McAfee M.J. Zouaves. the First and the Bravest. European and American Zouave Uniforms, Accoutrements, and Works of Art from the Collections of the West Point Museum

West Point: United States Military Academy, 1979. — 64 p. — (West Point Museum Bulletin No. 4).In the mid-nineteenth century French Chasseurs and Zouaves became the stereotypes for bravery and to a degree their own lives as soldiers were enhanced by this attention. French Zouaves enjoyed a reputation of being recklessly brave on the battlfield, as though warfare was merely a game and their lives simply the table stakes. In 1859 the United States Zouave Cadets was formed, the first known unit in America to adopt the distinctive Zouave uniform. A national tour of these drill champions inspired other units soon to be raised for the Civil War. Some of these wartime regiments shed their Zouave uniforms on campaign, but some proudly retained them until the very end of the war. This booklet gives a short illustrated overview of this history.