Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-08-05
TIE zoUAvES.

men trhfDeu IN AlgeIias n very lnteE-
esting history Of them Is given in the last
number of the Atlantic Monthly, from
which we select few particulars. The
idea Of the corps was derived from a body
Of troops called the Odjaek, composed of
Turks, by whose bravery and prowess
the Deys Of Algiers we're enabled to over
awe their Arab subjects and defy the fee
bic authority Of the Sultan, to whom they
owed sort Of allegiance. Upon the
overthrow Of the Deys and the commence
ment Of the conquest of Algeria by the
French, in 1880, the Odjacks offered their
services to the French commander, but
be declined the offer, and they left the
country. Learning afterwards the fear
which the Arabs had of the Odjaeks, the
French Marshal, Clausel, conceived the
plan of forming body of troops to per-
form like services, and to receive a Eame
ms significant. Consequently they were
called Zouaves, from the Arab tribe or
tribes Zuuaoua, who inhabit the gorges of
the Jurjura Mountains, and are brave,
fierce, laborious people. They had the
name of being the best soldiers in the re-
gency, and their name was therefore Civ
en- to the new force. To give il the char
acter Of French corps, the number OF
natives received into its ranks was limited,
and all its officers were Frenchmen.-
None we're received into its ranks but
volunteers, and of these there was an
abundance, so attractive to daring spirits
was the perilous service Of the corps.
Scarcely six weeks after their forma-
tion, the Zouaves were led to battle, and
were completely successful. Then, left
to hold frontier garrison, they for two
months, at the end of which time they
were recalled, showed proofs Of a valor
and patience most extraordinary. Left
alone on a frontier post, constantly in the
vicinity Of a savage foe, watching and
fighting night and day, leaving the gun
only to take up the spade, compelled to
create everything they needed, reduced to
the last extremities for food, cut off from
all communications-itw was a rough trial
for this little handful of new soldiers
But they were equal to the OCCASION
Subsequent battles reduced their num-
bers, and the growing hostility of the
Arabs rendering it difficult to recruit
from Arabs, the ranks of the Zouaves
were filed up almost wholly with French.
men, and in 1888 Of ten companies, only
two were formed mainly of native soldiers
the others were exclusively French.
Much Of the great success Of the Zou
ayes must be ascribed to Lamoriciere
who was FOR many years their Captain
and Colonel. He infused into them tn,
spirit, the activity, the boldness and im
petuosity which he himself so remarkably
possessed. To the course of discipline
used by him, and still maintained in thi:
arm Of service, are due their tremendou:
working power, their tirelessness, then
selfdependeuce, and all their qualities
differing from those of other soldiers
At one post which was assigned 4
them they were obliged 10 work most Ia
boriously, making for themselves what
ever was needed-whether as masons
ditchers, blacksmiths, carpenters or farm
ers. What time was not devoted to Ia
Dor was given to the practice Of arms ant
the acquisition of instruction in all de
partments Of military science; so tina
many a soldier was there fitted for tn
position he afterwards acquired, of officer
colonel, or general. To fence with tn,
mounted bayonet, to wrestle, to leap, t.
climb, to run for miles, to swim, to max
and to destroy temporary bridges, t
throw up earth--walls, to carry gres
weights, to do, in short, what Indians lear
to do, and much that they do not learn
these served as the relaxations of the ur
wearied Zouaves. To vary the monotc
ny of such life, there was enough adyer
ture TO be found for the seekiug-now a
incursion into the Sahel, or into the plain
Of Mitidja, or a wild foray through tn
northern gorges Of the Atlas. 1t was th
best practical school Tor ofncers ana sold
iers and many Of the best generals in tn
French army began their military caree
with the Zouaves.
From the year OF their formation til
the Crimean war the Zouaves maintaine
the reputation Of being the bravest corp
of the French forces in Algeria-sinc
then they have established claim to b
the flower Of the whole French army
In their constant encounters in Algeris
they were uniformly victorious althoug
success was Cftentimes purchased at grea
cost. During an expedition in 1887 the
were placed at the head of the first column
ofaitack and displayed the greatest valor