Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-07-18
For the Herald.
ZOUAVES. No. ?.

NV a ' + = NO 2
There are, among civilized nations at the
present day, two distl net systems OF military
instruction and disei dine the one destroys
the indi yiduality Of the solIler, and SEEKS 10
make him an easy M owing, efficient machine.
or rather, one OF the compon enr, well-f;ting
Piyots OF the great nj achine known as an ar
my the other nourI shes and develops that
individuality, cultivi ties the ,elt-reliance, in
teliigente and perso pal proves Of the SOL
der: at the same time losing bat little. if any.
of the general discipline necessary to the
movementsof Iarg bodies Of troops. Both
systems have their advantages. We have
an example Of the former in the heavy In
fantry Of Prussia End Austria, and / may
say England and Of the other in the rifles
ami Light infantry Of the French and Italian
armies-and more particularly the Zguaves,
which class Is fair representative sf the
latter system. For the last twenty years and
more there has been d gral4al, yet sure
change going on from one TO the o,her, n
which France has taken the lead.
Tie United States are following France
in this change the French tactics have been
substituted for the Pru,sian light infantry
and rifles have taken The place Of heavy in
fantry. whll- the o.d-ta,hionel cannon and
muskets are fast going out Of Use.
1t is now genera Iy az acknowledged that the
Fresch army, present. constituted ex-
GELS any other in Europe as skirmishers in
tie bayonet exerci ie. ard in a sudden, i'm
petuous, o.erwhell4 hing charge and in each
Of these particulars the Zouaves are said to
be superior to any Dther class Of the French
in tantry. 1t is obv ious. from the nature Of
the offensive oPeri tions now being carried
Oh against the Gov ernment OF our country.
that just thu class BIT soldiers. properly IN
structed ami well drilled. Is necessary to the
complete and quick success OF our arms
across the Potomac
Cavalry. in whid b our army Is some what /
is worse han useless agains mask
ed batteries, and id thickly wooded sections. |
1t is said by gooi Military authority, that at
least eigh, ,housa nd men well drilled as
skirmishers, should be at the head of Gen. !
AlcDowaII's colun n on lis advance towards /
Richmond. The Zouave makes the best
,kirmisher in the world though always a
good shot, he prefers to depend on his sabre |
Dayonet be IS tau ght TO take advantage of I
every favorable cit cumstance in the nature
Of the ground over which he passes. and in
his positi pm ; and he thus learns 10
ear the enemy's bullets but little, and their
artillery still less his movements unrestrain-
I'd by the tradition Of hundred years ago,
are as free, quick and graceful as those Of a
wildcat when seeking his prey. ln storming
. battery they are invinci0le.
The history Of 1he Zo1ave movement in
his country, up to within the last Two
months is coincideht with that of the chival-
-ous and plf-lamented Ellsworth, and
mus, OF course, familiar to all. His passage. /
'ne short year ago. through the country with
his hitherto unrivaled corps, reminds one OF
he coarily DAYS Of chivalry. But his sub
sequent career Prov.s that this was dyne for
no mere holiday show, but rather With the
ieep determination OF bencfting his country
by the example and instruction Of himself
and followers, each one Of whom has since
zone forth to instruct others in that drill
whose efficiency they learned At that time.
Ellsworth has eft US, hut not before he
bad filed the heats OF his thousand Iouayes
with that lofty en- husiasm and noble patriot
Sm which 50 eH inentiy characterized lis
own hero-heArt, a nd which, when the hour Of
battle comes, wilmer every arm, and give
ientold force to every blow. T.