by a scouting party of the Tenth Regiment of New York Zouaves, before September 1861 The 10th New York Volunteer Infantry, the National Zouaves or McChesney's Zouaves, was recruited in
New York city and Brooklyn and mustered into federal service, April 27, 30, May 2, and 7, 1861, for a two-year enlistment. From
Sandy Hook, where it was encamped, the regiment embarked for
Fortress Monroe on June 5, and was ordered to join the reserve during the
battle of Big Bethel. Headquarters were established at Camp Hamilton, near Fortress Monroe, and here the regiment was stationed until the opening of the
campaign on the Peninsula the following year. In May 1862, the regiment moved to
Norfolk and
Portsmouth and on June 7, was attached to the 3d brigade, 2nd division,
V Corps, which it joined at Bottom's bridge on the
Chickahominy. It was active in the
Seven Days' battles, encamped at
Harrison's Landing until late in August, when it returned to
Newport News, whence it was ordered to
Manassas and fought bravely in the
Second Bull Run, losing 115 men in killed, wounded and missing. At
South Mountain and
Antietam, it was held in reserve; was in action at
Shepherdstown, after which it was assigned to the 3d brigade, 3d division,
II Corps, with which it fought at
Fredericksburg, where almost one-half of the members of the regiment who went into action were killed, wounded or missing. A portion of the winter was spent in the performance of guard duty at headquarters and the original two years members not reenlisted were mustered out at New York on May 7, 1863. The remainder of the regiment was consolidated into a battalion of four companies to which were later added two companies of new recruits and the veterans of the 8th N. Y. artillery. The battalion was made provost guard of the 3d division, II Corps and in March, 1864, was attached to the 3d brigade, 2nd division, II Corps. It was active at the
Wilderness, where the loss was 95 members, at
Spottsylvania,
Laurel Hill, the
North Anna river,
Totopotomy, and
Cold Harbor. It then served during the long
siege of Petersburg, being engaged in the early assaults on the works there, at the
Weldon Railroad,
Deep Bottom,
Strawberry Plains,
Reams' Station, the
Boydton Plank Road,
Hatcher's Run,
White Oak Road, and in the
final assault on the fortifications, April 2, 1865. In the pursuit which followed the evacuation, the 10th was in line with its brigade and performed guard duty near Richmond until the welcome orders to return home. The regiment was mustered out at Munson's Hill, VA., June 30, 1865. ==Affiliations, battle honors, detailed service, and casualties==