I’ve always read that hardly any of them were still in their characteristic (i.e. ridiculous) uniforms by the end of the war, due to dangerously high visibility on the battlefield and the difficulty of resupply. What was the last active-duty unit, U.S. or Confederate, to drop the distinctive Zouave look, and when?
Too bad you weren’t at the Civil War showat the Richland County Fairgrounds in Mansfield this past Saturday. There was a big display on Zouaves. The guy who did it certainly could have answered your question. He was in the running for an award for best exhibitor. If nobody comes up with an answer, I bet you can contact the show’s organizers and get his name and call him.
The 155th Pennsylvania Infantry (Zouaves) fought all the way through the war - they are thought to have sustained the last Union casualty, and were present at the surrender at Appomattox Court House.
Sigmagirl, thanks. I’ve been to that show before, but not in the last few years.
Mr. Moto, did the 155th Penna. keep their distinctive uniform all the way to the end of the war?
Reading the history cited, it seems they were given the Zouave uniforms in late 1863 as a reward for drill and battle proficiency - though the enlisted men surely didn’t see much benefit in the reward.
In any case, the unit was newly outfitted in late 1863 and could easily have kept their uniforms through to the surrender about a year and a half later.
Look like these guys made it through June 1865. Blue pants, though.
The 5th New York Regiment dressed in the full uniform and were almost completely wiped out, but