Civil War 150th Anniversary: Philadelphia Zouaves
The familiar blue uniforms donned by the Union army and grey coats belonging to the Confederates couldn’t always be seen on the battlefields during the Civil War. Until uniforms were nationalized by the war department at the end of 1861, Union soldiers suited up in anything from red-trimmed outfits to deer-tailed hats.
A number of Pennsylvania regiments adopted the traditional uniform of the French-Algerian light infantry, the Zouaves. They wore dark blue jackets, trimmed in red with light blue cuffs. Red pantaloons, white leggings, a light blue sash, a red fez and a white turban completed the unique ensemble. Although gaudy, these uniforms proved highly popular among young recruits.
Many of Philadelphia’s 11,000 firemen enlisted in rakishly-attired regiments called “Fire Zouaves.” Youthful, full of spunk, but often with little discipline, these soldiers earned high accolades for their élan and courage. The Fire Zouaves wore dark blue uniforms trimmed in red, reminiscent of their antebellum firemen’s service.
Via Civil War 150 Pennsylvania
