Zouaves: The Civil War in Four Minutes

[@Orpilorp]

My great grandfather was in the 5th NY zouaves regiment known as the Duryee's Zouaves. I am researching my family history and found this to be amazing news.

[@kentdunne1320]

Mug 2 great grandfather's were also there. wow, to find one rlse!

[@SuperMrHiggins]

Had family serving under sherman. Can't remember off hand the specifics vis a vis regiment # n whatnot. Sadly he wasn't part of a zouaves regiment. They proved we can beat abhorrent ideas AND look great doing it. Hands down the coolest military uniform ever.

[@SuperMrHiggins]

Prreciate your ancestors service.

[@alteredfrost6577]

One of my distant family members was in the confederate states Zouaves battalion Louisiana but I also have about 100 different family members on both sides about 50-50 a lot of them fought for the Maine units but because of my French lineage, our families separated down to New Orleans in the late 1700s just off of my last name alone 30 union soldiers 38 confederates thankfully I know that they all can only be tied to one guy in Quebec so they’re all related he had over 100 grandchildren

[@garyjd1166]

Great job Mr. Taub. I don't think a more brief explanation of what zouaves were can be given.

[@nora22000]

Beautiful. Romantic. Outstanding presentation!

[@ejdotw]

Awesome - thanks so much for this. My great grandfather x3 was the Chaplain for the 62nd NY Volunteers, Anderson's Zouaves

[@joelpodlaski9639]

this is great loves the style of the zouaves thanks for uploading

[@CorsetGrace]

I've always wondered what Zouaves were and what those uniforms were all about. Thank you for this.

[@capnbobretired]

I remember reading about Zouaves, but I never quite understood their popularity. Thanks for clarifying.

[@keeperofthedomus7654]

In the 1860s there were also Papal Zouaves who defended the Pope against Victor Emmanuel's unification of Italy. They were recruited from all over, including more than 100 Canadians and 14 Americans.

[@Tanakun09]

Very well done. Thanks for the info on this unit and its history.

[@leokim1458]

"...the french army was the elite army of the 19th century..." In the portuguese language, the sniper are known as franco-atirador (francoatirador) for elite shooter while the literal translation would mean french-shooter. It solves a long lasting question that I had since I was a kid: Why do we have "french" for "elite"?

[@MyYTchannel.thenationalrazor]

Nope, we have the same in Italian and it’s a reference not to French but “free” or independent sharp shooter. Take the female ending lingua franca, is not a reference to French but free language or in common use. Take the word for stamp in Italian “francobollo” literally free-stamp in other words, duty free.

[@haroldharwell7078]

Good report, young man...

[@RogerinKC]

That was a great tutorial!

[@iamfiredog8866]

You guys should do a video about the 1st and 2nd U.S Sharpshooters

[@voiceofreason2674]

Studying the louisiana 1st zouaves I was always off put by the title of light infantry. seems like they get mentioned a lot when a bayonet charge goes down

[@FloydofOz]

Thank you for sharing this (and all the videos in this series). I'd really like to see more videos about the uniforms. I'd like to hear about how they dealt with the heat of the mid-Atlantic region while wearing (wool?) coats and pants. I'd have to either pass out or ditch the coat in the heat and humidity of Gettysburg in July. I've never been able to understand how they dealt with that.

[@EliteCannonFodder]

FloydofOz it was easier for them as they had not air conditioning. So they were used to the heat

[@ElBandito]

Wool absorbs sweat very well.

[@ElBandito]

@Ma Ma Well, that naturally comes with the business of war.

[@Zikekiel]

This maybe a silly question, but were there brigades made up of just Zouaves regiments, or were they mixed in with normal infantry regiments?

[@ricardofranco9946]

Los regimientos de Zuavos eran unidades de élite, que operaban prácticamente en forma independiente, soldados sumamente crueles especialistas en la lucha como guerrilla cuerpo a cuerpo con cuchillo y sable, eran tan independientes que se les permitían usos y costumbres como usar pieles de Leon y leopardo sobre la chaqueta y mochila del uniforme, pieles que hablan de su valor, porque el leopardo era cazado y muerto a mano solo con el cuchillo, y utilizaban el cabello generalmente rubio en trensas que les llegaba a la mitad de la espalda y confiaban en su fuerza y valor al grado de traer las medallas sobre la chaqueta de combate seguros de que nadie se las arrebataría. Pero el Ejército Mexicano regular los destrozó literalmente en el cerro de las cruces en Puebla al ser combatidos por el batallón Oaxaca al mando del general Porfirio Diaz Mori el 5 de mayo de 1862

[@petersamuels9392]

Very informative.

