, 1861-08-07
The DemoT11Izatton Of the n. Y. Fire
Z0NAVeHt
fCpr1eEpnudeuce Of the Cincinnati Gimme,

The Generalization OF the n. Y. Fire
XouAvess
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Commercial I
WASHINGTON, July 30, 1861.
= The current discrganization and lack Of dis
c1plne among the ranks Of the army, has been
tnrclb1y exhibited within day OF two, by an
absotnte revolt which broke out among the
Fire Zounyes OF New York. This formidable
corps OF fighters, having no longer any seces.
slcnists to: fight, have apparently turned their
vas slightly wounded at the battle Of Bul1
Run, and has sinee been lying at the hospital,
very ID, and at one time deranged. The Act.
ing Colonel does not appear to have been able
to enforce the slightest check to the universal
insubordination which has prevailed in the
regiment ever since its return from the wars
and indeed for some time before, "The Pets"
as the Zouaves are universally denominated.
have been ruined by Indulgence and exemp
hon from the rules imposed upon other regl-
ments II in the service. They have been "char
tered ibertines, Tree to come and 20 eyery-
where and when they pleased, neVer Keeping
RANKS even when on the march, but allowed
to scatter over the country in the enterprising
pursuit Of hen-roOsts and stray pfgs-together
with whatever "1oot" they could pick np. It
Wes the Fire louaVes, together with one other
new OK regiment, who were chiefly concern
ed IN disgraeing our army On its march
NoW the ZouaFes, although ostensibly and
by order encamped at Fort Ellsworth, some
miles from Washington on the other side Of
al hours Of the day and night, stirring M
rows" among themselves and members Of
other regiments, and making iaY aud night
hideous with their disorderly noise and riot.
An attempt to control this lawlessness has
Just ended N an open revolt, which was only
queued by ordering out another regiment and
iorcl5ly disarmiDg the contumacio1s Zouaves.
IWo or three times recently, squads Of them
have been caught in attempts 10 desert, and
York. 49,"
Indeed, 3 roW or mutiny seems now to be
an every day occurrence. Only this evening,
as was writing In the back room Of the
telegraph ohce, with the windows open upon
court yard communicating with the roof
OF the nelghtoring houses, there eprang sud
oenly INTO the room two soldiers, behaving
as = hotly pursued BY some N9,arior force,
and begging permission to conceal themselves.
Al the same moment, great crowd gathered
u ircnt OF the Office and moved past rapidly,
~itn half q dozen soldiers ges!iculating yio-
lenuy II the centre- The two fugitiTes who
INTO the telegraph office from the neighbor-
ing roofs, and one Of whom was coYariIy
enough to crouch under table, were ordered
70 take themselves of-and departed STEALTH
y I1e same way they came. a moment after,
anoeher crowd was formed in front of the oi.
nee, in which could be seen onr fugitive hero,
who lodged under the table, rho had been
caught IN attempting to make off, and was
borne away By the excited soldiery. II was
impossible to learn what it was all about-ax-
cept that it was a row " among the soldiers.
j., It is unpleasant to have to record so much
lhat is dlEgraceful and damaging to the good
name Of portion Of our army. I would NOT
he understood as implying that these Instances
q quarrel and drunkenness and inBubordina-
ton pervade the whole army; but there is
enough Of it to give bad name to our yolun-
teer soldiery, and it is high time the truth
Fere every where told, that public opinion
may enforce the application Of the remedy.
We are already forced reluctantly to the con
cluslon, that the great want of our country at
the present moment, is not more soldiery, but
better ones. # an exact and faithful record
we're pub1ished Of the scenes Of drunkenness
and disorder which q single day: Witnessed
here last week. the, pnblic would scarcely
credit the dreadful picture And all this Is
chaIgeah1e to the utter failure of incompetent
officers to enforce the plainest and most e.
sentta1 OF the army regulations in their vari-
Gus commands.