Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-08-05
The Zouaves.

The Zouayes.
The Zouaves, or Zouzous, as they call
nrc confessrdly the first infan-
try Of the world. Their deeds in the Cri-
mca and in Italy leave no doubt on this
point. Formed originally of the most des-
perate and reckless gamsae Of Paris, train
ed in Algeria to compete on foct with the
impetuous Arab on horseback. Injured 10
every hardship and piaciiced daily in GYM
nastic exercises, such as running. lcaping.
running on the hands and feet, fencing with
the bayonet-exciscs resembling more tht
feats of the athletes of the Olympian games
than the rigid drill of the modern soldier
lit not TO be wondered that the Znuaves
have performed miracles on every field of
battle where they have appeared and made
their name the synonym of all that is terri
bic and daring. With their shaven fore
heads, their long beard, their strange oaihs
borrowed from the Arabic, their complex
ions burnt by tropical suns, their wild, jo-
vial, devil-may-care temeanor, their lofty
esprit de corps which derides the existence
of fear or fatigue, they present the strange
spectacle Of semi-savges born and reared
in the very heart OF civilization. They
are indeed the children OF Bellona, the
goddess of war-itted to the performances
of bloody deeds, utterly unfit for the sober
duties of life. For this matchless body of
soldery, the right arm of her service,
France is indebted to the wars which at
tended the conquest of Algeria. 1t was
there that n system of tacticts unlike any
thing in civilized warfare was originated.
The French soldier was taught to creep on
his belly, to run like an antelope from hill
lock to hilock of sand, TO throw himself
fiat on his face behind the slight barriers
offerded by the uneven surface Of desert,
and in the moment of falling to FIRE on the
enemy that swept by like a simeon.
When the conquest of Algeria was CON-
pleied, there was returned to France q body
Of men which for efficiency, rapidity, en-
durancc, and reckless courage, had no equal
in ali the armies of Europe. These were
the Zouaves, with as yet only a preliminary
training. Conscious of their superiority,
they determined TO maintain it. Lest they
might lose the pliancy of limb and tough
ness of muscle acquired in Africa, they
made barrack life br SIX and bealthful BY
substituting in the place OF the formal dill
the gymnastic exercises already mentioned
They not only held their own, but added tt
their efficiency. To the arts OF skirm'sh
ing running. leaping, crawling-they add
ed the art of bayonet fencing, by which
they accomplished such wonders of late
when encountering, hand 10 hand, mcr
masscd in columns. Their bayonets are
made sharp as razors.
The art of boxing with the feel is pecul
lar 10 France, has been long practlcee
there, and in this also the Zouave has beel
instructed, so that in personal renconlre hi
first act is to parry the weapon OF his op
ponent, his second TO PROSTATE him by
kick in the breast, his third to stab him Il
!. dea h with the keen bayonet. All this i
the work of minute. Hence the state
ment made by correspondent of the Jour
nal des Debats affords little matter for sur
prise. lie says that "thc divisions Sill;
and Jellachich, counting not less than 20,
! 900 men, cavered by a deep canal, protect
ed by a hight, and defended by batter
which had been admirably placed, wer
completely overwhelmed by three batta
ions of Zouaves.'
1t is TO be feared that the glory Of III
British bayonet, so long the boast of III
: English people, is eclipsed. What is th
, mere momentum of a body of heavy MEL
compared to the impetuous rush. the incree
,, ible agility, the terrible skill, the fiery in
! trepidiiy of the Zouave athletes Whetl
! er there are any troops in the world wi
! could withstand their lightning like assaul
may we'll be doubted. The rifles that di
such murderoas havoc upon Pachenham
, divisions from behind The cotton bales {
: New Orleans, might check them by dea
, ing instant death upon two-thirds or foul
fitihs OF their number, but bayonet to bay
onet, the hardy and gallant Tennessear
:, and Keniuckians would go down befor
them. Their match is not in all The eartl