2-969-901 - /Heritage Images

Distribution of Medals, by the Emperor of the French, to Zouaves from the Crimea, [Paris], 1856. A very gratifying reward of the bravery of heroes from the Crimea...took place in the Bois de Boulogne, when the Emperor...presented medals to a number of Zouaves who have recently arrived from Sebastopol. The Emperor shook hands with each Zouave as he gave him the medal. The Zouaves were in full dress, and wore their characteristic white turbans...his Majesty remarked in the last platoon two men who had been wounded, but had not received any decoration...[he] then spoke a few words to one of his aides-de-camp, who went into the palace, and returned with two military medals, which his Majesty himself attached to their breasts, and at the same time shook them by the hand. On this incident being noticed by the crowd...a loud cry of "Vive l'Empereur!" rose on all sides'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.