1st Zouave Battalion Louisiana Infantry - Company B Flag

These are modern all-weather nylon flags for your house or garden based on the original flag carried by the 1st Zouave Battalion Louisiana Infantry - Company B.

These flags are made to order and take about 3 weeks to produce and ship.

Flag of the Confederate States Zouaves / 1st Zouave battalion, Co. B, Louisiana Infantry.

Made by the Ladies of Williamsburg, Virginia, and presented to the unit immediately after the Battle of Bethel in 1861. The unit was originally known as the Confederate States Zouaves, but reorganized on Nov. 10, 1862. Major Fulgence de Bordenave d'Abere was a member of the regiment; his descendants donated the flag.

The 1st Louisiana Zouave Battalion was organized at New Orleans in March of 1861 and was disbanded in southern Virginia in December of 1864. Of the original enrollment of 616 officers and enlisted men 52 were killed in action, 26 died of disease, and 2 died in accidents.

One company was English-speaking Americans, a second was French-speaking Creole. Many of the battalion were foreign-born, including a large number (about 20%) of Swiss origin, as well as Germans, Italians, Spanish and Irish. While recruiting booths were opened in the city jails of New Orleans most of the battalion’s men were workmen. Many of them were experienced veterans of the French Army in the Crimean War, and orders were given in French.