The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-30 00:00:00

TEE FRENCH ARMY OF THE NORTH.

BOULOGNE, Sept. 28.—The sham-fight which ha
been so long looked forward to took place yester
day, and far exceeded the highest expectations o
what it would be. From 60,000 to 65,000 met
were present, and, although greater musters have
been seen for purposes short of actual warfare, pro•
bably on no former occasion have such large num-
bers of soldiers been connected with so faithful and
close a representation of a real battle. In every
respect but the sad scene of the dead and the dying
the spectacle was complete. A broad distinction
must be drawn between this sham-fight and the one
which took place the other day at Marquise. That
viasa long advance in the face of an enemy, accom-
panied, indeed, by a considerable expenditure of
gunpowder—but of which the rapidly-executed
mancenvres were the chief feature. Yesterday, on
the contrary, the spectacle exhibited was a regular
pitched battle, with upwards of
30,000 men on
either side, and the shock et
arms such as takes
place when decisive victories—those which deter-
mine the fate of nations—are contended for. A
general may have his position turned by a dexte-
rous movement of his adversary, and be placed at
a great disadvantage thereby; but the large
to
oesitiiilitns
dependent upon the fortunes of war below, who conquers on a well-fought field. The repre-
sentation of a pitched battle, therefore, is
the
grandest of military spectacles, just as its real
enactment is the most terrible If what is here
related of yesterday's sham-fight does not preserve
all the proprieties of the subject, it is due to the
number of different ways in which an event may
be regarded. Even the fact that it assembled to-
gether and collected in one view the whole Army of
the North is not without its interest ; that army
mustered upon the frontiers of France for enter-
prises which the future still dimly foreshadows.
How many reflections does such a fact suggest ?
Who can tell where the 60,000 actors in the bloodless
strife of yesterday may next close their serried ranks
iu combat ; and what the strife, its prizes and its
sacrifices, may be ? Another consideration which
may not be withheld from this spectacle is that
which is due to the presence of the Empress.
Young and handsome, well mounted, too, on her
d applegray An dalusian palfrey, with herpicturesque
Spanish riding hat, set off by a snow white plume
that danced and fluttered as she rode—who could
see without emotion this last and most graceful
accession to the sovereign families of Europe watch-
ing, for the first time, how the soldiers fight who
put her husband upon the throne of France ? Per-
haps the presence of old Prince Jerome should also
be mentioned. He did pot arrive until the sham-
fight was half over, but his being there at all con-
stitutes a portioa of the historic interest which the
event may, without, exaggeration, be considered
to possess.

