It participated in skirmishes in March, 1863, at North pass, Ponchatoula and Berwick bay, sustaining a few casualties, and was actively engaged throughout the long siege of Port Hudson, losing heavily in the assault of May 27. Its losses during the siege amounted to 106 killed, wounded and missing, among the mortally wounded being the gallant Lieut.-Col. Abel, who fell in the assault of May 27. It accompanied Franklin's expedition to Sabine pass, Tex., in Sept., 1863, and was later twice engaged at Vermilion bayou. In the 3rd brigade, Emory's division, it took part in Banks'. Red River expedition in the spring of 1864, fighting at Sabine crossroads, Pleasant Hill, Cane river crossing and Mansura. The loss at Sabine cross-roads was 48 killed, wounded and missing, and at Pleasant hill, 49. Returning north, the regiment was in action in September at Berryville, Va., but sustained no loss. When Dwight's 1st division, Army of the Shenandoah, left the valley in April, 1865, as a part of the 3rd brigade, the regiment accompanied it to Washington and subsequently to Savannah, Ga. Under Maj. Stephenson it was mustered out at Charleston, S. C, Sept. I, 1865, having lost by death during its term of service 2 officers and 44 men killed and mortally wounded; 2 officers and 79 men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 127, of whom 18 men died in the hands of the enemy.
https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/165thInf/165thInfMain.htm


Both the history and photograph album of the regiment can be read on Internet Archive.org.

Album of the Second Battalion Duryee Zouaves: https://archive.org/stream/albumofsecondbat00newy#page/n7/mode/2up

History of the Second Battalion Duryee Zouaves:
https://archive.org/stream/secondbattalion00newyrich#page/n5/mode/2up
 
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On December 13, 1862, at Camp Washington, Staten Island, the 165th New York Volunteers received a stand of colors from “a select party of gentlemen and ladies.” The presentation most likely included the silk national color seen here. The 165th New York Volunteers reportedly carried this national color from 1862 until the end of the war, including at Port Hudson, Louisiana, on May 27, 1863, where two color bearers received mortal wounds, and during the Red River Campaign in Louisiana, March 10–May 22, 1864, where color bearer Sergeant John Engel received a non-fatal wound.

The national color carried by the 165th New York Volunteers includes 34 reverse appliquéd stars in six horizontal rows. Approximately 40% of the flag is missing, mainly in the white stripes and fly half. The painted unit designation in the center red stripe was somewhat obscured before conservation. After textile conservators from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) used a small and controlled amount of humidity and light weights to help realign the flag, the inscription became readable.
https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/btlflags/infantry/165thInfNationalColor2013.0049.htm
 
http://www.9thtexas.org/zouave.html

The Regimental Mascot

Tommy was a New York dog that inspired the men of the 165th. He is described as a ‘cur’ that jumped on board the steamer Merrimac when she shoved off. He
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was simply a firm, compact fat little dog, with a sleek brown hide, who looked capable of undergoing considerable fatigue after a little training, but nothing about him to indicate the wonderful staying qualities and devotion afterward exhibited. He was devoted to the enlisted men, and never let an officer pet him; this was the cause of considerable amusement to the camp. He would drill each day with a different company and was always at the head. He was taken to Baton Rough shortly before the end of Port Hudson with some casualties. Five months passed and the hope that Tommy would ever come back was lost, when one day, to the astonishment and delight of the men, he returned. He had found his way on a boat and crossed the country on foot to be reunited with his men in Franklin. He was present in all of the engagements, except the Sabine River Campaign. He displayed every sign of fear and anxiety, but never deserted his post. At Pleasant Hill he was wounded, when a bullet took off the end of his tail. Tommy is noted, as having good judgment and he would hide behind the biggest object during lively musketry business. He made half a dozen trips to sea, traveled hundreds of miles by foot, river, and rail. When the war ended, Tommy, along with his men of the 165th, was discharged with papers noting meritorious service and he was officially recognized. When he landed back in New York, he ran off wagging his tail.
 
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There is a reproduction(I think) of their uniform on display in the museum at Mansfield Battlefield State Park:

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The Texans of Walker's Division at Mansfield found the 165th's uniform quite amusing. Many had never seen a Zouave uniform, at least not in person, if not ever even having heard of one before. Some joked about the uniforms being "unmanly", "fighting women", etc. Also, I might be mistaken but I believe there was another Zouave regiment that took part in the Red River Campaign, can't remember which.

According to Richard Lowe's history of Walker's Texas Division:

A captain in Randal's brigade laughed to his sister, "It is a most ludicrous costume, for a civilized man to wear, one could imagine." Confederates in the 18th Texas were equally as scornful: "their red, uncouth, unmanly looking uniform excited much laughter among our men, and many jokes were created at the expense of these 'Joabs,' as they were called." Some of the Greyhounds swore theatrically in the presence of passing Zouave prisoners that Texans would have stopped fighting now; they "had too much honor to fight women." Some assured the Zouaves that that they would be released when they reached Mansfield because the Confederacy had "scarcely provisions to feed their own troops, without providing for women prisoners." Even fellow Yankees, especially westerners, sometimes snickered at the expense of the Zouaves. A soldier in the 77th Illinois repeated a story later told around Federal campfires when the subject of Mansfield came up: "It is said that when the zouaves came to the front and then fell back, a rebel was in pursuit of a retreating zouave, and another rebel drew his gun to shoot when the first rebel said, 'Don't shoot, I want to catch the thing alive.'"​

Definitely seems as though Zouaves didn't have much luck around Texans. Almost reminiscent of the 165th's sister regiment, the 5th New York "Duryee Zouaves" vs. the Texas Brigade at Second Manassas.
 
The Texans of Walker's Division at Mansfield found the 165th's uniform quite amusing. Many had never seen a Zouave uniform, at least not in person, if not ever even having heard of one before. Some joked about the uniforms being "unmanly", "fighting women", etc. Also, I might be mistaken but I believe there was another Zouave regiment that took part in the Red River Campaign, can't remember which.

According to Richard Lowe's history of Walker's Texas Division:

A captain in Randal's brigade laughed to his sister, "It is a most ludicrous costume, for a civilized man to wear, one could imagine." Confederates in the 18th Texas were equally as scornful: "their red, uncouth, unmanly looking uniform excited much laughter among our men, and many jokes were created at the expense of these 'Joabs,' as they were called." Some of the Greyhounds swore theatrically in the presence of passing Zouave prisoners that Texans would have stopped fighting now; they "had too much honor to fight women." Some assured the Zouaves that that they would be released when they reached Mansfield because the Confederacy had "scarcely provisions to feed their own troops, without providing for women prisoners." Even fellow Yankees, especially westerners, sometimes snickered at the expense of the Zouaves. A soldier in the 77th Illinois repeated a story later told around Federal campfires when the subject of Mansfield came up: "It is said that when the zouaves came to the front and then fell back, a rebel was in pursuit of a retreating zouave, and another rebel drew his gun to shoot when the first rebel said, 'Don't shoot, I want to catch the thing alive.'"​

Definitely seems as though Zouaves didn't have much luck around Texans. Almost reminiscent of the 165th's sister regiment, the 5th New York "Duryee Zouaves" vs. the Texas Brigade at Second Manassas.
That is good stuff. Got a good laugh from that. I'm sure it was a culture shock for both sides.
 
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