Zouave Uniforms

[The Last Observer]

How late in the war did zouave units wear their characteristic clothing?

I've read that as the war went on, clothing among American units became simpler and more mass-produced, with the knee-length coat giving way to the nine-button shell jacket and then the four-button sackcloth jacket. At the same time, the number of units designated "zouave" increased, for example the 140th and 146th New York were renamed to be zouaves in recognition of their courage late in the war. Presumably they would not have been issued with the flamboyant uniforms worn early in the war, or if they were then they wouldn't have been able to maintain them for long.

Any information would be interesting, and references to sources would be particularly interesting.

 

[Kurtlg]

Units that were designated Zouave mid war did get the Zouave uniforms. The monument to the 155th Pennsylvania at Gettysburg shows a Zouave uniform though they did not wear this until later. As the war went on worn out uniforms were replaced with standard infantry uniforms. Zouave units tried to maintain their uniforms until the end of the war. The 114th Pennsylvania was heavily photographed later in the war . I think there are some images of Zouaves in the famous Massaponax church photos during the Overland Campaign .

 

[RedRover]

How late in the war did zouave units wear their characteristic clothing?

I've read that as the war went on, clothing among American units became simpler and more mass-produced, with the knee-length coat giving way to the nine-button shell jacket and then the four-button sackcloth jacket. At the same time, the number of units designated "zouave" increased, for example the 140th and 146th New York were renamed to be zouaves in recognition of their courage late in the war. Presumably they would not have been issued with the flamboyant uniforms worn early in the war, or if they were then they wouldn't have been able to maintain them for long.

Any information would be interesting, and references to sources would be particularly interesting.

Some units employed a zouave uniform through the close of the war. There were some regiments which only procured a zouave outfit in 1864. Some of them clung tenaciously to the uniform, and wore it the field. Some adopted regulation fatigue dress, more or less, for field wear. Depends on the regiment.

The 5th New York clung to zouave dress throughout the war. But there were variations in the pattern provided. And in the field, the men could not replace worn out or lost uniform items.

And on campaign, the distinctive garments, when worn out, could only be immediately replaced with regulation clothing, or the discards of such by other regiments. The veterans of the 5th New York recalled that after Antietam:

During a review by President Lincoln and General McClellan, the regiment was provided with regulation infantry great coats:

The veterans of the 10th New York recalled wearing regulation fatigue dress in the summer of 1862, reserving their zouave dress for parade, etc.

In 1863 the regiment procured a new zouave dress, however for the campaign of 1864 the recruits were just dressed in regulation fatigues, and the veterans, more or less, did the same...

Veterans of the 155th PA, issued a zouave uniform in 1864, noted its principal drawback was that a man could not straggle or wander easily without being instantly recognized...

Several regiments continued their zouave dress to the close of the war, including the 5th New York, including Appomattox in 1865. Shortly after they received some new zouave dress:

there is also this more recent book:

Here's a couple chaps of the 114th Pennsylvania:

 

[Sundance]

Brian Bennett wrote an excellent regimental history of the 140th NY which makes numerous references to their Zouave uniforms. Those uniforms were received by the regiment in early January, 1864 and were said to be of "excellent quality". Perhaps they lasted through the last 16 months of the war. I have an ancestor who died on Little Round Top with the 140th so he was no longer around when the Zouave uniforms were issued.

 

[major bill]

Yesterday I attended a talk about Zouaves given by Shaun C. Grenan. He has a few books out about certain Zouave units. Mr. Grenan yesterday.

 

[RedRover]

Here's another example, the 9th New York, Zouaves, when the remnant of the regiment was consolidated with the 17th New York Veteran Volunteer Regiment in late 1863, the latter adopted the zouave uniform of the 9th!

 

[7thWisconsin]

Yesterday I attended a talk about Zouaves given by Shaun C. Grenan. He has a few books out about certain Zouave units. Mr. Grenan yesterday.View attachment 481710

I think Shaun knows more about Zouaves, and especially American Zouaves, than anyone alive. As mentioned, there were several regiments who wore the unform throughout the war, and some that picked it up in 1864. The old ¨was only worn early in the war before things got serious¨ line is a huge over-simplification. IIRC, the 114th PA was AoP provost guard during the Petersburg Siege, so they would have been seen around headquarters looking spiffy, and get photographed a lot.

 

[major bill]

Does anyone have Daniel Miller's "American Zouaves 1859-1959"? I once gave some thoughts about purchasing it but $88 for a paperback book seemed pricey. I have wondered if the book is worth the cost.

 

[RedRover]

Does anyone have Daniel Miller's "American Zouaves 1859-1959"? I once gave some thoughts about purchasing it but $88 for a paperback book seemed pricey. I have wondered if the book is worth the cost.

