The Charles Curie Bust in Paterson, New Jersey’s Eastside Park is not a figure that many of us could identify, let along tie to the Civil War. Curie was an immigrant from France who immigrated to the United States as a small boy. He grew up in Paterson. When war broke out, Curie was still a teenager, but he enlisted just two weeks after the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter. Curie joined the 9th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Hawkins Zouaves as a private. In 1863, he became a 1st Lieutenant in the 178th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment and he was later promoted to captain. After the war, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in New York. In the 1870s he was elected captain of the Paterson Light Guard in New Jersey, a National Guard unit.
The bust is directly across from Paterson’s Civil War Monument.
The Hawkins’ Zouaves were a volunteer military club founded by Rush C. Hawkins. The battle flag of the regiment said in French “9th Regiment, N. Y. V., Toujours Prêt,” which means “Always Ready.”
Curie was wounded at Antietam. He was not alone. 240 out of the 373 Hawkins Zouaves were killed, wounded, or captured at Antietam.
After the war Curie became very active in veterans’ affairs. He was Commander of the Department of New Jersey, G.A.R., in 1905 and he served as the President of the Society of the Army of the Potomac.
All color photos were taken by Pat Young unless otherwise noted. To see more sites Pat visited CLICK HERE for Google Earth view.
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