Here you can read about the lives of our Zouaves and the reasons why they joined up.


Malo (a.k.a. Jaques-Louis Deville) *02.08.1831:

He was born in Strassbourg. His father was a Major in the French Army. After being accused of 7 murders in July 1853, Jaques-Louis fled to Bordeaux in order to get on a ship to America. When he reached Bordeaux the Crimean War broke out and in a flame of patriotism he joined the 3eme Regiment des Zouaves under the pseudonym of Malo. He served throughout the Cimean War and was wounded 17 times and rose through the ranks to Sergeant.

After the War was over he realised that the Police at home was still searching for him. So he finally got on the ship to America where he worked in a steal factory in New York. Here he had an affair with the daughter of the owner of the factory. When the owner discovered this affair in 1861 Malo was fired.

While walking the streets of New York he met an old comerade from his Regiment from the Crimean War, who told him, that a few of the Crimean veterans were in New York and signed up for the 62nd New York Volunteers, to fight in the Americn Civil War. Being in need of money Malo enlisted aswell and fought with the 62nd NY Vols.

After the war he found work on an American trading ship. During a voyage to his native France in 1870 he heard about the war between France and the German states and again joined the 3eme Regiment des Zouaves to defend his homeland.

In 1871, when the war was over, he was pardoned from all the charges made against him and married the daughter of the New York factory owner and settled in the Champagne.