[@12thhorseman]

The top of those red pants made a great aim point.

[@cielopachirisu929]

Hence why the French suffered so badly early in WW1.

[@CraftsmanOfAwsomenes]

Because it was so hard to find a target in line warfare, amirite.

[@trudysutters9427]

Read the book "Henry and Clara" by Thomas Mallon. Wondered what "Zouaves" were- great video to explain.

[@ertramontana]

It's hard for people to think that the French army was one of the best in the world? Uh? For non-European people that don't study European History maybe..

[@kermousTV]

Daniele Troilo They were Algerians not French ! zouves = zwawa = kabylian

[@kermousTV]

Daniele Troilo They were Algerians not French ! zouves = zwawa = kabylian

[@ertramontana]

Yes, the were originally Algerians from Algeria but, later on, the uniform, name, skirmishing style of deployment and fighting style were adopted by the French (and not only French) army. BTW, my comment was more aimed at the fact that in this tutorial the speaker said: "It's hard for people to think that the French army was one of the best in the world" which is hilarious.

[@kermousTV]

Daniele Troilo Yes I agree

[@kermousTV]

Daniele Troilo I am algerian from kabylia and i lives in France I knew what's French army !!

[@augustulus1277]

19th century army uniform is super drippy, no joke.

[@bob71879]

Zouaves is a tribe from Algeria ...the real name is zouawawa....french use them to help them to occupy Algeria ....they always put them in the front lines . They also use them against Russian , also in Asia.

[@kacizoubir7920]

Bob England it's a tribes Union and as someone from these area I can confirm that what you said is accurate , just to add some information , Algeria did not exist at that time it was north Africa occupied by ottoman empire and the zouaves were not happy paying bills to the ottoman every time so they made a deal somehow with the french army you came in I will help you get your lands i get my land everyone is happy but things of course went wrong with time ...

[@miracleyang3048]

They were from that tribe when they served the Ottomans before the French invasion, During the invasion they were mixed with Arabs, Berbers, actual Zouaoua and anybody willing to serve the French and by the time of the Crimean war they were mainly European, local Algerian were transferred to other units like the Tirailleurs

[@didenchaoui9967]

@@kacizoubir7920 beyn maroki

[@knightingalesaid]

That is very interesting. I know the name from the 1863 Zouave musket. They were contracted out by Remington.It appears that the Zouave 1863 muskets were not used in the Civil War. 12,000+ were made and put in storage until after the war. There is no documentation on them being used in the Civil War. They would be calles the Harper Ferry Patterson rifle. Do you have any idea why those rifles would be called Zouave?

[@diablog1621]

I know this is a two year old comment, but it is believed that was marketing stunt to make the rifle appear more "fancy" and "elite", hope this helps!

[@matthewcaughey8898]

I was under the impression that due to supply chains being what they were and attrition that the Zouave uniforms were in the direction of being phased out as the standard Union infantry uniforms were being mass produced and issued. I also thought that despite the loss of the uniforms the style of fighting continued. ( Zouave units unusual style of combat did probably contribute to a higher survival rate then other civil war units )

[@jasonscottjenkins]

First time I can remember hearing about this.

[@Gemoct]

THANKS THANKS THANKS!!

[@SarisTX]

If you would like another video on zouaves, check out mine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJ3bipytjNGMj7c

[@emmettadams1191]

Badasses

[@MyYTchannel.thenationalrazor]

You didn’t show your uniform! 😣

[@SuperMrHiggins]

There were about 70 regiments of union zouave soldiers. There were about 25 companies of confederate zouave soldiers. That's the difference between tens upon thousands upon tens of thousands and perhaps a thousand or two. The Zouave uniform is a union uniform.

[@steelpanther88]

I wonder if the baggy zouave trousers were also more comfortable? I dunno

[@killer3000ad]

In summer temperatures, i can see them working better.

[@l.b.7543]

I only saw Zouaves depicted in one civil war film… I thought to myself- what the heck is that?

