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The Zouave Officer

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The Zouave Officer
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Author(s): Jean Joseph Gustave Cler
Date Published: 2010/03
Page Count: 224
Softcover ISBN-13: 978-1-84677-917-6
Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-1-84677-918-3

'Of the soldiers of the world—the Zouaves are the first and bravest'

This is a rare and unusual account compiled principally from the writings of Cler, who became a General of the French Army and who fell in battle at Magenta. The book concerns his earlier career and the experiences, campaigns and battles of his beloved regiment of Zouaves during their campaigns against the hostile tribes of colonial French North Africa, and afterwards during the gruelling Crimean War. The Zouave style has been often emulated—particularly during the American Civil War—but these troops, the original Zouave regiments, held a long tradition as a corps d'elite within the Imperial French Army. They had a reputation for the finest standards of soldiering to uphold and this sense of élan was never absent from every single member of the regiment. Bravery and aggression was a prerequisite and the worst of punishments was to be left out of the attack. Equally, this was a unit that ensured they were the most comfortable in camp. This is a story of consummate soldiers at war and is a fascinating insight into the mid-nineteenth century wars of a continental European power.

The colonel of the 2nd Zouaves repairs at once to his 1st battalion,—posted, as before said, in the stream, itself. The fire of the enemy’s artillery is raking the whole lower part of the valley and the outlet of the ford,—the branches of the great trees, which line the bank, torn away by the round shot, come crashing down in every direction,—shells are bursting over the bank,—and a very hail of shrapnel and canister is poured down every slope.<br>
The Zouaves, nevertheless, prepare to climb the opposite bank; the colonel has the “charge” sounded, and putting his horse into a gallop, is followed by the whole of his 1st Battalion. The impulse is given;—but, unable to keep up the road, which is too completely enfiladed by the enemy’s fire, the soldiers incline to the right, cross a bend which the river here makes, under a perfect hurricane of iron and lead, and, swinging themselves up the bank, are re-formed at the foot of the hill occupied by the Russian battalions, and where they are in a measure protected by the very steepness of the overhanging ridge.<br>
Making, however, but a brief pause here, the battalion quickly scales the face of the cliff, and hurls itself upon the Russians,—just at the very moment, that the latter are taken in flank by the gallant 1st regiment of Zouaves; and, after a short, sharp struggle, the enemy is, between them, compelled to abandon his formidable position, leaving behind him his wounded, his knapsacks,—and even a quantity of arms.<br>
The 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Zouaves, had followed and supported this movement, on the left; the marine regiment had pushed on immediately after it; and, thus, the whole of General de Monet’s brigade was, in a short time, warmly engaged with the Russians.<br>
Masters of the first slopes leading up to the plateaus, the 1st Battalion of the regiment, in spite of a murderous fire, forms itself into a column at half distance, in front of a long line of Russian columns by battalion. Near it, on its right, are the 1st Zouaves, and the 1st and 9th Battalions of Chasseurs à pied. The 2nd Battalion of the regiment, which, to effect its movement, has had a much greater distance to pass over, over very rough ground, and under a heavy fire of grape,—forms painfully and slowly on the left of the 1st, which is thrown back en potence, so as to form an angle with and protect the left flank of the 1st division, now deploying into line.<br>
Forming at length into column of divisions, at platoon distance, the 2nd Battalion is in readiness to deploy instantly, if necessary, into line of battle, four deep,—to resist a threatened charge of cavalry, which apparently aimed at the left flank of the line, becomes each moment more imminent.<br>
The position taken is, in every way, full of danger; for, under the concentrated fire of several batteries and numerous battalions of the enemy, the regiment is beginning to suffer sorely, and the men are falling thick and fast, under the storm of bullet, ball, and grape shot, rained upon them. On the other hand, to attempt a deployment into line within striking distance of an enemy so strong in numbers and position, seems, at best, but a hazardous manoeuvre.<br>
Yet, from dangerous, the situation may soon become critical; the colonel of the 3rd Zouaves is unable to bear the thought of seeing his splendid regiment cut to pieces—he therefore resolves on one of those desperate attacks which, with French troops, so often prove successful.<br>
The marshal, too, had already exclaimed, as he witnessed the first rush made by the men into battle, “Let them alone ’tis a soldiers’ battle!” And the Zouaves are still full of ardour. Pointing out to them, then, the unfinished, octagonal tower, intended for a telegraph station, which stands upon the highest point of the enemy’s line, the colonel cries out to his gallant fellows, “Follow me, my Zouaves,—forward upon that tower!” and, as he spurs his horse in that direction, they all dash after him, at the pas de course.<br>
The 1st Zouaves does the same; the two regiments arrive, side by side, at the foot of the tower, and quickly make themselves masters of it,—in spite of the resistance offered by two companies of skirmishers, armed with heavy rifles, who had been placed there to defend it.<br>
But the enemy’s reserves,—extended en èchelon to the right and left, so as to cross their fire over every inch of the ground lying in front of the tower,—are posted immediately behind, and on either side of it. Between them, the 2nd Zouaves, and the battalion of the first line under the orders of General Canrobert and Colonel Bourbaki, is then begun a close and deadly combat; all the more desperately fought, for its being known to both officers and men, that here lies the key to the enemy’s position, and the very knot of the battle.<br>
Colonel Cler, who had been the first to reach the foot of the tower, seizes the eagle of his regiment and plants it upon the scaffolding, amid the cries of Vive l’Empereur!<br>
Orderly Sergeant Fleury, of the 1st Zouaves, who has managed to get on top of the upper range of scaffolding, sustains the flag in this position, for a moment or two, but soon falls a lifeless corpse, struck down by a grape shot in the head.<br>
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