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

served for the more distinguished guests, in another

Urger 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 Carassiers, who was

killed in one of the charges in the last manoeuvre, ho
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.
Iu the evening there was a retraite by torchlight;
several hundred soldiers with torches forming a
circle round a couple of hundred drummers and

luglers, 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-

,ngs.

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 ,4 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 ab WO 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 worth of command. When it came to
the loading the Marshal either on purpose or because
he remembered 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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