The Civil War Bivouac with Loree Huebner - Zouaves!

I’ve had a few requests, so it’s time I do another Civil War Bivouac. In this edition of the Civil War Bivouac, I wish to introduce you to a dear friend who will be presenting a guest post today.

Skip Griffiths and Loree Huebner
Remembrance Day - Gettysburg, PA - On Little Round Top
With General Warren
Photo by Eric Huebner

I met David (Skip) Griffiths online over 10 years ago. Yes, this was back in the day when chat rooms were popular…but it wasn’t the “pick up” kind of chat room. We were part of a group of history hosts in a Civil War chat room for AOL’s infamous, Mason/Dixon Line Room. This chat room on AOL’s, Research and Learn, was dedicated to the history of the Civil War only. As hosts, we monitored conversations and debates, keeping the peace between the North and South. We also presented Civil War trivia twice a week to a large online audience, and hosted cyber round tables, as well as interviews with famous Civil War historians and authors. Skip was Host General GK Warren, and I was Host Hardtack.

After the chat room closed, Skip and I kept in touch through email. Eric and I finally met Skip and his lovely wife, Arlene, in person—in Gettysburg. We’ve been great friends since. The four of us have actually spent a few weekends together in Gettysburg, walking the battlefields and sharing the history.

Loree Huebner with Arlene and Skip Griffiths
O'Rorkes - Gettysburg, PA
Photo by Eric Huebner

When I met Skip, he was a re-enactor in the 5^th New York Duryee Zouaves—the very same regiment that the late, great, popular Civil War historian, Brian Pohanka was Captain. Skip was also president of the organization before Brian Pohanka passed away in 2005. Nowadays, when he isn’t organizing a reenactment, Skip is a Civil War historian, speaking and educating history fans on the Zouave. The Zouave units were notable for their bright colored uniforms and participation at Fort Donelson, Gaines Mill, Antietam, Gettysburg to name a few. I can already tell that we will have to call Skip back for a second guest post on the Zouaves sometime in the future…but for now, please welcome my friend and Civil War Historian/Zouave expert, Skip Griffiths. Take it away, Skip!

ZOUAVES

Thank you, Loree! Welcome everyone!

When I was a kid in school I discovered that my favorite subject was American History. I learned at the age of nine that my favorite period in time was the Civil War. When I became an adult, I learned the cold hard truth that my history teachers lied to me. They told me that the Union wore blue uniforms and the Confederacy wore gray. They never mentioned the soldiers who wore red, green or butternut. They also never mentioned that during the first Battle of Bull Run, so many different uniforms were worn that it became confusing and regiments on both sides fired at friendly regiments. Had these teachers, many I still call friends, told me the truth, I might have become obsessed with Zouaves earlier instead of later in my life.

What is a Zouave you might ask? I define a Zouave as a French infantry soldier that was originally composed of members of nomadic tribes of North Africa, who wore the baggy trousers, braided jackets and tasseled fez. They were well trained soldiers and fierce fighters who only succumbed to the overwhelming better weapons of the French. After France completed their foray into Africa, Louis Napoleon III, the emperor, created three corps of Zouaves in the French army. The best soldiers of those corps formed a fourth corps that became his Imperial Guard. They became the best trained soldiers in the world in the nineteenth century.

Skip Griffiths and Eric Huebner
Remembrance Day - Gettysburg, PA
Photo by Loree Huebner

How did they come to the United States? In 1854-1855 a war between France, Britain, and Russia broke out on the Crimean Peninsula. It was here that the Zouaves validated their reputation as the best soldiers in the world. In numerous charges with the bayonet they were able to secure key cities and positions to defeat the Russians. As with many wars in the nineteenth century, other countries sent observers to learn new tactics and discover new inventions. The United States was no different. They sent a young captain named George B. McClellan (later Major General of the Army of the Potomac during the CW), with others to watch. Captain McClellan thought that the Zouave “was the beau ideal of a soldier”. Although the War Department dismissed the Zouave as too expensive to outfit and train, the idea for Zouaves in the military did not end there.

Loree Huebner with Skip Griffiths
Remembrance Day - Gettysburg, PA
Photo by Eric Huebner

A young man from upstate New York had moved out to Illinois and taken a position of a law clerk in the law offices of Herndon and Lincoln. His name was Elmer E. Ellsworth. While in Chicago, Ellsworth had met a veteran Zouave of the Crimean War. He convinced the man to train him in the tactics and drill to become a Zouave. After months of training, Ellsworth formed his own militia unit, the U.S. Zouave Cadets. They became one of the best trained militias in the country. In 1860, Ellsworth took his militia around the country and competed in competitions of tactics and drill. The Zouaves never lost a competition, and when the Zouave Cadets left a city, a Zouave regiment was established. Captain Elmer E. Ellsworth had firmly established the Zouave into the American culture. When the Civil War started in April 1861, Ellsworth and many other men formed Zouave regiments. Unfortunately, for Ellsworth, he has the distinction of being the first officer killed when he shot retrieving a Confederate flag from the roof top of the Marshall House in Alexandria, Virginia. It happened that President Lincoln could see that flag being flown from the White House.

There were about 50 Zouave regiments formed throughout the American Civil War on both sides during the war. Many of the Northern Zouave regiments came from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. The southern Zouave came out of Louisiana, because of the heavy French influence. There were northern Zouave regiments present at Lee’s surrender of Appomattox. The Zouave ended in the United States after the Civil War, except for a band of Zouaves in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. In France, the Zouave lasted until the middle of World War.

Skip Griffiths is a Civil War Re-enactor, Civil War Historian and Speaker
He resides in New York State with his family
Photo courtesy of David (Skip) Griffiths private photo album 

Thank you Skip! Thanks for giving us a brief history of the Zouave—so fascinating!

Thanks for having me. It’s been a pleasure.

What do you think of the Zouave uniforms?

We would love to hear from you!

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree