The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-14

The zouave corps at that time was
supposed to consist of Frenchmen, but
was really quite International Many
daring yOUng foreign adventures had
joined it. and it was known to include
in its ranks graduates of Oxford, Paris,
Gottengen and many other universities.
1t is probable that a majority of it's
members were in it more for love OF
fighting than for love of country.
Under such circumstances, it is not
strange that it's fame as a fighting
body should have spread all over the
word. says a writer in the Youths
Companion. When the civil war broke
out in the United States, several corps
of zouaves, who wore the glitterlnS
oriental uniform of the French corps,
CT a modification of it, were formed
on both sides of the conflict.
Generally this uniform consisted OF
baggy red trousers, short blue braided
jacket. CATERS and close fitting cap,
with a sort CT a tail hanging down
behind the head.
One of the most famous of these
small corps of zouaves was that COM
manded by Elmer Ellsworth, young
New Yorker. He was the first ofIicer
killed on the Union side IN the war,
and for that reason his name has lived
as q popular hero. On the confederate
side the Louisiana Tigers" were ia
nous corps of zouave fighters
AS the war went on and hard work
persistent endurance, bravery in merely
standing UP to be shot, and suppression
of self became the cardinal virtues OF
q soldier. rather more than mere
dash" or picturesque audacity, 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 ordereo
home from Algeria q company from
each of the several zouave battalllons
to be stationed in the detached parts
| of France and used as the nucleus OF
new zouave corps in case of war witt
any foreign country
| The way in which the French mill
tary men induce emulation among the
| divers corps of their army is illustrated
| by history of the Second zouaves,
| corps serving in Africa, which was late
| ly told in Paris.
During a long and terrible march il
| Algeria, under a blistering sun, thi:
| corps had been following al day a bat
talon of famous marchers, the Eight
Chaseurs a pied, or long-legged foo
| cavalry. Both corps were tired. nun
cry, faint and inclined to complain
The zouaves averaged much shortei
and suuattier than the foot chasseurs
Toward evening the expedition ar
| rived near a town. The commandment O.
the chasseurs halted them, and made
speech couched in slangy terms sucf
as would please the men. asking then
NJ they wished to make an entry int
this town worthy of the best marcher'
in the army.
Yes" the chasseurs answered.
So he formed them in parade order
and, with bugles blowing they marched
into the town, though every man wa
half dead at a surprising quickstep.
The zouaves, who were close behind
saw this with indignation. Their colo
mel halted them too. and made then
a speech in French which would trans
late in English about as follows;
Look at that. you rascals. Are yo'
going to take the bluff of a set o
gawks like those?"
s'Neverr' the zouaNes screamed.
So their colonel had the roll sounded
These zouaves, like all others, have
sort Of "gymnastic'' drill, in which the.
do a great deal of running and som
very active manipulation of their mus
kets. The order for this drill was given
So the zouaves, who but a momen
before had been ready to sink, entere
the town at a. prancing run, swinging
their guns about fantastically. An
the chasseurs were duly Inundated