Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-11
THE FIGHTING ZOUAvES.
Picturesque Attire Disappeared After
the First Years of the War.

Picturesque Attire Disappeared After
the First Years of the War.
From the Youths Companion
Perhaps the most famous body of SOL
diers of modern times has been the French
corps called the zouaves. This body of
daring and pieturesquely attired fighters
reached the height of it's reputation In the
Crimean war, in 1855, which was fought
between the Russians on one side and the
Turks, French, English and Italians on
the other. The zorave corps at that time
was supposed to consist of Frenchmen,
hut was really quite International. Many
daring young foreign adventures had join
ed it, and IL was known to include in its
ranks graduates of Oxford. Paris. Coffin
gen and many other universities. 1t Ia
probable that a majority CT it's members
were in it more for love of fighting than
for love of country.
Under such circumstances 1t Is not
strange that its fame as a fighting body
should have spread all over the world.
When the civil war broke out in the
United States several corps of zouaves,
who wore the glitterrng oriental uniform
OF the French corps. or a modification of
it, were formed on both sides of the con-
fiict.
Generally this uniform consisted of bag
BY red trousers, short blue-braided jacket,
CATERS and close-ftting cap with a sort
of tail hanging down behind the head.
One of the most famous of these small
corps OF zouaves was that commanded by
Elmer Ellsworth, a young New Yorker.
He was the first officer killed on the Union
side in the war, and for that reason his
name has lived as a popular hero. On the
confederate side the Louisiana Tigers"
Were famous corps of Zouave fighters.
As the war went on, and hard work, per-
siStent endurance, bravery in merely stand
ing up to be shot, and suppression of self
became the cardinal virtues of a soldier
rather than mere dash or picturesque
au6acity, the zouave uniform disappeared,
and the name. SO far as America was con-
cerned became almost forgotten.
In France. however, the Zouave name and
uniform still survive. Only lately the
French government has ordered home from
Algeria a single company from each of the
several Zouave battalions, to be stationed
In detached parts of France and used as
the neucie. of new zouave corps in case of
war with any foreign country.
The way in which the French military
men induce emulation among the diverse
corps of their army is illustrated by a his
tory OF the second Zouaves, a corps serving
in Africa. which was lately told in Paris.
During long and terrible march in AL
geria. under blistering SUI. this corps had
been following all day a battalion of famous
Harchers. the eighth chasseurs a pied, or
lonS-legged foot cavalry Both corps
were tired. hungry. faint and Inclined to
complain. The Zouayes averaged much
shorter and squattier men than the foot
chasseurs.
Toward evening the expedition arrived
lear town. The commandant of the
chasseurs halted them. and made a speech,
couched in slangy terms such as would
please the men, asking them if they wished
to make an entry into this town worthy of
tie best rlarchers in the army.
"Eesi'' the chasseurs answered.
So he reformed them in parade order and
with buSles blowing they marched into the
town. though every man was half dead, at
springing quickstep.
The Zouaves, who We're close behind, saw
this with il digTation. Their colonel halted
them. too, and made them a speech in
French which would translate in English
about follows:
Look at that. You rascals. Are you go
Ing to take the bit fl of a set of gawks like
those?'
Neyer!" the zouaves screamed
So their colonel had the roll sounded
These zouaves, like all others. nave a sort
of "gymnastic drill" in which they do a
great deal of running and some very &C
tive manipulation of their muskets. The
order for this drill was given.
So the zousves, who but a moment be-
fore had been ready to sink, entered the
town at i prancing run, swinging their
guns about Enthusiastically. And the chas-
seurs We're duly Inundated.