HOLOGRAPH OATH OF ALLEGIANCE | ELLSWORTH GUARD ZOUAVES, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Ellsworth Guard Zouaves; [Zouave Regiment, San Francisco]; [Ellsworth, Elmer Ephraim]

Published by [1863], [San Francisco], 1863

Folio, 1 page (w. 8 in. x h. 32.75 in.). In Very Good condition. Handwritten oath of allegiance, in ink, on single page consisting of three ruled sheets of paper pasted together. Some light uneven age toning overall, with minor discoloration to page caused by use of adhesive in assembling the document. Moderate creasing to second and third sheets. Some light wear to right edge of second sheet and roughly one-inch square chip to right edge of third sheet (not impacting text or signatures). Verso blank, except for small, faint pencil notation from previous seller. Signed by sixty-nine signatories. Undated, but likely dating to approximately 1863. The oath reads: "We the undersigned Members of the "Ellsworth Guard Zouaves", Do most solemnly swear before Almighty God that we recognize no other government over us than that of the government of the "United States" of America now held at Washington in the District of Columbia. And, recognizing such a form of government we do most solemnly swear that we will defend its flag from treachery and Rebellion that is now existing in our midst. That when our country calls us we will be willing to give our aid and support for the suppression of the Rebellion, and rally around that banner that has been our guide and protection. So Help me God! [69 signatories]" LA Consignment. Shelved in Room F. Originally a class of light infantry regiments within the French Army in North Africa between 1830 and 1962, the zouaves became a model for other military regiments across the globe. They were popularized in the United States in the lead up to the Civil War by the young organizer of an Illinois-based volunteer military company, Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth (1837-1861). In 1859, Ellsworth took command of the volunteer drill company, renaming them the "Zouave Cadets" and employing a zouave drill manual he had acquired from a French friend name Charles De Villers, who had served as a surgeon with the North African zouaves. The Zouave Cadets (known variously as the "United States Zouave Cadets", the "Chicago Zouaves", and the "Zouave Cadets of Chicago") toured across the United States, traveling nearly 4,000 miles to perform their light infantry drill (alongside other theatrical elements). "Zouave" units were then raised on both sides of the American Civil War of 1861-1865, including a regiment under Ellsworth's command, the so-called "Fire Zouaves" of New York. The Fire Zouaves, into which Ellsworth was commissioned as a colonel, mustered into volunteer service as the 11th New York Infantry and participated in the occupation of Alexandria, Virginia in May, 1861. Ellsworth was killed after he removed the Confederate flag then flying from the roof of the Marshall House on May 24, 1861. After his death, Ellsworth's body lay in state at the White House, and the phrase "Remember Ellsworth" became a rallying cry and call to arms for the Union Army. Over forty zouaves groups across the country took "Ellsworth" as their namesake during the course of the Civil War. The document on offer here is an "Oath of Allegiance" to the Union signed by 69 members of the San Francisco zouaves regiment, the "Ellsworth Guard Zouaves" - taking the name of the slain patriot and popularizer of the regiments. The Ellsworth Guard Zouaves formed in 1862 as the "Ellsworth Guard", changing their name to include "Zouaves" (as it is represented in the present document) in late 1863. They mustered in as Company B of the 1st Regiment Artillery, 2nd Brigade in 1862. [See: Appendix to Journals of Senate and Assembly of the Fifteenth Session of the Legislature of the State of California, Vol. I. (1864), p. 139]. 1378162. Special Collections. Seller Inventory # 1378162

Bibliographic Details

Title: HOLOGRAPH OATH OF ALLEGIANCE | ELLSWORTH ...
Publisher: [1863], [San Francisco]
Publication Date: 1863
Signed: Signed by Author(s)