[@ilyesaburym2502]

Actually, the Zouave corps predates the French colonial war of conquest which started in 1830. It was a military corps in charge of the protection of head Algerian state, the Dey, who was in fear of his army's misbehavior. They were about 3000 soldiers recruited from a Berber tribe or clan named Zwawa in the Djurdjura mountains east of Algiers. When the French invaded Algeria in 1830 - for not wanting to pay the enormous debt owed to the Algerian government - and following the battle of Staoueli on the 5th July of 1830, Algiers fell into French hands. Subsequently, the French army incorporated the Zouave corps into their military infrastructure. Because of their knowledge of the land, the Zouave will lead all French military assaults against Algerian cities and other targets and their compatriots who were resisting French aggression led mainly by the Emir Abdelkader for 17 years. For this reason their name lives in INFAMY and it is today a synonym for TREASON. A Zouave is synonym of traitor in Algeria.

[@annemadison7258]

@D Anemon Algergia did exist at this time under the name Regency of Algeria. The Regency of Algeria lasted from 1516 to 1830.

[@annemadison7258]

@D Anemon It was also referred to as Ottoman Algeria in Europe

[@FirstLast-di5sr]

It doesn't look weird to me I've always liked that uniform style, but then again I'm also fond of the Serapis Flag 🤪😁🤗 Union 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@556suppressor]

I want a Zouave .58 cal. black powder rifle.

[@timothygalvin3021]

I can't think of anything I'd less like to do on a civil war battlefield then stick out. I'd rather not turn myself into target practice.

[@jmitterii2]

Well, didn't matter, they generally lined up in battle line formation anyways... they all stuck out like a soar thumb. Actually, maybe beneficial. Was many times in the civil war due to basic uniforms being nearly identical and smoke on the field, it was often that friendly fire took place, was difficult in distinguishing friend from foe. And sometimes they would think a friendly line was advancing when it was the enemy. Not the same type of warfare of the WWI and beyond. And there were hidden unit sharp shooters in this time period like the Austrian air riflemen. Such units were considered dishonorable and would not be taken for prisoner, if captured they were hung. Not the same type of warfare.

[@prechabahnglai103]

On the otherhand, being easily spot and identifly mean your friend won't shoot you in the confusion and smoke of the black powder.

[@CraftsmanOfAwsomenes]

It's during the days of line warfare dude. No one aside from maybe the odd skirmisher is even trying to hide. The point is to route the enemy, not to just kill em all. The goal is to break their morale until they route.

[@cv4809]

@@CraftsmanOfAwsomenes but the zouaves were skirmishers

[@pedrokantor3997]

@@CraftsmanOfAwsomenes It was outdated tactics for that time though. That line infantry nonsense only works with muskets, but with rifles, it's just a bad idea.

[@ianblake815]

Were there any North African troops in our Civil War? That would be dope.

[@-----REDACTED-----]

BTW compare Zouave with suave 😉

[@tery8235]

My email has been zoaves10 for Rhode Island since 1996!!

[@jfontanez1838]

Flashy lol yea right look like Santa hats

[@ahmedmezroua3929]

the zouaves was an algerian militia on the ottoman empire after the frensh occupation they keep this militia

[@luxhistoriae1172]

The zouave as the elite force have been know during the 2nd French empire, and the zouave was made only from European and jew from North Africa, and Algeria wasn't existing at this Era

[@pedrokantor3997]

That doesn't explain what they actually do in battle though. Are they more than just people with fancy pants?

[@numbers4851]

They probably functioned as light infantry

[@ricardofranco9946]

The ZUAVOS are the special forces or green beret of the French army, in times when a tall men was about 165cms, to be accepted in the ZUAVO agrupation, must have a minimum height of 180cms, this man fight and learn the cruelty of the psicological war in Sudan, Egypt, Argel and are extraordinary to create terror on the enemy's, the error was put them in the army of the union into formal lines of batteries, their function wasn't that the guerilla was their speciality. The real distinction uniform was the mameluco trousers of red drill and white polaines, they use leopard and lion real leathers over the shoulders, and their medals in the chest of the uniform, use the hair regularly blonde in braids, as a symbol of being a not regular troops and an another reminiscing of their Arabic/African origins, and a symbol of belong to this elite forces the lion and leopard leather are obtained killing the animal...by hand. Experts in the knife and sable combat hand to hand, fearless, and repeat absolutely cruelty. But...the Mexican army at the command of General Porfirio Diaz, with the Oaxaca batallón, defeat them in Puebla in the battle of 5 of may 1862. In that battle they learn nobody can defeat the Mexican army at the command of a brave not corrupt General like Porfirio Diaz and Ignacio Zaragoza. After that battle the ZUAVO agrupation never be the same again, their commander begging general Zaragoza his intervention to recover the medals of the death ZUAVO, but the Mexican soldiers refuse too return it because are the consecutive action of won the battle and a compensation of the way in that the ZUAVO was raped and killed many, many innocent victims. The final inform of the battle said: "...THE ARMS OF THE MEXICO ARMS WAS COVERED TODAY WITH GLORY" with that battle the French army began their final defeat and at the end return to France completely destroyed

