With their dashing, brightly coloured uniforms the zouave light infantry regiments were involved in all major American Civil War battles. There were several renowned zouave regiments in Union service such the 14th Brooklyn, Fire Zouaves and Duryée's Zouaves.
 
Fighting on horseback and armed with pistol, sabre and carbine, the role of cavalry during the civil war was more as mounted infantry, reconnaissance and patrol units rather than the shock cavalry of previous eras. Skirmishers were an important element of armies of both sides, providing skirmish screens for main units and harrying enemy flanks.
 
This plastic set provides enough models to field a complete Union brigade comprising one zouaves regiment of 100 men, a regiment of cavalry, a regiment of dismounted cavalry and a regiment of skirmishers.