ACW Zouave unit I.D. help needed

[Robert Dominick]

Hello All,

Here is a large albumen photo of a American Civil War Soldier. I.d.d on the back as George Bingham of the 146th New York Zouaves. I researched him at civilwardata.com which is an excellent resource for soldier and unit information. He was not found under the 146th. There are 10 George Binghams that served in various units from New York.

The uniform is obviously zouave. The cut of the jacket and piping/ decoration definately identical to the 146th jacket except for the buttons. The Kepi was not standard issue but some soldier discarded or lost the Fez and used the Kepi as a replacement.

Has anyone ever seen a silimar uniform belonging to other New York units?

Thank you, Robert

 

[Jason W.]

This could be a pre-war militia uniform. As you know the Zouave craze was wide spread in pre-war America. Anywhere Elemer Ellsworth took his Zouave cadets usually sewed seeds of inspiration. If this was wartime he could have been part of a company within a regiment that sported this uniform, then when the war heated up gave way to standard issue. His rifle looks to be the 1855 Springfield and MAY help date the uniform/man.

I went through my copy "Zouaves: The First and The Bravest" by Micheal McAfee and find no identical uniform. This is a great book and is highly recommended to those with an interest in Zouaves.

Good luck,

Jason

 

[garyjd]

Robert, Here's what I turned up. I found NO George Bingham. As Jason said the uniform may be from a prewar unit. I'll go through some of my stuff to see if I find something similiar. ~Gary


Bingham, George
Union
Infantry
65th Regiment, New York Infantry

Bingham, George C.
Union
Infantry
47th Regiment, New York Infantry

Bingham, George E.
Union
Infantry
133rd Regiment, New York Infantry

Bingham, George G.
Union
Infantry
161st Regiment, New York Infantry

Bingham, George I.
Union
Infantry
28th Regiment, New York Infantry

Bingham, George P.
Union
Infantry
179th Regiment, New York Infantry

Bingham, George P.
Union
Infantry
185th Regiment, New York Infantry

Bingham, George W.
Union
Infantry
27th Regiment, New York Infantry

 

[Steve]

I also checked "The First and the Bravest", the Osprey Zouave volume, Time Life "Echoes of Glory" and "Fighting Men of the ACW", and found zip; the Zouave craze also survived the war and in addition to the possibility of being prewar, it could also be postwar. Man, good luck with this one.

 

[captnenglish]

I've seen this photo or a plate based on it, but I can't remember where and I don't have access to my books (WB in BDRM and SWMBO is sick )

 

[Robert Dominick]

Thanks guys! I know this will be a hard one. I am aware of the pre and post war zouaves. For some reason this guy is screaming civil war period to me. I think mostly because he looks ready for battle with his cartridge box with the breast plate and bayonet. Most pre and post war zouave photos I have seen look too "clean" as they mostly did parades and drills, etc. It looks to me that he has "seen the elephant".

What concerns me is the I.D. as none have been found in the 146th. In other research I have found errors in the records. Usually with slightly misspelled names. Taking the name out of the equasion. I still tend to believe he is civil war period.

I am thinking of submitting the photos to Military Images Magazine to see if anyone there knows. McAfee is a regular contributor to the magazine. This magazine is also an excellent reference for civil war uniforms. They mostly concentrait on the civil war, but also have military photos, unit and uniform research up to WW1.

 

[Jason W.]

Your right Robert, MIM is great. I may have to go through some of the Zouave issues to see if we can find something. I'm with you on leaning towards wartime...But very early wartime. IMO this uniform never saw much of campaign service. For one, this particular jacket looks extremely impractical and flimsy. The ball buttons would surely get in the way of all the staps of the haversack, knapsack/bedroll, canteen, etc. Having reenacted wearing all that type of gear, I can only imagine the straps pushing down on these buttons and jabbing into the body. I'm not saying all Zouave uniforms were impractical but like I said, THIS type of jacket was more likely for parade, drill, or to show off, what have you. I could be wrong, I'm sure there were stranger get-ups that were seen in the field.

Although I'm leaning wartime, it still could be post-war. The tombeau resembles the 146th's. And could be a uniform in honor of the wartime 146th. It could also explain the reason you can't find his name in the rosters.

Yes! Submit the pic to MI. There has to be someone out there that knows .

Thanks for sharing.

Jason