The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-27 00:00:00

THE _FRENCH ARMY.

(From the Correspondent of the Times.)
CAMP OF CHALONS, AUG. 23.
Decidedly the Emperor's visit to the camp was
very different from visits of soldier-playing Sove-
reigns, who fell, as it were, in their element in
having thus the material tangible sight of their own
power placed before their eyes. With them it is a
satisfying of their vanity, sometimes a professional
enthusiasm, or even a hobby. Here it is a matter
of business, and is treated as such. The army is
an instrument exceedingly valuable and requiring
the closest attention ; but it is regarded less from
a purely military than a general political point of
T iew.

. _
It must never be forgotten that the army in
France represents a considerable proportion of the
popular element to whose verdict the present dynasty
owes its rise. It was therefore highly important to
make this most powerful section of the people Impe-
rialist. The task was scarcely less difficult than it
was after 1815 to substitute a Bourbon army for
the debris of the army of the First Empire. Every
one knows how tenacious armies are in their tradi-
tions, which form the real link of union in them,
and for the want of which no organisation or disci-
pline can ever make up. The Bourbons never suc-
ceeded in their task because they had supplied no
traditions except the military promenade to Spain.
They eliminated carefully the Napoleonic element,
but substituted nothing for it, and when the try-
ing moment came the whole fabric crumbled away.
Not so the Orleanists, who saw the advantages
which were offered in this respect by the footing
which had been gained in Algeria, and improved
upon such a welcome opportunity. Eighteen years
of small but harassing warfare under peculiar cir-
cumstances created a new generation of soldiers
from top to bottom. One after another the Royal
Princes were sent there to identify the army with
the dynasty, and the result was a thoroughly Alge-
rian •Orleanist army. If it played the part it did in
1848 it was owing to a want of resolution and
energy in those who had done so much to pre-
pare an instrument which they did not know how
to use. The army felt deeply its avillissement, and
seized the first opportunity when it was called upon
to rehabilitate itself:
The Emperor seems to have understood this
thoroughly, as well as the uselessness of attempting
to revive long extinct traditions: Marengo, Aus-
terlitz, Wagram were dead words to the existing
French army, except to those tottering remains
of it which come from time to time piously to lay
down their crowns of immortelles on the railing of
the Colonne de la Place Vendome. French soldiers
he found knew only in general that the French
army had gone all over Europe, but entertained
themselves in garrison and camp with tales of Afri-
can bivouacs, or coquins d'Arabes of Constantine,
Oran, Isly, &c. They could only be weaned from
these traditions by substituting new ones. The
Crimea and Italy have done the business in a great
measure. Algeria is a thing of the past, of which,
like many past glories, you will shortly see the re-
mains only in absinthe and coffee. However, the
Emperor is not the man to do things by halves.
The process of substituting Napoleonic for Orleauist
ideas goes on in peace as much as in war. The
formation of the Imperial Guard, reviving an old
tradition with palpable advantages, the gradual
improvement of the soldier's prospects, the thorough
change in the uniforms and in the evolutions, are
all steps which serve to further the great purpose.
Many more changes seem to be yet contemplated—
first, the abolition of the rule which counted each
year passed in Algeria as a campaign, that is two
years' service. When this rule was established
Algeria was in a chronic state of warfare which
more or less justified it, especially if the hardships
even of a march through those districts were taken
into consideration. Now all this is changed, and I
am not sure whether this or next year the old rule
is to cease—a deathblow to the interest in Algeria
and everything military connected with it. It be-
comes a garrison, like any other, only hotter,
with 'worse absinthe and better coffee. Another
Orleanist tradition exists in the Chasseurs a Pied,
originally Chasseurs de Vincennes, or d'Orleans,
from the Prince d'Orleans, who first formed them.
A choice corps, better paid, it was not looked upon
by the mass of the infantry with much affection,
although everyone admitted its goodness.. But now
that there is an Imperial Guard, la creme de la
creme, and that besides the whole infantry is armed
with rifles and exercised as riflemen, what is the
use of such an inconvenient tradition ? It has lost
its meaning. The knife, or rather the pen, is raised
to put an end to the existence of this corps. It will
be formed into regiments, I hear.
But the transformation into a Napoleonic army
would not be complete without establishing a direct
link between the army and the person of the Em-
peror and his family. Not to go to the Crimea was
probably one of the greatest sacrifices made by the
Emperor to the English alliance. The campaign
in Italy made up for it. Solferino, Magenta, the
general success, are a stronger link than a razzia in
Algeria, It is no more the War Department or a
Marechal who is the ruling genius of the army and
everything connected with it; it is the Emperor—
not the Emperor who opened the campaign in 1857,
but the Emperor who has proved himself a soldier.
The yearly visit to Chalons, which before 1859
might have called forth a smile from the soldier,
has now another meaning. This year it received
an additional interest by the application of the new
evolutions introduced.
These two objects were followed up during the
Emperor's visit with the usual perseverance, the
first having decidedly the larger share ; and natu-
rally so, for the aim was not to try an experiment
about things to be applied, but to test the value of
changes already introduced, so as to see whether
modifications are required. Marshal *Mahon, re-
puted one of the best officers in the army, was com-
missioned to see the troops perfected in the new
system, and the Emperor came only to see how it
answered. Therefore, during the whole time only
two large manoeuvres took place, while the rest of
the time passed•away in reviews, inspections, visits,
fireworks, races, &c.
There was a third object eontemplated,the meet-
ing with his Majesty of Prussia, for which
doubled
;n
the number of troops would have been
but as this did not come off the orders given were
countermanded. For Prince William of Baden,
who has spent this week here the display was suffi-
ciently large.
As you know, to-day another great manoeuvre
was predicted, but the prediction proved false, for.
it was the day of the final review and of the depar-
ture. -Wednesday concluded the strictly military
part of the proceedings.
Yesterday afternoon the races took place. Four
prizes—first two given by the Emperor, and second
two given by the Director-General des Haras, Ge-
neral Fleury—were run for in two steeplechases,
the competitors being, with one or two exceptions,
officers of the Lancers ; the horses chargers trained
by a couple of months' hard manoeuvring ; the I
ground the least parched spot in a depression of
ground behind the Imperial quarters; the fences
frames of lathwork, 18 inches high, with fir-
branches of an additional foot high entwined ; the
distance 1,800 meters; and the riding full of good
intentions.
The Emperor was there in his char-a-bane re-