[@cavscout888]

American-French Boxer-Gypsies??

[@stephaniesnape6787]

I love these Battlefield Trust videos. They are exceptional. But I am puzzled why 99 % of them are presented by white males. Wasn’t 10% of the union army black? And weren’t women involved and impacted in a multitude of ways?

[@pauls064]

Rico…. Zuave…

[@wilhelmfriedrichi3865]

And then Prussia regains it's dominance in 1870

[@totallynotalpharius2283]

If I die I shall die well dressed

[@GrandMasterAbe]

That voice

[@rtk3543]

The French wore pretty uniforms but they got stuffed by the Prussians.

[@slantsix6344]

The Confederates were more camouflaged in the gray.

[@Jabberwockybird]

There were zouave units on both sides.

[@ezzouaouia.r1127]

Are americans still grateful ?

[@kfosile7914]

The zouave are berber algerian East of algeria place call kabyle they been fighting with French army against algerian from 1830 most of theme are not Muslim French army eus theme as a slave to fight Russian

[@عبدالرحمانابننافع]

The zouaves mercenary Algerian berber traitor help the French troopers to colonize Algeria in 1830 ...

[@HemlockRidge]

I dispute that the French Army was "the elite of Europe" in the 19th Century. Napoleon was finished in 1814. After that it was either the British or the Prussians. See: The Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871.

[@SantomPh]

many generals including Lee tended to quote and favor French generals such as Napoleon and Lafayette. French was a part of the West Point curriculum during the time and mandatory. France would be a military power in Europe for much of the 1800s but was continually let down by incompetent leaders and internal power struggles, unlike the very directed Prussians and professional British army. It was a stumbling giant so to speak.

[@cv4809]

You said it yourself, up to 1870 France was considered the best martial power in the world before they got beaten by prussians It's not a coincidence that most of the military vocabulary derives from French (battalion, regiment, marshal, etc)

[@HemlockRidge]

@@cv4809 Because of Napoleon Bonaparte. His terms and tactics were taught at West Point and other Military Academies. They drooled over him like the Media drooled over Obama. His tactics, or the incorrect use of them, cost thousands of lives during the middle to late 19th Century. All it really took was the introduction of rifling into the infantryman's weapon to make about 80% of his "teachings" obsolete and dangerous.

[@rodgerbane3825]

A bit of a quibble. The French may have been an elite military in the 1800's, up to 1870. The Prussians put a decisive end to that.

[@mahmudalikhan5651]

Irony is Caucasian is the one in African zouaves regiments. not afro-american.

[@عبدالرحمانابننافع]

@@rohacha9iin40 shut up new zouave traitor .

[@عبدالرحمانابننافع]

Pls, I need more information about Cocasian zouave

[@JMAZZ80]

The Prussian's and British had the best armies in the 19th Century. However, I think the Prussians and British would have met their match if they fought the combined armies of the United States and the Confederacy.

[@JMAZZ80]

@D Anemon The French got their asses kicked by the Prussians in a little more than a year. Napoleon III himself was captured. The French army was garbage.

[@JMAZZ80]

@D Anemon The French we’re living on Napoleon’s past glory. Their hay-day had long since passed. First the Mexicans showed this by driving them and their puppet emperor out of Mexico and the Prussians/Germans solidified it by wiping the earth with the French in mere months in 1871. Read a book before you try sound like you know what you’re talking about.

[@karol2020]

Actually, the only time the British fought a peer competitor between 1815 and 1914 was the Crimea war when most of the fighting was done by... the French.

[@SamiERY88]

Zouaves they also participated in Algerians pepole genocide during 19 centry