A Very Unmilitary Movement: With Ellsworth’s Zouaves at First Bull Run

The 11th New York Volunteers, also known as Ellsworth’s Zouaves, had scarcely arrived on the field at Bull Run when the men spied a nearby Federal battery that had been overrun by the Confederates. “We were at once impressed with the idea that we had a mission and that mission was to retake those guns,” remembered First Lieutenant Edward B. Knox of Co. A. “Whereupon with a wild, wild yell, three cheers, and a loud fierce cry of “Remember Ellsworth,” we dashed across the intervening space, rushed in the face of a murderous discharge from the cannons on the hill, and with loud whoops and hurrahs drove some away, killed the rest, occupied the position, and attempted to use the guns. The Regulars did not return to receive at their hands the recaptured battery, and it was useless in our hands.”

          Before the Civil War, Maine native Edward Burgin Knox was a member of Elmer Ellsworth’s U.S. Zouave Cadets in Chicago where he gained the nickname of “the Little Corporal.” When Ellsworth went to New York to lead the 11th New York Volunteers, also known as the Fire Zouaves as the men were raised from the various fire companies of the city of New York, he sent word to Knox to join him and promptly assigned the 21-year-old to Co. A as first lieutenant. Lieutenant Knox’s account of Bull Run first saw publication in the August 3, 1861, edition of the Steuben Republican published in Angola, Indiana.

 

The 11th New York's first action at Bull Run resulted in the recapture of two guns that belonged to Captain Charles Griffin's Battery D, 5th U.S. Light Artillery. They fought with the 33rd Virginia who had taken the guns and then were hit on their flank by Colonel J.E.B. Stuart leading the 1st Virginia Cavalry. (Mark Maritato)

          The regiment was encamped on Saturday night at a place about a mile this side of Centreville. At 2 o’clock on Sunday morning, the men were aroused and remained under arms until 7 o’clock at which time they started forward. There were some 950 men all told with [Lt. Col. Noah] “Pony” Farnham at their head. With cheers, they moved briskly forward through the woods, singing and laughing, eager for the fight.

          They had marched about 14 miles and were within three miles of the battlefield when they heard the guns and saw the smoke from an eminence. This excited the men wonderfully, and at the double quick step they pressed on with the intention of joining Colonel Orlando Willcox who with the Michigan regiments was a short way ahead. Halting at a pool of dirty water, they refreshed themselves, and went on until they came to a church three-quarters of a mile this side of the battlefield where they left their overcoats and haversacks and having formed by companies, went on at the double quick step.

Edward Burgin Knox
11th New York, later 44th New York

          As they passed a bit of woods, they were fired at by some cavalry who were concealed there, but stopping only to return the fire, they moved on until they reached a fair halting ground. While there, the enemy succeeded in taking from the U.S. Regulars a battery which was stationed in the woods at the right of the Zouaves. We were at once impressed with the idea that we had a mission and that mission was to retake those guns.

          Whereupon with a wild, wild yell, three cheers, and a loud fierce cry of “Remember Ellsworth,” we dashed across the intervening space, rushed in the face of a murderous discharge from the cannons on the hill, and with loud whoops and hurrahs drove some away, killed the rest, occupied the position, and attempted to use the guns. The Regulars did not return to receive at their hands the recaptured battery, and it was useless in our hands.

          While in possession of this battery, a body of infantry who were in the woods in our right rear fired several volleys with considerable effect into our midst. The colonel gave the order to leave the battery and dislodge the enemy. This they did effectually and compelled the Rebels to flee from the wrath behind. Unfortunately, the Zouaves were not aware of the state of affairs on the other side of the woods. With hot haste and in considerable disorder, they rushed out only to find themselves the target of another body of infantry and beyond them the Black Horse Cavalry charging full upon them.

The Zouaves fought on Henry House Hill for a few hours on the afternoon of July 21, 1861 before suffering heavy casualties and being driven from the field with the rest of the Federal army. It was a humiliating defeat for the brash Zouaves; Lieutenant Knox refused to label the retreat a stampede or a rout but conceded that it was "a very unmilitary movement." 


          Things looked badly when, fortunately, the infantry were engaged by another regiment thus giving the Zouaves time to prepare for the charge from the horsemen. They formed hastily into line, kneeling, semi-kneeling, and standing that Ellsworth-fashion they might receive their enemies with successive volleys. On came the horsemen, a full regiment of brave men, splendidly mounted, and as ready for mischief as those on whom they hoped to fall. To an early discharge from the cavalry, the Zouaves made no response although several of the men were killed. We waited patiently until the enemy was almost upon us when, in quick succession, the three ranks fired, each man doing his best for the good cause.

Lieutenant Colonel Noah L. Farnham led the 11th New York at Bull Run until he was wounded. He died three weeks later, the second regimental commander of the 11th New York to give up his life in "the good cause." Lieutenant Knox referred to him as "Pony." 

          The shock to the Rebels was great, but they rallied, behaving splendidly, and attempted a renewal of the charge for which, however, the excited firemen were prepared and for which the Black Horse Cavalry paid most dearly. They were completely shattered, broken up, and swept away. Not more than a hundred of them rode off and as they went, their rebellious ears were greeted with “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, tigah, Zouave,” and such a “tiger repeat” as one can only appreciate when he had heard it.

          What happened after that is hard to detail. Grape and canister were poured in upon us thick and fast. Down on our faces we went until the shot passed and then up and at them until the next volley. This continued for a long time during which squad after squad was used up, man after man fell dead, or receiving a shot while on the ground, he failed to rise at the next command. Then came the order to retreat, which was slowly and gradually obeyed. The regiment broke ranks; some of the men walked slowly off, others went into the woods and fought them from behind trees on their own hook; other fell in with other regiments to join forces against the common enemy, and other climbed trees to “see what was up.”

11th New York regimental colors carried at Bull Run featured depictions of the typical fire equipment of the 19th century including hooks, poles, ladders, and helmets. The regimental slogan read "The Star Spangled Banner in Triumph Will Wave."

          While in the woods, the slaughter amongst the men was very great and the crossfire to which they were exposed did them more damage than all else beside. The retreat was with the Zouaves as with all of the regiments; not particularly an orderly one, but rather a free and easy retrograde movement which, if not a stampede or a rout, was at least a very unmilitary movement.

          After the Fire Zouaves returned to New York in August 1861, Lieutenant Knox joined Co. I of the 44th New York, a regiment raised at the behest of the Ellsworth Society of New York and which had the nickname of “Ellsworth’s Avengers.” Knox was appointed adjutant served with the 44th for three years, being wounded first May 27, 1862, at Hanover Courthouse and again May 8, 1864, at Laurel Hill, ending his service as major. He subsequently served for five years in the U.S. Regulars before returning to his hometown of Chicago, Illinois in 1870. He passed away April 9, 1890, in Chicago and is buried at Oak Woods Cemetery.

        

Source:

Account from First Lieutenant Edward Burgin Knox, Co. A, 11th New York Volunteer Infantry (Ellsworth’s Zouaves), Steuben Republican (Indiana), August 3, 1861, pg. 1

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