The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-08-07
EllswOrth's ZOuaves at BULBS
Run.

|
The following statement of the part born,
in the battle of Bulls Run by the Fire Zou
ayes, was furnished by Lieut. Knox of Com
pany A, in that Regiment Lieut., Knox wa
member of the famous Chicago Zouaves.-
When Col. Ellsworth took charge of the regi
ment in New York he summoned Knox t.
join him and gave him Lieutenancy. HI
says:
j The regiment was encamped on Saturday
night at place about mile this side oi
/ Centrevle At 2 o'clock on Sunday morn
ing, the men were aroused, and remained
under arms until o'clock, at which time
they started forward. There were $50 men
all told, with "Pony" Farnham at their
head. With cheers they moved briskly for.
ward through the woods, singing and laugh.
ing and eager for the fight: They. had
4 marched about fourteen miles, and were
within three miles Of the battle field, when
4 they heard the guns and saw the smoke
| from an eminence This excited the men
wonderfully, and at double quick step they
pressed on, with the intention ofjoining Col
Wilcox. who, with the Michigan regiment,
was a short way ahead. Hating at pool
of dirty water, they refreshed themselves,
and went on until they came to church
three quarters of a mile this side of the bat
tle-feld, where they left their overcoats and
haversacks. and having formed by COM
panies, again went on at double quick step.
As they passed bit of woods they were
fred at by some cavalry who were concealed
there, but stopping only to return the fire,
they moved on until they reached fair halt
ing ground. While there, the enemy sue
ceeded in taking from the United States
regulars battery which was stationed in
the woods at the right of the Zouaves, who
were at once impressed with the idea that
they had mission, and that mission was to
re-take those guns Whereupon with a
wild, wild yell, thee cheers and loud fierce
cry Of Remember Ellsworth" they dashed
across the intervening space, rushed in the
face OF a 'murderous discharge from the can
non on the hill, and with loud whoops and
hurrahs drove some away, killed the rest, oc-
cupied the position, and attempted to use
the guns The regulars did not return to
receive at their hands the re captured bat
tery, and it was useless in their hands
While in possession of this battery body
of infantry who were in the woods in their
right rear, fred with considerable effect seve-
raj volleys into their midst, and the Colonel
gave the order to leave the battery and dis
lodge the enemy. This they did effectually,
and compelled the rebels to fee from the
wrath behind. Unfortunately the Zouaves
were not aware of the state of affairs on the
other side Of the woods. and with hot haste,
and in considerable disorder: they rushed out
only to find themselves the target of another
body Of ofinfantry beyond, while the Black
Horse Cavalry were sc en- charging full upon
them. Things looked badly; when, fortu.
nately, the'infantry were engaged by anoth-
er regiment, thus giving the Zouaves time to
prepare for the charge from horsemen. They
formed hastily in line, kneeling, semi-kneel
ing and standing, tha-, Ellsworth fashion,
they might receive their enemies with sue.
cessive vollevs.
| On came the Iforse--a full regiment o!
f, brave men, splenlidlv mounted, and as
ready for mischief a. those on whom they
hoped to fall To an early discharge from
the cavalry the Zouaves made no response
although several of the men were killed, but
waited patiently until the enemy was almost
upon them, when, in quick succession, the
three ranks fired, cacnlEan doing his best
for the good cause The shock to the rebels
was great, but they rallied, behaving splen.
didly, and attempted renewal of the charge
for which the Black Horse Cavalry paid
most dearly They were completely shat
tered, broken up and swept away. Not
more than hundred Of them rode off, and
as they went their rebellious ears were sa
luted with Zone. two, three, four, Eve, six
seven, tigah, Zouave," and such "tiger re
peat' as one can only appreciate when he
has heard it. What happened after that, i
is hard to detail. Grape and canister were
poured in upon them thick and fast Dowr
on their faces till the shot past on fell every
man, and then "up and at 'em' till the mex
volley, was the cry Of them all. This con
tinued for q long time, during which squad
after squad was used up, man after man fel
dead, or receiving shot while on the grount
failed to rise at the next command Ther
4 came the order to re treat which slowly ant
gradually was obeyed. The regiment brok'
ranks some of the men walked slowly of;
others went into the woods and fought from
behind trees on their own hook; other
falling in with different regiments, joined
forces against the common enemy, and 9th
ers climbed the trees to gee ''what was up. ;
/ While in the woods the slaughter amongs,
the men was very great, and the cross fire t.
which they were exposed did them more
damage than all else, bside. The rctrea
was with them as with all tie regiments
not particularly an orderly one, but rather |
lfree and easy ret.ograde movement, which
If not stampede or route, was at least q
very unmilitaly movement. ~ +
| Gen. Pope has issued orders t. the peo
! pie along the line of the Hannibal & St. 10
r. r. requiring ,hem to guard il against dep