Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-06-13
PICTURES OF THE WAR.

March OF the French Troops over the Alps.
he following interesting extract is from q
letter written by Henry Trowbridge, Esq, Of
New Haven. and published in the New Haven
Journal and Courier Of June 9th:
GENEVA, May 4.-You will receive quite n
budget Ot letters by this steamer-that from
Florence written the day after the Revelation:
frrm Henoa, giving a hurried account of the
mn' 'ements OF troops at that point, Goth ult.:
from Turin, amidst scenes of intensest interest
Nav ID; and now have to acauaint Won ofour
leaving Turin mot deeming it prudent to expose
the ladies' in such immediate proximity of the
eOntest), at p. m. on Monday, for this city.
where We arrived safely 10 D. IN. Yesterday,
Leaving Turin, we took the ears for Susa at
the foot of the Alps, which usually occupies
about two hours, but being delayed by meeting
long trains Of ears flied with French soldiers
We did not arrive till twelve (midnighD. At
Susa n sublime scene awaited US. Immediately
Ia the large open space in rear of the depof
lJ.UDo OF the French army arrived during the
evenlng-some actively preparing to take (as
many rs eOuld) the ears. wilder midnight
scene can hardly be imagined. Camp-fifes,
with their dark line of smoke, throwing their
lurid lights upon the immense host; the sound
ing Of bugles, the hurrying too and fro of
officers, the columns marching was a scene long
10 be remembered. For two hours we were
in the mids: of all this, occupying. in common
with officers and soldiers, the cafe attached to
the depot. from the door of which we looked
0ai upOn the army, occupying even to the spot
where we stood, and by which they marched to
the ears, slxty-hVe of which. drawn by three
engines took their departure while We waited.
lt - strange what perfect sense of security
We felt surrounded by these regiments of
soldiers. They were under the most perfect
discipline. Not word was uttered that could
offend the susceptible. The officers were ex-
tTemely polite-even amidst the stern duties
devOlylng upon them under such circumstsn-
Il IL. IL
out polite salutatiOn. They, with their men.
were in high spirits, and, although having en-
dured march of 80 miles across Mount Gents.
since a. m. appeared fired with high entbu-
siasm for the fight. At 2 a. M we took the
Diligence. SIX in our party, Major FrankIyn,
ot the Indian army, Of which have in "a pri-
yate letter spoken, being the 9th. We com
menced the ascent with Is mules attached to
the Dilligence-the night very dark with dense
clouds and rolling thunder. At 5 a. IN. we
were we'll towards the summit, in the midst of
hesvy snow storm, the mountain being entire
ly covered with it. At 6 a. m we met the ad-
vance guard of the French. and soon the main
body were In sight, the columns marching at
ease (thGt Is, each man allowed to march and
carry his DUsket in the easiest way to him
Before We arrived at the foot of the mountain,
We had passed through over 1000 soldiers of
the empire. For two hours they were march
Ing through pelting snOw-stOrm. Was il not
''' tAOAA; OI the Alps,
To- encounter the French legioLs fired with zeal.
with their eagles at their heads, anxious again
tOmeet their old enemy of the fields OF Maronpo
and L0di' Whist q strange circumstance that
We should have been permitted to witness the
sublime sisht We were passing through their
columns constantly for six hours. The world
has never seen such rapidity Of movement as
has been exhibited by Napoleon, in bringing
on The Aeid of action his legiOns-Occupying in
their transit the sea. the passes of the Maritime
Alps, and the pass of Mount Cents The re-
sources of ;h0 Empire are seen in such move
mentS, and the enthusiasm and devotion Of the
aTihy T. tae Emperor cannot be mistaken in
their viv&s for the Empire and Emperor, con-
ttan;ly uttered by the advancing army At
The distance you are from the army, You might |
ea-iiy imagine danger in passing through such
legi"ns of armed men; but | assure YOU there
was not SinSie occurrence, even amid the wild
midnight scene at SGsa, or passing through the |
hosts "n the APPS which could have agitated the |
nerves Of the most timid. The shouts of ioy. |
ms our ladies waved their hsndkerchiefs to the
passing columns showed that grim war had not |
altogether blunted the finer sensibiities and
how snd then some particular expression of joy |
~ being noticed, from these devoted men
c'uid tat carry our thOug hts to the homes they
hsd lett, many of them forever and to their
gray haired sires and mothers, and to wonder
when the time would arrive when war shall
cel-e. and the ''swOrd shall be turned into
Pi1GShshares." l am so rcjOiced that we did
n't listen to the crOakings Of the timid and 90
~ the way of Marseiiles, for we have had q
litiuTe pass in view that can never be effaced
from our memory.