zouaves

[MikeyB]

As the war progressed, were zouaves like "these uniforms are ridiculous, we make very bright and very visible targets" and did you see swapping out of garb into more traditional uniforms? Or did they remain a point of pride throughout the war?

mike

 

[Hussar Yeomanry]

It's not so much swapping out as wearing out and replacement uniforms when they finally arrived tended to be from more standard stocks. That being said many units do seem to have tried where possible to retain at least parts of their distinctive uniforms. Furthermore as to being 'we make very bright and visible targets' I must admit I find this an overused argument for at the very minimum the coat of union blue was not exactly camouflaged. Furthermore they are carrying many items that glint and make a lot of noise so it is not as if a 'standard' unit of infantry is that likely to go unnoticed (well, unless there is no wind and the choking smoke from so much black powder refuses to lift. Though in that case it wouldn't matter what anyone was wearing either - though for differing reasons.)

As a final point although commonly called Zouaves and dressed either on uniforms loosely based on the Zouaves or the Chasseur de Afrique they were almost never trained in the correct Zouave tactics (Instead their training was based on the various so called Zouave drill companies that toured the States in the years before the war).

 

[redbob]

There were probably over 200 units (North and South) that had "Zouave" in their titles which came as a surprise to me.

 

[Hussar Yeomanry]

There were probably over 200 units (North and South) that had "Zouave" in their titles which came as a surprise to me.

Albeit many (most?) of them short lived and formerly militia companies that were hastily amalglamated in to ninety day regiments that disappear when their enlistment is up. This appears especially to be the case in the north. Furthermore some (a few?) seem to have been (when possible) reuniformed to give their parent regiment a more uniform appearance...

Of course this was not always achieved and although I would have to look up which New England ninety day regiment it was I am always intrigued by how it went to war ten companies strong and only two of those companies were dressed alike.

Obviously as war progresses such 'eccentricities' as this tend to fade away.

 

[MikeyB]

It's not so much swapping out as wearing out and replacement uniforms when they finally arrived tended to be from more standard stocks. That being said many units do seem to have tried where possible to retain at least parts of their distinctive uniforms. Furthermore as to being 'we make very bright and visible targets' I must admit I find this an overused argument for at the very minimum the coat of union blue was not exactly camouflaged. Furthermore they are carrying many items that glint and make a lot of noise so it is not as if a 'standard' unit of infantry is that likely to go unnoticed (well, unless there is no wind and the choking smoke from so much black powder refuses to lift. Though in that case it wouldn't matter what anyone was wearing either - though for differing reasons.)

As a final point although commonly called Zouaves and dressed either on uniforms loosely based on the Zouaves or the Chasseur de Afrique they were almost never trained in the correct Zouave tactics (Instead their training was based on the various so called Zouave drill companies that toured the States in the years before the war).

Thanks for the post. What were "correct" Zouave tactics? Were they supposed to be more of light, mobile infantry? Used more as skirmishers?

 

[MikeyB]

It's not so much swapping out as wearing out and replacement uniforms when they finally arrived tended to be from more standard stocks. That being said many units do seem to have tried where possible to retain at least parts of their distinctive uniforms. Furthermore as to being 'we make very bright and visible targets' I must admit I find this an overused argument for at the very minimum the coat of union blue was not exactly camouflaged. Furthermore they are carrying many items that glint and make a lot of noise so it is not as if a 'standard' unit of infantry is that likely to go unnoticed (well, unless there is no wind and the choking smoke from so much black powder refuses to lift. Though in that case it wouldn't matter what anyone was wearing either - though for differing reasons.)

As a final point although commonly called Zouaves and dressed either on uniforms loosely based on the Zouaves or the Chasseur de Afrique they were almost never trained in the correct Zouave tactics (Instead their training was based on the various so called Zouave drill companies that toured the States in the years before the war).

I'm reminded of one of the bloopers from the epic film Zulu. The British defenders wore bright white helmets, whereas historically, they would have been dyed (later corrected in Zulu Dawn). I'm guessing because they presented a bright target. (Which also seems somewhat trivial considering the bright red uniforms)

At any rate, are there a lot of accounts of Civil War veterans dulling down their glinty items and plates?

 

[Hussar Yeomanry]

Thanks for the post. What were "correct" Zouave tactics? Were they supposed to be more of light, mobile infantry? Used more as skirmishers?

Effectively that is correct. However while I have a basic grasp of 'correct' Zouave drill I would not be the person to enlighten you on the specifics for fear of leading you astray.

I can state that almost entirely the 'American' Zouaves were simply supposed to be better trained and especially drilled versions of a regular soldier. Whether they were or not is another matter. Some do seem to have attained the elan that they were striving for. Others? Not so much.

As to dulling down items the only thing I can think of is blue blacking (possibly not the right term) gun barrels. This would not however have been something that the regular soldier usually had much say over. Oh and in some companies the use of rubber buttons for Berdan's Sharpshooters rather than brass.

However given the dust clouds generated by marching along dusty southern roads then the element of surprise may well be lost.

 

[AUG]

Zouaves were discussed in this thread not long ago: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/zouaves.148547/

As I said there, several regiments in the AoP - the 140th and 146th New York, and 91st and 155th Pennsylvania - were issued Zouave uniforms in 1863-64 in place of the standard Federal issue and wore them until the end of the war.

I don't recall any Zouave units that swapped out their uniforms for the reasons you mention. They usually wore them as long as they possibly could and viewed them with a sense of pride. It seems as though most of the Union Zouave regiments were able to keep themselves uniformed as such throughout the war. There were, however, few Confederate Zouave units larger than a company, and those such as Coppens' Battalion eventually wore out their original uniforms and could not acquire replacements for long, if at all. Same could be said for many of the C.S. Zouave companies.

 

[zburkett]

Don't I remember reading that Zouaves had something of a reputation of being rough brawlers when they weren't actually on campaign?

 

[major bill]

It would seem like Home Guard companies in the North and South could have continued to wear Zouave uniforms if they desired. I known some Northern Zouave companies did, but am less sure of Confederate Home Guard companies.