The Wordcat website shows over 600 library and university copies. Might be available by interlibrary loan.

 

[The Last Observer]

@RedRover thank you so much! This is extremely interesting.

I really enjoy that anecdote about the uniforms being destroyed during the retreat, and the one about soldiers being issued greatcoats to make themselves presentable. This sounds like the sort of ordinary everyday disaster that happens routinely, making young men miserable but giving them something to chuckle about in their old age.

(Thank you everyone else too for the very useful comments and the book recommendation!)

 

[major bill]

At almost $90 for a paperback it might be a good idea to look over a copy before shelling out ths cash.

 

[RedRover]

Veteran Julian Scott painted a federal zouave in a greatcoat...

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

@The Last Observer if memory serves me right Colonel Collis of the 114th Pennsylvania had secured enough material to insure that Collis Zouaves were able to wear their uniforms for the course of the war.

Some excellent Zouave regimental histories exist if you're interested to reading more about such units.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

While not all on uniforms, you will find some interesting Zouave threads on this forum.

Search results for query: Zouave

civilwartalk.com

 

[iron bender]

Veteran Julian Scott painted a federal zouave in a greatcoat...
View attachment 481792

@RedRover, I've never seen this painting. Really interesting. Do we know what unit the subject represents? The two band rifle with sword bayonet is also of note. It's thought Bannerman came up with the 'Zouave' name for two banders with sword bayonet as a sales ploy. At least according to Flaydermans.

 

[Kurtlg]

It looks like a 2 banded Enfield based on the bayonet. Looks like the artist covered any distinguishing features and made him into a Zouave that could have been from several different regiments.

 

[Kurtlg]

The so-called Remington Zouave had a sword bayonet with a brass grip

 

[RedRover]

@RedRover, I've never seen this painting. Really interesting. Do we know what unit the subject represents? The two band rifle with sword bayonet is also of note. It's thought Bannerman came up with the 'Zouave' name for two banders with sword bayonet as a sales ploy. At least according to Flaydermans.

The painting, like many of Scott's works, is sort of general. I don't see that it attributed to any given zouave unit. Scott entitled the image "weary soldier."

Regarding 2-band rifles with sword bayonets (versus 3-banded, longer barrelled "rifle-muskets"):

Many US M1841 rifles were modified to fit sword bayonets. Remington provided ca. 5,000 of these in 1861, etc.
The US M1855 Rifles fitted sword bayonets, standard. So did imported British Enfield rifles, though as mentioned the handles to the British sword bayonets are not brass.

I recall Wallace's Indiana zouaves were initially provided the Enfield rifles, etc.

Regarding the "Zouave rifles" of Remington:

My understanding is that Remington contracted to make M55 rifles, with sword bayonets, but had to get an extension. the resulting rifles, over 7,000, were delivered in 1863, and had Collins made sword-bayonets.

At the close of '63 Remington made another contract, for more rifles with sword bayonets. These have since been called, for some unknown reason, "zouave rifles." Perhaps as you mention a surplus sales moniker, as most are considered to have been unissued during the war... Perhaps at one time it was incorrectly assumed all or only zouave units carried the rifles and sword bayonets.

Here's Corporal Francis Brownell of Ellsworth's 11th New York in '61:

However, not all zouave companies were equipped with rifle and sword bayonet; some were armed with rifle-muskets and socket bayonets, like this company of the 114th PA in 1864:

 

[Old Soldier]

From what I have learned, the zouves were dressed on their own regimental pattern of uniform, differing slightly between regiments in color and decoration. The greatcoat was the same issue coat like the rest of the army. Here is my version of a photo of Union 95th Pennsylvania Infantry (Gosline's Zouaves) near Centerville PA in early 1862. You can see just how the uniform was modified in the field:

Yes, it is my color. One of the problems of coloring these photos is the very dark 'red' - the emulsion on the plate did not respond well to it. The same applies to the French 'pantalon rouge' - you can never get close to the real color without over-coloring the original. Red piping is almost lost!
This is the drawing I took the color from:

 

[Kurtlg]

From what I have learned, the zouves were dressed on their own regimental pattern of uniform, differing slightly between regiments in color and decoration. The greatcoat was the same issue coat like the rest of the army. Here is my version of a photo of Union 95th Pennsylvania Infantry (Gosline's Zouaves) near Centerville PA in early 1862. You can see just how the uniform was modified in the field:
View attachment 481861

Yes, it is my color. One of the problems of coloring these photos is the very dark 'red' - the emulsion on the plate did not respond well to it. The same applies to the French 'pantalon rouge' - you can never get close to the real color without over-coloring the original. Red piping is almost lost!
This is the drawing I took the color from:
View attachment 481862

Nicely done !