Historic Photo: The Charleston Zouave Cadets

The Charleston Zouave Cadets of the Confederate Army, 1861

Charleston’s Own Zouaves

When war came to South Carolina in 1861, Charleston answered with a long list of volunteer militia companies. One of the most colorful was the Charleston Zouave Cadets. Like many units of the day, they borrowed their style from the French Zouaves, whose bold uniforms and quick drill had made them famous in the Crimean War. Young men across America, North and South, formed Zouave companies and took great pride in their sharp appearance and discipline.

A well-known photograph from 1861 shows the Cadets on duty at Castle Pinckney, a small fort in Charleston Harbor, where they guarded Union soldiers captured at First Manassas. The picture is one of the earliest images of Confederate soldiers at their posts, and it gives us a rare look at the faces of the young men who first stepped forward to defend their city.

Why These Photographs Matter

Photographs like this one are some of the most precious records we have of the men who served. Letters and official reports tell us what happened, but a photograph shows us who they were: neighbors, brothers, schoolmates and sons. Many of these young men would go on to serve in the hard fighting of the years ahead, and some never came home.

Keeping their memory alive is what Southern heritage is all about. Honor the men of South Carolina with a flag from our Confederate flag collection.

Thanks for reading. Please share our posts with your friends and family so they too can learn more about Southern Heritage and History.

Brought to you by: Ultimate Flags