Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-08-20
THE zouAvEs.

THE zOUAvEs.
The Atlantic Monthly for August has
an article about the Zouayes, from which
we make the following extracts. These we're
originally native troops in French service
in Algeria. And they were FIRST organiz-
ed in 1881, by royal Decree After some
years the constitution of the force was
changed, and in 1S4l the regiment was
raised to three battalions of nine companies;
only one of the nine, however, could receive
natives, so that but three native companies
now existed, and few Algerianss were fonnd
even in these. The reason seems to have
been threefod; first the danger from mutt
ny; second, the evil arising from the mix
ture of the two races which had augment.
ed their vices without a corresponding inn
provement in their good qualities; third, 4
perhaps the most important of ell, the dis.
content very properly felt by the French
Zouaves, who were compelled to work at
the trenches, to dig, to plant, &C., while
Mussulmans utterly refused to take part in
this, to their mind, degrading toll Tho
Gordian knot was cut, and all difficulty
done away, by making this regiment, in eff
feet, exclusively European. Thus reorgan-
lied and reinforced, the regiment, on receiv-
ing the standard send in by the King, ina
mediately separated-one battalion march
ing for Oran, one for Constantine, while
the other remained at Bildah, in Algeria.
The article presents their history from
lS42 to the present time, and the charac-
teristics which rendered them so formidable.
In lS42 the natives disappeared finally
from their ranks; the best and bravest sol
diers in the African army eagerly sought
their places attracted by the uniform, the
manner of life, the constant danger and no
less constant excitement, the liberty allow.
ed, the glory ever open to all. As their
numbers were decimated by the continual
warfare, the ranks were immediately filed
by the descendants of those brave Gouls
who once said, "If the heavens fall what
care wei We will support them on the
points Of our lances |" In 1874 the Zou-
aves received large accession from Paris:
the gamins of the Revolution were sent to
them in great numbers; out of this unprom-
isin rebellious material some of the finest
OF these admirable troops have been made.
And now, when the entry into this regi.
ment was longed for by so maHy, as a spe-
cies of promotion, on the 18th of February.
1852, Louis Napoleon, then president Of
the Republic, decreed that three regiments
of Zouayes be formed, each on one of the
three battaons as q nucleus, taking the
number of the battalion as its own Thus
the first regiment was formed at Bildah. in
AlgicrsI the second at Oran, in Oran; the
third at Constantine, in the province of
Constantine Officers of the corps Of I'm
fantry were eligible to new regiments, hold.
ing the same grade, the men were to be
drawn from any infantry corps in the army,
on their own application if the Minister Of
War saw proper.
| None were accepted but men physically
aud morally in excellent condition; the Off
GERS had, for the most part. already served
with credit; the under-offieers and soldiers
had been many years in the service, and
even many corporals, aud not few ensigns
& lieutenants voluntarily relinquished their
positions to serve in the rank and file of
the new corps. Sc, occnped in pacifcat-
ing and securing the three provinces, tho
regiments lost nothing of their former re-
nown; obedient to ORDERS and fearless of
danger, it was no idle compliment paid
them by Louis Napoleon, when in the win
ter of 1884, be said, IF the war break
out, we must show our Zouaves 70 the Rus
slams" They were body trained in the
school Of terrible experience Of twenty.
four years; they had learned like the lion
hunter, Gerard, to take death by the name.
and look into his fiery eyes without blanch-
ing; they were fit for this service, which
demanded the best nerve Of the two most
powerful nations of the world. What they
did there is known to all; at the battle Of
the Alma, Marshal ST. Arnaud was unable
to repress his admiration, calling them the
bravest soldiers in the world
All Europe, at first wondering at these
strange troops, with their wild dress, their
half savage manners, and strange method
! of warfare, found speedy cause to admire
their courage and success. France was
proud Of their renown, and they became
immensely popular in Paris, sure proof cf
their remarkable qualities Their oddities,
their courage, their imperfect knowledge
Of the distinctions Of metm and funm. their
wondering. childIike simplicity, furnished
themes for endless songs and cazicaIufea.
the comedy Of LES Zouaves' met Will
great success, aud the cant name for thom.
"zouzou." is TO be heard at any time Id the
streets In 1855, the Fourth Zouavoa was
created, consisting Of but two baltallona.
aud enrolled M the Imperial Guard. ihsg
are distinguished from the others By wear.
ing white tuFban, while that of tie oth4r
reglments Is green; since the formation Of
this regiment no new corps hare bean aided
!. The peaec With knsEia 10 1855 W.a ocf
-. "a. 4.