The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-07-19
Rirtmon1 Qispatfh,
MORNING. JULY 10. 1860
THE CHICAGO ZOUAyES.

A military art that can create an excitement (
in New York by the novelty or excellence OF
its drill, cannot fail to interest, by its move
ments, the volunteers everywhere. The Chi
cago Zouayes are coming as far South as
Washington. and will there be the guests OF
the Light Infantry. They drilled in Madison
Square. at New York, Monday, and the per-
formance was witnessed by nearly 10000 per-
sons The Tribune, in a description OF it,
| says;
All the houses overlooking the square were
occupied by men ard fair women, and several
hundred sought the roofs for sweeping vision.
The evolutions OF the Zonaves began at once,
and were con tinued, Wi tn an intermisson, tor
about two hours. The manuel of arms was
executed on the main road of the so uare and
here also were made the majority OF the COM
pany movements. The oblique movements in
company, covered the entire northern section
of space, ard the skfrmishing with which the
exhibition ended, WAS confined to no particu-
lar point, but led the men all over the ground.
Defiiing up the grand avenue, the Company
formed i'll position, each movement, acc ON
piished as If by the touch of a handspring,
filing the audience with astonishment and
manipulated their arms in every prescri bed
way. The mimic loading of the guns was as
melhodicai and sympathetic as that OF conf
mon troops Is irregular. The ramrods rose
and fell with metallic rhythm, and the atti-
tude assumed when they had been restored to
tHttT places WAS as as any OF Oil
the beautiful postnres of the Zouaves. The
weapons seemed inspired with the same grace
which animated the soldiers limbs, and never
disturbed each others symmetry. The inter-
mlttent shouider-fring was illustrated with
exquisite precision. the attachment of the
bayonets was almost as exact, and each COM
mand was fulfilled before it had fairly left the
lips of Colonel Ellsworth. The successive
evolutions were hailed with enthusiasm by
the crowd, whose plaudits broke along the
line as at race-course. The oblque move
ments In company are exceedingly difficult
demanding unerring exactness OF step and the
utmost agility. They were accom- piished with
entire success. While tney were in groeress
the threats of the sultry clouds, which had
been totally dlSregarded BY the Assem- blage for
nearly an hour, were violently fulfilled. The
first big drops brought panic to the people,
and softened the resolution of the guard,
whose vigilance was instantly relaxed in u
moment the square was filled With flying
squadrons, with whom the Zouaves, who had
not in the least degree slackened their PAGES
became unfavorabiy implicated.
A tornado or respectable magnitude added
TO the confusion; the dust whirled along the
paths and enveloped the soldiers; large branch
es OF trees were borne 10 the ground, one with
a goodiy human fruitage; and the excIama-
tions of defenceless females blended with the
infiexible orders of the Colonel and his Lieu
tenants. With their fayorite foe, the public,
charging full upon them, there Was a fine
chance tor Il display of the M uuicipal Zouayes
and by series OF we'll directed movements
the police succeeded, with the timely assist
ance of the now heavy rain, in regaining lost
groun and COMPRISING the multitude with
in the limits assigned them.
The I0uaves suspended drill when the torn
became furious, and covered themselves with
their great red blankets; thus shielded. GU
riously resent bling Il lost tribe of Indians
Injured to all sorts of exposure and fatigue, il
was not to be expected that summer shower
would give the gallant fellows serious discom-
fort, and they awaited the end with aim hearts
under the trees, responding TO the final sum-
moss, Fall in line!'' with cheerful alacrity
and going through the skirmishes that closed
the drill with an ardor that the con tents OF
many clouds could not have dam pened. These
evolutions were for the general observe r most
attractive and extraordinary of all NO pro-
tessional agiilst could surpass the prompt
ness, precision and hardihood of the advance
ano retreat. The prone movement elected
shout of admiration from the spectators and
the pyramldal movement the same. Mary of
The wonderful gymnastic exploits are still
held In reserve; the exhibition closed before
The heaVy exercise had begun. A large crowd,
unterrified by the storm, cheerei the corps as
they filed away, with music, from the square
into Broadway, bearing other marks of
their exertion than those which the rain and
moist soil had attached to their garments
Several invitations from citiZenSAaye reached
the commanding officer of the Cadets to drill
the corps in some public building, as the Aca-
deny of Music.
The Courier deS Etats Unis, French paper.
criticising this company, says:
These Zouaves are, however, three quarters
contraband. Their uniform has nothing or
rather very little, of the uniform OF the
French corps whose name they have adopted
We made Il pretty close inspection of them
while they were drilling in front of the CITY
Hail. and we looked IN vain for the leggngs OF
the Zouave; his puffy trowsers, that res upon
the calf of his leg his grdie, his vest, his
Jsz or turban his heavy, imposing nous
tache The sixty-six militia men who arrived
on Saturday can take whatever name it pleases
them TO ume, but a ZoK-ZO1 of France will
be unable to recognize in any OF them the copy
OF which he (the Z0R-Z0n, is the glorious and
brilliant original. They wore, on Saturday, d
sort of scarlet led kept with black border, d
blue Waistcoat mixed with orange color and
MORE an tique facIngs, a vest of dark blue hol-
lowed out like that of the Zouaves, with red
and orange ornaments anG bslt-bnttonS, and
scarlet pan falcons which fall down to the an
kle, nol pulled at all, but wrinkled a little at
the bottom, with small puffs like those of the
French Chassenrs-a pair of ordinary CATERS
completes this uniform, which in itself is
handsome enough, but which is not that of the
Zouayes.