Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-07-20

THE CHICAGO ZOUAvES
Drill Of the Zouaves at Madison sauar

Drill Of the Zouaves at Madison Square
The New York Tribune gives the following
account Of the drill Of the Zouaves at Madison
Square on Monday afternoon
The music Of the band which ACCOMPANIED
the Cadets was heard about u o'clock and the
corps presently entered the Square at the
Iwenty-fourth street gate, two abreast, and
marched TO the central avenue. At this mo-
ment there was an array Of spectators which
such an occasion, with such slight and unde-
cided notice, could command in no other Amer
iean city. The number Of those surrounding
ne field in the outer path were variousIy es-
timated from ten to twenty thousand; they
were certainly within the latter figure. The
windows Of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and of all
the houses overlooking the Square, were occu-
pied oy men and fair women, and several hun
dred sought the roofs for a sweeping vision
The eyOlutions Of the Zouaves began at once,
and were continued, with an intermission, for
about two hours. The manual of arms was ex-
ecUted on the main road Of the Square, and
here also were made the majority Of the com
pany movements. The oblique movements, in
company, covered the entire northern section
of space, and the skirmishing, with which the
exhibition ended, was confined to no particu-
lar point, but led the men all over the ground
De6ling up the grand avenue, the company
formed in position, each movement accom-
plished as If by the touch of a main spring,
filling the audience with astOnishment, and
manipulated their arms in every prescribed
way. The mimic loading Of the guns was IS
methOdical and sympathetic as that of common
troops is irregular. The ramrods rose and fell
with metallic rhythm, and the attitude as
Sumed when they had been restored to their
places was as picturesque as any of all the
beautiful pOstures of the Zouaves The weap-
ons seemed inspired with the same grace which
animated the soldiers limbs, and never dis
turbed each others symmetry. The intermit-
tent shoulder-fring was illustrated with ex-
quisite precision, the attachment of the bayo-
nets was almost as exact, and each command
was fulfilled before it had fairly left the lips of
Col Ellsworth. The successive eyolutions were
hailed with enthusiasm by the crowd, whose
plaudits broke along the line as at a race
course. The oolique movements in company
are exceedingly difficult, demanding unerring
eXactness Of step and the utmost agility. They
were accomplished with entire success While
they were in progress, the threats of the sultry
clouds, which had been totally disregarded by
the assemblage for nearly an hour, were yio
lently fulfilled. The first big drops brought
panic to the people, and softened the resolu-
tion Of the guard, whose vigilance was in
stantly relaxed; in a moment the square was
filled with flying squadrons, with whom the
ZOuaves, who had not in the least degree
slsckened their PAGES, became unfavorably
Implicated.
A tornado Of respectable magnitude added
10 the confusion; the dust whirled along the
paths and envelOped the soldiers, large bran
ches Of trees were borne to the ground, one
with goodly human fruitage; and the excla-
nations of defenseless females blended with
the inhexible orders Of the colonel and his
lieutenants, With their favorite foe, the pub
lie. charging full upon them, there was a fine
chance for display of the municipal Zouayes,
and by a series of well directed movements
the police succeeded, with the timely appear
nf fha rnu haa raIn ofnfr Lat
ground, and COMPRISING the multitude within
the limits assigned them.
The ZOuayes suspended drill when the storm
became furious, and covered themselves with
their great red blankets; thus shielded, Gu
riOusly resembling q lost tribe Of Indians.
Injured to all sorts Of exposure and fatigue, ii
was not to be expected that a summer shower
would give the gallant fellows serious discom-
fort, and they awaited the end with calm
hearts under the trees, responding to the final
summons iFall in line," with cheerful alac-
rity, and going through the skirmishes that
closed the drill with an ardOr that the contents
of many clouds could not have dampened.
These eyolutions were, for the general observer,
most attractive and extraordinary Of all. No
professional agilist could surpass the prompt
ness, precision, and hardihoOd of the advance
and retreat. The prone movement ELECTED a
shout Of admiration from the spectators, and
the pyramidal movement the same. Many of
y
in reserve; the exhibition closed before the
heavy exercise had begun. A large crowd,
unterrifed by the storm, cheered the corps as
they fled away, with music, from the square
into Broadway, bearing no other marks of their
exertiOn than those which the rain and moist
soil had attached to their garments
Several invitations from citizens have reached
the commanding officer of the Cadets to drill
the corps in some public building, as the
Academy Of Music. 1t is urged by these cor
respondents that the theater would afford a
fine stage for their peculiar display, and that
the sum realized from the sale of tickets would
be a valuable addition to the not overfowing
exchequer of the company, while it would be
cheerfully disbursed by hundreds of people
for the perfect qualification of their interest in
the Zouayes. 1t is the desire Of those having
charge of the affairs of the corps to avoid IA
display that would SAVIOR of speculation. Their
resources are ample for their contemplated
tour. Yet, at the solicitation in suitable form
of respectable citizens, they are willing to ap-
pear at the Academy Of Music. They will
however, take no steps in the matter.