Anderson Zouaves

Introduction

This website is dedicated to researching the history of the Anderson Zouaves, a New York Volunteer regiment raised by Colonel John Lafayette Riker, which fought for the Union cause during the American Civil War. It is also, more specifically, the website for an historical reenactment group which is primarily concerned with an impression of Company “I” of this regiment.

Historically, Company “I” was largely composed of men who had left Le Gal’s Gardes Lafayette (55th NY) in disgust at the slow pace at which that regiment was being prepared for the war. About fifty soldiers of the Gardes Lafayette joined Riker’s regiment in May 1861 bringing with them their distinctive French Zouave uniform. Initially known as Company “Z” they eventually became known as Company “I”.1 While the rest of the men of Riker’s regiment wore a modified zouave uniform which had light blue chasseur trousers, the men of company “I” wore the authentic uniform of the French 3rd regiment of Zouaves including the traditional, very baggy, red pantaloons. To distinguish themselves from the zouave company (Co. “I” of the 55th) of their former regiment, it appears that the jackets of these men of the Advance Guard of the Anderson Zouaves had the monograms “A” & “Z” embroidered onto the tombeaus of their zouave jackets.

There is very little specific evidence for how long the company wore their zouave uniform before it was replaced, but like the zouaves of company I of the 55th it is generally assumed that it did not outlast the Peninsula Campaign.

It is known that in late 1861 the regiment had eight of its companies armed with M1816 Springfield flintlock .69 calibre muskets converted to percussion caps and two companies armed with Lorenz .54 calibre rifles. It is not clear which companies were armed with which arm, however, it appears that by January 1862 the regiment was rearmed with the .577 Enfield rifle which was the weapon they used during the Peninsula Campaign.

The Anderson Zouaves did not have an official history written for it after the war, however, there has been significant research on the regiment in recent years, the fruits of which may be found on this and other websites such as the Company “F” website, Wikipedia and the New York State Military Museum.

The regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 85 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 82 Enlisted men by disease for a total 172. Among the officers killed in action were John Lafayette Riker, the organiser and the regiment’s first colonel who died at the Battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia, on May 31, 1862 and Major Wilson Hubbell who died of wounds received at Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864.

Three veterans of the Anderson Zouaves were awarded the Medal of Honor; Edward Browne Jr. (Co. “G”), J. R. Evans (Co. “H”) and Charles E. Morse (Co. “I”).

For further information on the history of the Anderson Zouaves click on the ‘History’ links on the left or use the search term “Anderson Zouaves” on Wikipedia. New information about the regiment is always sort and will be gratefully received.

Reenactment

The following words were written by A. M. Stewart, the chaplain of the 102d PVI which served in the same brigade as the Anderson Zouaves,

At least three-fourths of a soldier’s time of enlistment is spent
in camp. To him, a battle is only an incident, a march but an
episode. Six months or a year are often spent in camp while
preparations are in progress for a single battle of a few hours’
duration. A camp of one or two thousand immortal beings
thus, becomes a matter of absorbing interest…

The sentiment expressed here is one which we extend to our activities as reenactors. Being interested in authenticity, most of our time is spent researching the regiment and company that we reenact. Believing the adage that “if we reenact them we represent them”, has impressed on us the responsibility to be as authentic as possible in the way we reenact the men of Riker’s regiment. It is only in recent years that a significant amount of information has become available on the history of the Anderson Zouaves and it seems that most of our time is spent in research, with reenactments being but episodes. Reenacting the Anderson Zouaves has made us good historians, and so it is that most of this website will be dedicated to the emerging history of the regiment and very little to reenactment.

We are currently recruiting for the company. The intention is to concentrate on an early war impression during the time the regiment was encamped in and around New York and Washington and during the Peninsula Campaign. If you are interested and would like more information please send an email with a little information about yourself via the enlist button above.

In time this website will include information and guidelines to assist in achieving an accurate impression of a member of the Advanced Guard (Company “I”), of the Sixty-second New York State Volunteers, Anderson Zouaves. If you should find some information on this website which you believe is inaccurate or in dispute, please make contact using the email button above so that it can be put right.

Members of the 62nd