As you are probably aware, Cricket Pohanka is producing a movie on Brian’s beloved 5th & it is entitled “Red-Legged Devils.”

Mike

Yeah I to have read this, but eventually the 5th New York Dropped the Red Legged Devils Moniker and was named the “Red Devils”. I have spent hours discussing this at length with my late friend Brian Pohanka about this. Yes early on both regiments were nicknamed the “Red Legged Devils” but again later the 14th held the name after 1st Bull Run because of their actions there. One because of their fighting prowess and also I believe because of the deeds depicted in this article above.

Harry,

Sorry for the late response brother its been hectic around here. Getting ready for the upcoming season of living history and moving back to NYC from Up north in Rochester. I did receive the picture and I am looking for the articles I told you about before, everything is packed away still! Once I find them I will send them your way after I put them into a digital format!

Your Comrade in Red,
Frank

In fact stonewall jackson gave the 14th Brooklyn its nickname, “Red Legged Devils”

Frank,

I have also heard the story that Stonewall gave the 14th Brooklyn its nickname at First Bull Run, fought 21 July 1861.

There is a letter written by Private George Tiebout of the 5th NY Infantry, which contains the following:

“Our regiment is called the red-legged devils, and the terror to evil-doers.”

We know this a very early reference, since Tiebout died at Big Bethel on 10 June 1861.

So there were 2 with the same moniker. And it looks like the 14th arrived late to the dance. :)

2 great regiments!

Respectively,

Mike Peters

I do have a picture of him, but it’s a bad scan. In return of your promise to send me transcriptions of the first hand accounts of the 14th at BR1, I’ll email the photo to you after I scan it again tonight. Or you could send me photocopies via snail-mail (no, I have no shame – it doesn’t hurt to ask!)

BTW, if you follow the link to the earlier post I gave you above, you may find a picture of yourself. The photo that starts off that article was from a 14th B’Klyn reenactor group website (credited).

Sorry I got my Bull Runs Mixed up there for a second. We did a movie for the national park service for 1st and 2nd Bull Run a few years back, and we played out henry house hill. We were up there with the 11th New York and another Zouave Regiment, but I do stand corrected the 14th Brooklyn was the only Red-Breeched Soldiers on the field that day. You know as I re-read your post, I had to read through some literature I have from first hand experiences, and it all started to make sense. The 14th Brooklyn did go back and fourth up the hill and charge quite a few times up and down the hill, losing and retaking the battery up on Henry House Hill, so it is very feasible that some of the boys knowing that the 14th was going to come back up the hill probably would have done ambush type tactics to the confederates to disrupt their lines. The regiment itself was split between high class Brooklyn socialites and brawlers.

Why when they faced the Tiger Zouaves they stood and watched as the tiger zouaves leveled their muskets at the 14th. Right as they were about to open up on them, they dropped to the ground, most of the Volley from the tiger zouaves poured into the marine corps, who were in battle line behind the 14th brooklyn. Needless to say the marine corps to this day has some hard feelings toward that action. After the volley the tiger zouaves dropped their muskets, and pulled their bowie knives out and charged. The 14th mowed them down with great slaughter forcing them to retire and regroup. The first battle of bull run is one of the most interesting battles fought during the war in my opinion.

Most of the reports I have are hard copies, once I get sometime I will transcribe them over to electronic form and send them your way. Do you have a copy of the photo of Lewis Francis? We have his Pension Records on our site, we have all the records pretty much of every man who fought in the 14th.

*Sorry for the Novel, I just Love Waxing CW*
Frank

I’d like to see the 14th B’Klyn report to which you refer (if it’s not in the ORs). No, the 5th NY was not at Bull Run – they had taken part in the engagement at Big Bethel, and did not return to Baltimore until July 26. As far as I have been able to learn, and I have consulted a few Zouave afficianados, there was only one regiment wearing red pants at Bull Run, and that was the 14th B’Klyn. As I said, not only were the 11th not wearing red pants that day, at no time did their uniform include red pants – their Zouave outfit was gray, with red shirts.

There was at least one member of the 14th who received numerous bayonet wounds – Private Lewis Francis of Co. I is photograph #113 in Vol. 3 of the Otis Historical Archive which is reproduced in The Photographic Atlas of Civil War Injuries. He received at least 15 stab wounds, including one to the left testis (ouch), and his right leg was eventually amputated on October 28, 1861.

As a corrolary, I also believe that the accounts of wounded Zouaves being bayonetted on the field also refer to the 14th B’Klyn.

Yeah I was referring to the 14th Brooklyn’s Reports from the battle. They don’t show anything close to this, only that some confederates bayoneted a member of the 14th 32 times, causing a double amputation. I wasn’t saying that this event didn’t happen, I was only remarking on the fact that I have no evidence regards to this within the records of the 14th Brooklyn. I do believe however that the 14th was not the only Red Legged Regiment at 1st Bull Run, in fact the 5th New York Zouaves should have been there with there full red trousers and red fez. I am however going to dig deeper into the record book, the company I am apart of holds the original ledger and records book of the 14th Brooklyn. It contains notes and detailed reports in their handwriting from 1848 up until 1900 or so. I will look through it and see what i can find. Regardless of how terrible of an act it was, I do believe it was genious, and have heard of other regiments and soldiers doing similar things during the war. Only thing to me about the report that is very unsettling is that someone killed a confed while he was trying to give them water, thats just sad. I guess it all boils down to what General Sherman said, “War is Hell”

Great Post By the Way, if i find anything further on this I will post back. Check out our site if you haven’t already!

Frank