Western Confederate Zouaves

[riverratmess]

Does anyone have any information on any Western Confederate Zouaves? If so do you know where I can get one for an impression?

Thanks

Mark,

Spider senses tingling...

If you are serious about this question (and I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt on that), the Camp of Instruction forum is the place for such basic queries. I would also recommend you do a search before posting as this subject has likely been covered before.

I have deleted a couple posts on this thread to keep it on track and left the substantive posts. I'm going to check back on this thread and make sure there is no trolling.

If this thread remains on the subject of Confederate Zouave units in the western theater, great. If we get into flights of fancy, this thread will last about as long as a "Western Confederate Zouave."

Watching...

John Stillwagon, Forum Moderator

[markj]

Re: Western Confederate Zouaves

Hi,

I guess my question would be "Why would you like to do a Western CS Zouave impression, given that such units effectively disappeared after 1862?"

That being said, "Todd's Military Equipage," the "Brassey's" and "Men-at-Arms" series, as well as the following bibliography, for the 8th Louisiana "Louisiana Tigers" should get you started:

http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usamhi/Bibliographies/CivilWarUnitBibliographies/la_cs/inf/8inf.doc

Also look for information on the 1st Louisiana Special Battalion (aka "Wheat's Tigers"). However, such a unit would largely be a "specialty impression" since C. Roberdeau Wheat's boys were disbanded shortly after his death at Gaines Mill VA on 27 June 1862.

Good luck,

Mark Jaeger

[roundshot]

Re: Western Confederate Zouaves

Hold on here, guys.

At least 6 companies of the crack 13th Louisiana Infantry comanded by Randall Gibson were initially outfitted as Zouaves, they belonging to the the Battalion of Governor's Guards or Avegno Zouaves. They fought as such at Shiloh, and their conspicuous uniforms were mentioned in at least one Federal report. At Belmont, one Federal invoked his comrades to "come see the Louisiana wimmen" in their peculiar clothing which looked from a distance like dresses. This account is in the SHSP.

In addition, Dupiere's Battalion, also known as the 2nd Louisiana Zouaves, was mustered into Confederate service in April 1862. It was initially intended to send them to Virginia to augment Coppen's Zouave Battalion, but this never happened. They fought at Corinth and were attached to Waul's Texas during the Vicksburg campaign. They were later mounted and there was a great description of them on one of Lee White's old uniform boards describing them as wearing flowing red pantaloons and gray roundabout jackets even into 1863.

Confederate Zouaves were indeed around in the western theater and were more conspicuous than one might suppose. See Art Bergeron's "Guide to LA Confederate Military Units." for more info.

Bob Williams
Reilly's NC Battery

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Western Confederate Zouaves

Look here; http://www.geocities.com/zouavedatabase/




I would love to find out more about these guys;
Ellsworth Zouave Cadets - 1864 San Francisco Militia Company
Tittle Zouaves - 1864 San Francisco Militia Company
San Jose Zouaves - Santa Clara County Militia Company
Santa Clara Zouaves - Santa Clara County Militia Company

[Yellowhammer]

Re: Western Confederate Zouaves

I'd like to see a bit more meat on some of these bones...

There were lots of units that called themselves "zouaves" that never ever received a zouave or even quasi-zouave uniform. (Co. B of the 4th Alabama springs to mind.) Just because a unit calls itself "tigers" or "zouaves" often doesn't mean very much.

[SCTiger]

Re: Western Confederate Zouaves

Matt

See my thread on Primary vs. Secondary roles, see also the articles by Paul Calloway, especially this one:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1080

Good Luck

Gregory Deese