Mar 17th, 2016: Zouaves

Zouaves were French army units who were used in North Africa, then the Crimea, and Mexico, before the US Civil War.
They started as mostly Berbers from Algeria, hence the odd clothing, and built a reputation as elite badass fighters.

In the US, starting with the revolution the standing army was very small, with the government gathering and training
troops as needed. That was reasonably quick as most every man could shoot and ride a horse.
Cannons could be taught quickly to small groups, but most fighting was done by men with rifles.



The favorite way in the North, and South, was to accept locally organized groups(2nd amendment militias) into the army.
Somebody would post handbills and newspaper articles about forming a group, then when locals joined they’d peer pressure
their buddies into joining, telling them the alternative would be going off with a bunch of strangers who might be Irish,
Jews, or some other group. This was a strong incentive because people from different ethnic/religious backgrounds,
even in the cities, didn’t mingle and peacefully coexist like today.

Another trick was forming a Zouave looking group with similar uniforms, as the dime novels and newspapers had spread the
exploits of these badass fighters. The first battalion formed in Chicago and traveled around showing off their close order drilling.
Then numerous cities followed suit, but NY’s Hawkin’s Zouaves was the first to actually join the army.
It didn’t hurt that the ladies swooned at the sight of these gaily dressed soldiers.

I think I'd rather wear camo.

/Drift

On the left hand Manhattan Rifles poster, I see LtCol Geo. Watson. I know "Geo." is short for George, like "Wm." is short for William...

...What is "Jno." (Major Jno. Freeman) short for?

"That was reasonably quick as most every man could shoot and ride a horse."
I guess that is one way to catch 'em and break 'em, but it must have made for a slow calvary.

Jno is short for John

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diaphone Jim "That was reasonably quick as most every man could shoot and ride a horse." I guess that is one way to catch 'em and break 'em, but it must have made for a slow calvary.

He just meant that if you shoot them THEN ride them, they probably won't be much good for riding anymore.

Ah Of course, eats shoots and leaves, I left out the comma.
Thank you, that went right over my head.

Smartass comments suffer greatly from stepping on one's typing fingers.
I had a bad feeling about "calvary," but pushed "post" anyway.
What the heck, I was in the infantry.
I also should have mentioned that I found the post interesting and entertaining. as usual.

I like the cellar because of exchanges like this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Sarge Jno is short for John

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr If that was in jest please disregard the following: 1. Why would one shorten 'John'? 'Jno.' is the same space as 'John'. 2. Why would one mix up the letters? Sorry, I have an inquiring mind. ETA: Just did some more research, confirming what Sarge told me. Why, WHY, would you transpose letters in an abbreviation? That seems to be obfuscation at it's finest. It just fucks my mind up. Jno = John, so, EUV must = Federal Bureau of Investigation. If you were going to shorten John, why would you not use Jon, or, Jhn? Jno makes zero goddamned sense. Yeah, this is the hill I'm dying on today.

Yeah, one site I looked at specifically ruled out Jonathan.

Weird.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diaphone Jim Smartass comments suffer greatly from stepping on one's typing fingers. I had a bad feeling about "calvary," but pushed "post" anyway. What the heck, I was in the infantry. I also should have mentioned that I found the post interesting and entertaining. as usual.

Hey!!

If it's anybody, it's me!

When it was abbreviated in that form in handwritten letters and documents, the 'o' I think sat below the 'n'