served for the more distinguished guests, in another
larger one the respective suites, and the Prince Im-

perial, with his bonne, in a pony phaeton, or, as
they call it here, a " Victoria."
One of the officers in the first race contrived to
let his horse down on his knees at the last fence, just

before the winning post. He was stunned, but, more
fortunate than an officer of the Curassiers, who was

killed in one of the charges in the last manceuvre, he
escaped with a few scratches on his face. The Em-
peror, who was sitting in his phaeton, got down to
see whether the officer was hurt. This gave me a

better opportunity of seeing him than I had at the
manoeuvres. He looks older and stouter than he

did in Italy, and seems to have some difficulty in

walking. All this does not appear when he is on
horseback, but is very visible on foot.

In the evening there was a retraite by torchlight ;
several hundred soldiers with torches forming a
circle round a coaple of hundred drummers and
buglers, and the whole starting from the right wing
of the huts across the open space towards the Im-
perial head-quarters, and after a short stoppage
the mass splitting itself into a number of smaller
groups, each taking a different direction, and re-
turning to their respective corps.
On the open space between the huts and the head-
quarters the great review took place this morning.
The village and the huts behind it are, as I told
you, built in the depression formed by the little
stream which runs along the northern part of the
camp. On the corresponding southern rise, about
1,000 yards off, lie the head-quarters, so that a
splendid view was obtained of the whole proceed-•
in gs.

