Brooklyn (not Seneca Falls) Zouave with red, gray, and the cap
I found out yesterday that I was wrong to say that no Zouaves from Seneca Falls volunteered as a Zouave unit. 150 years ago this month they made their appearance at the great organizing and training encampment for New York state volunteers at Elmira.
From The Courier Seneca Falls, NY in May 1861:
From Elmira
The Elmira Daily Press of Wednesday says:
One of the finest companies that has yet arrived here is the Zouave company from Seneca Falls, Capt. GUION. They are drilled in red flannel pants, gray woolen shirts, and Algerine caps of the same color. They are generally large able-bodied men, and present a fine appearance. They paraded the streets yesterday to some extent, preceded by an excellent brass band.
And a different clipping in The Courier:
From Elmira
Camp Elmira, Zouave Barracks
May 15, 1861
FRIEND STOWELL. – Here we are all safe and sound, all well and happy, after a pleasant but slightly damp passage of about six hours.
We all felt sad enough at parting with the dear ones left behind us, but when the last farewell was spoken, and the cars swiftly carried us from our homes, the boys soon rallied and resolved to bear themselves as “bold soldier boys” should.
On the train with us was a company from Union Springs and also one from Watertown; crowds of people greeted us all along the route and cheered us on our way. At Geneva we met a Rochester company and taking the boat we steamed up the lake amid the ringing of bells, the cheers of the throng that lined the shore and the answering shout of the Zouaves.
Where the Zouaves got off the boat - Watkins 1896 (LOC)
From Jefferson a special train brought us to Elmira where we arrived at nine o’clock and were immediately marched into a large Brick Storehouse in the heart of the city, which we still occupy.
Arriving at an unexpected hour, no provision had been made for our suppers; but a huge cheese and a barrel of crackers were soon obtained, and the boys drawing their Bowie Knives made a desperate attack upon them, and the crackers and cheese vanished like dew before the sun.
Bowie Knife: Beware, "Huge Cheese"
Each man was furnished with a “nate feather mattrass, all bustin with straw,” and spreading our blankets we turned in for the night.
At five in the morning we were all up and ready for — breakfast, which however we did not succeed in getting until nearly nine, but since then everything has gone off well, thanks to the untiring efforts of our officers, who have left nothing undone to secure the comfort and happiness of the men. We take our “rations” at the American Hotel, one of the finest in the city and have plenty to eat and drink, and everything of the best quality. All the reports you have heard at home about poor food and but little of it are stuff. One “Bill of Fare,” yesterday and to day was as follows:
Breakfast: Beefsteak, Ham, Potatoes, good Bread and Butter and a quart of coffee. Dinner: Roast Beef, Corned Beef, Fish and Vegetables of all kinds. Supper: Cold Meat, Hot Rolls, Bread and Butter and a quart of Coffee.
The boys are all in good spirits and are the proudest set of fellows in the city. We attract universal attention and can boast of being the largest company on the ground, the only company in uniform, and the only company that has butter on their bread.
Both of our Bands are still with us and we all parade the streets three times each day, receiving salutes and cheers at every turn. The Bands have been of great service to us and we are under great obligations to them for their kindly accompanying us. Every one praises the music, and the fine appearance of the Seneca Falls Zouaves.
There is some trouble about forming the regiment. One or two of the Captains want to run the whole thing, and there are as many candidates for office as one would expect to see at a political convention, but we shall be out of the fog in a day or two as the matter will probably be settled to day or to morrow.
The weather is splendid, the streets are filled with troops engaged in drilling, marching, &c., There are seven thousand troops here now, and more arriving every day. One or two regiments have camped out of town, and as soon as ours is full we shall go too.
I will keep you fully advised as to our movements, and all that transpires in Camp interesting to those at home.
Truly yours,
JMG
Well, lah-di-dah.
Things seem to be going great so far for this company. How are they going to do in the mud and the blood? They might be real brave for all I know. The author show tough equanimity by referring to the “slightly damp passage.”
I kinda gobbled this letter up, not only for the local color and delicious-sounding food. For example, it seems that bowie knives were a popular piece of equipment for some of the northern volunteers.
I had no idea the company would take a train the ten miles to Geneva, then get on the boat for a trip down Seneca Lake, then get back on a train for Elmira.
Not all the troops had it so good when they got to Elmira, but not all of them could eat at the American Hotel.
“Jefferson” was eventually renamed to Watkins Glen
The photo of the Bowie Knife is licensed by Creative Commons.