The district of country between Escceuilles and
Desvres has hitherto been indicated as that where
the sham-fight would probably take place, but it
is too much enclosed to admit of any extensive field
operations, and the locality actually chosen by the
Emperor proved to be far better adapted for that
purpose. It is situated on the road from Desvres
to St. Omer, by Courtraux and Senbecques, and
is one of those wide, undulating expanses of stubble
and ploughed land which seem carefully kept open
on the Contineht that battles may be fought on
them. The troops coming from the four coast
camps set out for the place of rendezvous on Tues-
day, but did not march beyond the eastern verge
of the Foret de Boulogne, where, in a long line
stretched out en both sides of the Desvres high-
way, they bivouacked for the night. The posi-
tion they thus occupied was one of considerable
strength, for they had a valley in front and the
wood behind for shelter, in case of need. The
artillery and Chasseurs were in front, and pickets
thrown out as in actual service. There was
nothing very worthy of remark in this mode of
bivouacking as compared with that of our
own army, except, of course, the use of the
Arab tent, which has already been frequently de-
scribed. It may, perhaps, however, be mentioned
that in picketting the horses there are some modifi-
cations of the English practice ; one is to stretch
the rope to which they are tied on the level of the
ground, so that there is no tendency to stumble
over it in the dark and kick ; another, but more
objeptionable novelty, is the plan of tying horses
bead-to-head on each side of the rope. How the
troops came from Helfaut, or where they bivou-
acked on Tuesday night, we are not able to state,
but yesterday, at half-past 11 o'clock, they had
reached the eastern side of the open ground near
Courtraux. There they were joined by the bat-
talions from Equihem, a portion of the St. Omer
cavalry force going over to the battalions from the
three camps on the western side. Thus the army
became divided into two opposing hosts, each shel-
tered from the other by the lay of the ground, and
not very unequal in point of numbers. On the
cast of the proposed battle-field were the troops of
Equihem and lielfitut, with their proper comple-
ment of artillery and cavalry, under the command
of General Schramm ; on the west, those of Hon-
vault, Wimereux, and Ainbleteuse, with artillery
and cavalry, led on by the Emperor in person.
The weather was superb—not a cloud in the sky,
and yet a pleasant coolness abroad which helped to
keep the soldiers fresh. They were all in light
marching order, having left their tent poles behind
them. The Emperor reached the ground about 10
o'clock; the first hour and a half was spent by him
in seeing that the troops on both sides were pro- I
perly placed. Shortly before 12 o'clock the Empress
arrived at Courtraux, and, mounting on horse-
back, was conducted at once by the Emperor to the !
spot where the fight was to commence. A valley,
open to the eye in every point, yet finely undulated
and crowned by low heights, behind which the
more advanced battalions of the Emperor's coin-
nand lay concealed, separated the two armies. The
position and arrangements of each indicated that it
was aware of the immediate presence of the other,
and that a battle was imminent ; but Schramm's
corps was exposed to view, as, in fine order, it
formed line and threw out skirmishers on the
eastern slope. Gradually, and as if feeling their
way, the leading battalions of the Emperor's army
showed themselves upon the edge of their side of
the valley, and then the firing commenced by a I
dropping fire on Schramm's side. This had not
continued long when the front rank of the Einpe-
roes troops opened, and a regiment of Hussars
rushing through made a rapid advance upon the
enemy's centre, throwing out skirmishers. It was
a movement very imposingly executed, but horse
and rider wore soon compelled to beat a precipitate
retreat, and Schramm, emboldened by his first suc-
cess, moved up to a closer attack. The Emperor
now brought forward his artillery, first on the
heights to the right of his position, then at the
centre, and last of all to the left. He also a.,1-
vanced his foremost battalions, and skilfully avail- .
ing himself of some cover in doing so, brought a
larger number of men to the front. A tremendous
fusillade now raged along the lines on either side
for some time, and the fronts wore rapidly ex-
tended by bodies of troops brought up from the
rear. Some of Schramm's battalions, threatened
by the Emperor's cavalry, once more formed
square, and, being this time within close range of a
batteryon the heights, must have been tremendously
cut up by it. It was therefore necessary to throw
out skirmishers and fall back, so that the attack
upon the Emperor's strong position on the heights
had been successfully resisted. He now began to
advance his line, still extending it at the same time
until it reached from one end of the open. apace to
the other. The left wing gradually inclined further
forward than the right ; the centre rested on the
St. Omer road ; and the right was gradually thrown
back, in order apparently to get round a projecting
piece of woodland, from which Schramm could be
assailed on his left flank. While this operation was
in progress, a heavy musketry fire was kept up,
especially along the centre, the opposing forces ex- I
changing withering volleys at short distances. For- I
tune appeared still to declare herself in favour of
the Emperor, and his opponent was driven back
still further upon his own side of the valley,
whence he had advanced to attack the heights.
Schramm had hitherto made little use of his artil-
lery, but it was now brought up to cover his
backward movement. The Emperor's batteries
replied, and on the right his reserves were brought
forward further down into the valley, as if to sup-
port the movement which was in progress at the
extreme verge of the wing in that direction. On
the centre and left he appeared reluctant to forego
his strong position on the heights, and, in conse-
quence, the direction of his front changed, the
right wing being thrown considerably in advance '
of the left. Schramm's lines being withdrawn to
a still greater distance on the St. Omer-road the
battle now resolved itself into a demonstration of
artillery—the musketry fire ceasing,
except upon
the right, where there was some skirmishing. At
this stage there was a good deal of mauouvring on both sides, the exact object of which no one seemed
able to explain, but, finally, Schramm's left having
been successfully assailed, a strong force was de-
tached from the Emperor's left to bdrive him back
on his right flank also. The consequence was a
further backward movement into around splendidly
adapted for cavalry operations, though, in this re-
spect,
there was no portion of the field of battle
which could be considered unfavourable. Before,
however, entering upon that part of the display,
the Emperor made a short pause—partly to rest
the troops, but also to await the arrival of Prince
Jerome, who, with a party of ladies, at this time
came upon the field. When the fight was resumed
a general advance was ordered, and the battalions
of infantry, in dense columns, threw themselves
across the valley which had hitherto been the scene
of the contest. Theyform.e4 the contra aa4 right