(from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated History of the Civil War…, edited by Louis Shepheard Moat, Published by Mrs. Frank Leslie, New York, 1895)
“Colonel Wilson was among the first to offer his services to the government on the breaking out of the war. He recruited a regiment of nearly twelve ‘hundred men from the rowdy and criminal classes of New York city. The regiment was formally mustered in in the old Tammany Hall, and there, on April 24th, with the men arranged around the room, with the officers in the centre, the colonel, with a sword in one hand and the American flag in the other, led the men into swearing to ‘support the flag and never to flinch from its path through blood or death.’ The Zouaves, a few days afterward, left for the South.”
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Col. William Wilson & the 6th New York – Wilson’s Zouaves
From Harper’s Weekly, Sat., May 11 & 18, 1861:
COLONEL WILSON.
COLONEL WILLIAM WILSON, of the ” Wilson Zouaves,” whose portrait we give on this page, is a well-known character in New York. He has long been famous as a leader of the Mozart Democracy, having joined Fernando Wood in his famous bolt from Tammany Hall. A doughty chief of the “roughs,” Mr. Wilson has figured prominently in almost every melee of our turbulent city Democracy, and is justly feared even by the strongest and boldest of the “b’hoys.” In his youth he was a prize-fighter, and made a name for himself in the ring. A few years since he became Alderman of the First Ward, and was an active member of the Board. Since his retirement from the City Council he has not filled any public station.
When the city of New York was thrilled by the news that Baltimore refused passage to Northern troops marching to the defense of Washington, and had even attacked and driven back a body of unarmed Pennsylvanians, Colonel Wilson instantly announced that he would form a corps of ” roughs” to march through Baltimore. All the “b’hoys” flocked to his standard, and in two or three clays nearly two thousand men offered their services.
They were offered no holiday work. “Boys !” said Wilson, to a party of thirty young men who volunteered, “you want to come with me, eh! Well, if you do, three-fourths of you will be in your graves in three weeks !”
“Bravo! good ! good!” was the unanimous reply. “‘We’ll go with you !”
They are all of this stamp.
Colonel Wilson and his men are encamped on Stanton Island; preparing for their march through Baltimore….
This regiment has been recruited from the roughs and b’hoys of New York city. Their uniform is a gray shirt, gray pants, brown felt hat, belt, and brogans: their arms are the Minie rifle, a bowie-knife, and in many cases a revolver. The Herald thus described the ceremony of swearing them in :
” All the men being ranged against the walls, Colonel Wilson, with a drawn sabre in one hand and the American flag in the other, stood forth uncovered, and addressed his men amidst deafening cheers.
” After a short adjuration to the flag, for which he declared his devotion, he called upon all to kneel and swear with him. Waving the banner and flourishing his sabre, he knelt on one knee. All present knelt with him and repeated the oath which he put to them to support the flag, and never flinch from its path through blood or death. He said he would lead them to Baltimore, and they would march through it or die; at which they all arose with a tremendous yell, flung up their hats and brandished their glittering knives amidst prolonged and frantic cheers. He then denounced death to the Baltimore traitor secessionists and Plug Uglies, and said they would leave a monument of their bones in the streets of Baltimore. Amidst yells of ‘Death to the Plug Uglies,’ he illustrated with his sword how they should hew their way, and said though he should be the first man slain, he had but one thing to ask, which was that each of his followers should secure his man and avenge his blood. That they would do this, he again called upon them to swear, and marching around the hall, holding up the flag and the sword, and accompanied by two officers, the one on his right bearing a banner inscribed;
THE UNION BATTALION OF ZOUAVES.
DEATH TO SECESSIONISTS.
The other officer on his left holding up in both hands a bowie-knife and revolver, Wilson shouted to them to swear, and they responded with shouts of ‘Blood !’ ‘ blood ‘ blood !’ ‘ We swear,’ etc.
“The band then struck in with the ‘ Star Spangled Banner,’ which they all sang in chorus, as well as also ‘Dixies Land.'”