The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-21

&c was no fault Of the men. Battle records
are largely a matter of accident. Troops
fight where and when they are told, and it
does not fall to the lot of every body of sol
diers to be sent into the thick of the fray.
The Zouaves as a distinct class dropped
out of sight in the Union army before the
bloody period of the war was reached.
This was because their peculiar uniform
was discarded, and with this gone they be-
came simply soldiers like the rest, although
In most cases their Zouave designations
were adhered to as regimental synonyms.
But although the career Of the Zouaves
proper was short, a baggy trousered regt-
ment had the glory Of opening the regular
fighting Of the war, and the same regt-
ment had more men killed in a single bat
tie than any other organization Of the
same class during the war This was the
Fifth New York volunteers, Duryee's
Zouaves. At the battle of Big Bethel, Va,
June 10, 1861, which was the first engage
ment between regularly organized volun-
teer troops, the Fifth opened the ball by
advancing as skirmishers. Fitzpatrick CONF
manded one of the companies, and his men
got in the first shots.
The Confederates called Duryee's men
''red legged DEVILS" a name suggested by
the wild, bandit look given them by their
bright red trousers, their saber bayonets
and their revolvers conspicuous on the
front of their belts.
The Fifth was raised in one week after
President Lincoln's call for volunteers. It's
first year of service was passed in the re-
gion near where it received its baptism of
fire, the lower peninsula, around Fortress
Monroe. When the Army of the Potomac
arrived in front of Richmond in May, 1862,
the Zouaves were put in the division Of
regular troops commanded by Gen. Sykes.
Gen. O.. K. Warren, who was the first lieu
tenant colonel of the regiment, took COM
mand of the Fifth and Tenth New York
and fought them as a brigade side by side
with two brigades of the regular army.
The first battle in which the regular divi
sion took part was Gaines Mill, June %.
In this fight the odds were two to one
against the Union troops, and the regulars
were given the task of holding the right
wing. As the battle progressed the Con-
federates threw their weight upon this
wing, where the ground was occupied by a
thin line of infantry and some artillery. In
front of Warrtn's brigade there was a
wooded ravine about 400 yards distant, and
after maintaining two companies of
ZOuaves in the woods for some hours as
skirmishers, Warren withdrew them in
order to give the artillery free play upon
the enemy. The Confederates were adj
vancing in force to get possession of the
woods, and when the Zouave skirmishers
withdrew they followed them up by des-
perate charge against the main line. War
rem promptly ordered the Fifth to make
counter charge, which they did, driving
81 l. = Il. J. A l
of Confederates then charged from the
woods upon the Zouaves, but the gallant
fellows persisted and finally drove their as
sailants off. The triumph was short, how
ever, for the Confederate leaders hurled new
troops upon this poiut in desperate effort
to destroy Sykes line. That accomplished,
they could establish batteries on high
ground behind it and the victory was
theirs, for they could then shell the whole
field.
A second Confederate charge was made
from the woods. and the Zouaves met it as
before, repulsing the advance and forcing
their way up to the woods again. For the
second time their colors were advanced
across that open field up to the very edge
of the timber. The loss was appalling and
was not exceeded in the division that day.
except in one case, the Twelfth United
States regulars. Out of $50 men engaged,
the Fifth lost IS killed outright and 10
wounded. OF the wounded Is died subse-
quently. just before the last charge, when
the ranks of the Zouaves had become thin
ned out so as to destroy the alignment, the
regiment was paraded under CALLING fire,
the gaps were closed and the men counted
off anew, leaving out the fallen. The posi-
ton was held by Warren until supports
came up, and the enemy failed TO secure
the heights they were aiming for.