The following historical information is about the service of both the regiment, and the men, of the "Second Battalion, Duryea's Zouaves" - One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth (165th) New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which served in the American Civil War from November 28th, 1862, to September 1st, 1865. If you have any corrections, suggestions, or additional information, photographs, artifacts, etc., that you wish to contribute, feel free to submit the information to the Webmaster.

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Colonel Harmon D. Hull received authority to raise the Second Battalion of Duryea's Zouaves for a term of nine months service, but this term was soon changed to three years. It received the numerical designation of the One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth (165th) Infantry Regiment of New York State Volunteers on November 29th, 1862, at which time only six companies were then recruited. The men were mustered in the service of the United States for three years from August to December 1862. In March 1864, Companies G, H, I and K were organized, but upon joining the battalion in the field they were at once consolidated with the six original companies.

The companies were recruited principally as follows: A, C, D and E at New York City; B at New York City and Jamaica; F at New York City and Brooklyn; G, H, I and K at New York City and Long Island.

The battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Abel Smith, Jr., left the state on December 2nd, 1862, sailing for New Orleans, Louisiana, and on its arrival was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd (Sherman's) Division, 19th Corps, Department of the Gulf. It participated in skirmishes in March 1863, at North Pass, Ponchatoula and Berwick Bay, sustaining a few casualties, and was actively engaged throughout the long siege of Port Hudson, losing heavily in the assault of May 27th. Its losses during the siege amounted to 106 killed, wounded and missing, among the mortally wounded being the gallant Lieutenant Colonel Abel, who fell in the assault of May 27th. It accompanied Franklin's Expedition to Sabine Pass, Texas, in September 1863, and was later twice engaged at Vermilion Bayou. In the 3rd Brigade, Emory's Division, it took part in Banks' Red River Expedition in the spring of 1864, fighting at Sabine Crossroads, Pleasant Hill, Cane River Crossing and Mansura. The loss at Sabine Crossroads was 48 killed, wounded and missing, and at Pleasant Hill, 49.

Returning north, the regiment was in action in September at Berryville, Virginia, but sustained no loss. When Dwight's 1st Division, Army of the Shenandoah, left the valley in April 1865, as a part of the 3rd Brigade, the regiment accompanied it to Washington and subsequently to Savannah, Georgia. Under Major William W. Stephenson, it was mustered out of United States service at Charleston, South Carolina, on September 1st, 1865.

During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 1 officer, 36 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 15 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 79 enlisted men; total, 4 officers, 130 enlisted men; aggregate, 134; of whom 18 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

Painting by Gordon Davis

Additional Research on the Uniform of the "Second Battalion, Duryea's Zouaves," is pending. If you have any additional information that you wish to contribute, feel free to submit it to the Webmaster.

John F. Capen, ca. 1863 (Album of the 2nd Btn.)

C.B. Moore & S.S. Swift, ca. 1864 (Album of the 2nd Btn.)

Captain Henry W. Hicks Jr. (Album of the 2nd Btn.)

1st Lieutenant Gustavus F. Linquist (Album of the 2nd Btn.)