The troops came up in columns of battalions, by
divisions of two companies, and formed three sides of
a square, the Imperial Pavilion Headquarters form-
ing the fourth ; the cavalry, with the artillery, facing
the pavilion, and the infantry occupying the two
other sides. All the infantry, in their new uniforms
and looking their best, the large Staff, the Cent-
Gardes, the Guides, the sprinkling of foreign officers,
not to forget the Prince Imperial in his corporal's uni-
form on his pony—all this, together with the fine
day and the fresh breeze of the plateau, made the
review a magnificent military sight. When the
Marshal commanding had convinced himself that
all was right, the Emperor got on his chestnut horse
and passed along the front of the line.
Then, placing himself in the centre, he began the
distribution of crosses and medals—a regular shower;
which lasted a good while, the recipients, officers
and men, being drawn up in front of the line of
troops, and advancing one by one to receive the
much-coveted distinctions from the hands of the
Emperor himself.
This over, the order for marching past was given.
The troops marched down towards the right flank of
the camp, so as to get room to form, while the Em-
peror went in the opposite direction. Three divi-
sions of infantry, two divisions of cavalry, and 12
batteries—in all considerably more than 20,000 men
—took less than an hour. The forming, which
seems to be the favourite one for marching under
the .new regulation, was by divisions of two com-
panies in columns of battalion at full distance, the
cavalry by divisions of two squadrons, and the
artillery by batteries. The pace of the infantry was
double-quick, the cavalry cantered, and the artillery
trotted.
I have seen infantry pass in more regular lines,
but, with the exception of Bersaglieri, never at such
a pace-110 to 115 to the minute. Nothing could be
better than the pace of the artillery. As for the
cavalry, the Lancers, who have been under the
Marshal's thumb since the opening of the camp,
passed tolerably ; the Cuirassiers, who arrived but
lately, left much to be desired. But, as I have a
good deal to say on this subject, I must leave it for
another occasion. The review was over by half-
past 9, and at 11 the Emperor left for Plombieres ;
the Duke William of Baden for, I suppose, his own
paternal estates.
I don't know what the conclusions of the Emperor
may be with respect to the new changes introduced,
and to what further modifications his own observa-
tions and the report of the Marshal will give rise ;
but the object of showing himself again, and intro-
ducing his son, has certainly been obtained under
favourable circumstances, and has produced a good
effect.

First, it was in every respect a holiday to be
gratefully remembered. Pei emptory orders were
given for the instruction of officers and soldiers in
the new evolutions; every officer to pass before a
commission in theory as well as practice, and Mar-
shal M'Mahon chosen to carry out the order. From
5 to 11, and from 1 to 6 in the afternoon, was
constant work, and it must be remembered that all
evolutions are made at the double quick, pas gym-
nastique, or pas de course, and in a temperature of
from 70 to 90 Fahrenheit during the greater part
of the time. Every one complains of being ereinte,
but the soldiers look in first-rate condition. During
the Emperor's stay almost all divisional exercise was
stopped, and only three field-days—one small, and
two reviews—were held. Besides this actual rest
there were the festival of the 15th, the races, and
the influx of visitors to break the monotony of the
weary camp life. One must have lived this life in
order to understand the luxury of the smallest
allowance in this respect. One new face, especially
with a bonnet behind it, makes the day look
brighter.
These soldiers, like most other people, like to be
petted and made much of. However N% ell cared for,
if they are not looked after by those who are highest
they feel neglected. The Emperor made the most
of this. He was always among them, often walk-
ing, going to the theatre, to the church in the
village, inspecting everything, and having some-
thing to say to every one. The French soldier has
not that abject feeling of fear of those very high
above him which is seen among soldiers of other con-
tinental armies. His immediate superiors up to the
captain are in constant, almost familiar, intercourse
with him, the difference being smaller between them
than between the superior officer and his subaltern.
If anything, the French soldier is rather given to
ridiculing what is above him, but there is no danger
in this respect with the Emperor. He began by
making himself feared, and there is no danger now
in his making himself popular.
As for the presence of the Prince Imperial, it was
a decided success. He was about as much as his
father at the reviews and manoeuvres, either in his
carriage or on his pony, riding about among the
men, and chatting with them at every occasion he
could seize. Now, French soldiers are exceedingly
fond of children, and the most formidable bearded
Zouave, who has fired no end of Arab villages, is
converted by the smile of a child into a tender
nurse. Besides, I hear the child is lively, and very
intelligent for his age.
All kinds of stories are already retailed in camp.
To quote one; the Emperor invited during his stay
every evening the superior officers of another divi-
sion to dinner. Those of the Third Infantry Division
were there the day Marshal Canrobert arrived.
After dinner the gallant Marshal asked the boy
whether he had already gone through the manual
exercise. The boy brought his musket and the Mar-
shal gave the words of command. When it came to
the loading the Marshal either on purpose or because
he runembered old things vaguely, commanded
" Ouvrez le bassinet" (priming), when the boy
quietly answered, " You have forgotten your regle-
ment, there are now percussion caps." Whether true
or not, such stories remain current, and show that
the " moutard," as he is irreverently called, is
popular.

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