Wilmington journal., 1859-08-05
Conduct of the French Army.

Editorial Correspondence Of the New York Times.l
y : But n spite of all these drawbacks,
nothing can surpass the admirable manner in which this
gca army has been handled or the exemplary conduct
o. the soldiers during this whole campaign [ would
never have believed 1t possible that 900 mGn,-mere
Jdrs trained a separate and distinct power in the
State never held to fny very rigid responsibility to the
civil authorities, could be marched through foreign
country under burning sum- and under circumstances
d Great discomfort, with such absolute and COM
nc abstinence from everything like disorder as has
marked the passage of this immense force through
\ Nrthem Italy. Though | have been constantly, now
tor several days. in and about the camp, and have met
soldiers cycrywhere-in the streets, on the high roads,
in the fields at cafes and in private hOuses,-I have
yet heard Of solitary instance Of rude con-
duet OF rude language, on their part. do not
believe that any fire company or body of New York
O.ntCeTS ever went out for single day on target
eIcursion without exhibiting rowdysm " than
the whole French army has shown during the whole Of
tLs Italian campaign This is owing partly, presume
to the natural politeness of the French characer,for
s part of a Frenchman's nature never to encrOach
upon the private rights to wound the feelings of 9th
ee Much of it is due also to the discipline of the
lrmy-to its separate and isolated mode of existence
The sodicris taught to look at the camp for every
thing he needs with the world outside he has nothing
whatever to do He has claims upon it, and he has
never learned to make demands or to ask avors, from
it, ] saw three artilerymen at CastigliOne, who had
travelled to Bresca and back, thirty miles in burning
.r twenty hours. They were away from their camp,
and without money, and could therefore get nothing.
asked them if nobody had given them food They said
Go-u0 one had known of their hunger, and they did
MT hte to ask! This does not answer to the popular
notion Ot an invading armY,-Whch is generally sup
posed 10 eat its way through the country, sezing what
rrneeds and sweeping bare the region through which
taHCs its desoating way. There have been no more
welcome or popular taUee in Italy for years than this
French army They march only on the high roads they
@l,Coo Inv
&r which they have to sell-paying always full price
and in current COIN and if they hire CARTS oxen, mules
or donkeys for purposes of transportation they do by
Eur contract and with prompt pay On the day after
the battle met several peasants, who inquired OF me
The way to the Paymasters ofice-as they held written
warrants for small sums of money for having brought
aoad Of wounded from the field to the hospital fire.
nty saw soldiers come, covered with dust and ready
adop with fatigue, directly from the field into the lit
lie oI Of the place, and count out their with most
,10Puous accuracy, for drink OF VINE or piece OF
Bread
Another thing which struck me fOrciblv was the air
OF Indifference with which the soldiers seemed to treat
ue waoc affair of the fight. There was no appearance
@ olUItaOu, no excitement, indication whatever OF
auyhiug out of the ordinary course of things among
Them. did not hear shout, not a cheer, not song
rom them ALL They acted if they had done their
days WOrk,and were glad to rest a little and that
was all. The whole thing regarded by them as an
ordinary business transaction. The officers not
pace view of the engagement they had appreciated
MS Importance, and probably understood its difficulties
better than the mcn,and talked of it with correspond
ng warmth. But SO far any show of feeling was
concerned on the part of the troops you will never have
supposed they had been doing anything than dig
Canal or remove trhing obstacles out of the road over
"mch they had found it necessary to pass.
Nearly the whole French force, the night after Sol
auo cucamped On the field of battle. Some of those
nearest the Castig0ne came away mile or so to OBJ
fNIFf I1p+ C1Cly
oIhrlr of Iouayes rode up to subordinate who was
Standing me- and told him to go at once and place
men about certain field where he wished to encamp
and not let anybody else take it. He rode off and pres
tny brought his regiment up the road to the spot AS
y arrived they turned off into the orchard which Dor
uec le roadptChed their tents, htched their horses
men clustered around the spot where the cattle had beer
slaughtered and dressed and received their allowance
14t-and IN half hour their little fires were blazing
"d each was preparing the supper for which his day
work had, doubtless given him eager appetite. Thereg
nts that too far of for this, cOnt3nted hemselve
with clearing space of the dead, with which the whole
d was ncumbered and partakng of such fare as couC
most readily be brought up to them from the rear. Th
followers OF an army,-thOse I mean who not aCtua
'Abatants though ranked soldiers, abOrers &C.. &c
d" always very numerous and besides these, who art
1.uncd as troops there IS always immense number
persons who merely follow with carts, hand-Wagons
&C., Tiled with eatabes or drinkabes for sale. Ihes
volunteers are OF great service after such an engagement
ana Whenever there is any temporary interruption of th
Ieguar supplies. On the day of Soferno especially th
~ce@sltleS of the troops very great, as most
m were compelled to fight march from o'clock il
morning, after slight breakfart, without any othe
'FeShment, until 9 or 10 at night
An lrlshman observing dandy taking his usual strut
!" broadway, stepped up to him and inquired:
How much do you ak for thin houses?"
L What do you ask that for p? inquired the aston
" Faith ~ replied the Irishman an I thought th
0AoIe Htrate beoned to ye."