The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-09-04

Of the French Zouaves, a corps imperfectiy
understood in this country at the time Of his
report, is highly picturesque.
"With his graceful dress gallant bearing,
and yigilant attitude, the zouave at an out
post is the beau ideal of a soldier lie
praises the gymnastic system Of instruction
/ in France, and declares that the efficiency OF
its infantry is in no small degree attrib ltable
to the great attention paid to gymnastics,
scaling walls, swimming, fencing with the
bayonet, singing, dancing, and reading,
| throughout the army. One suggestion de-
serves special attention, as corning from him,
He SAYS the French officers, both. whale in
quarters and in the field, bestow the utmost
care upon the comfort and well being Of the
men, "rightfnlly regarding that as. the most
essential element to insure efficiency, con-
terate6ness, and wiling obedience" He adds:
t"This example cannot be too strongly, urged
for imitation" EIc highly cosamends the
! solidity, stesdiness,. and discipline of the
Russian infantry. and pronounces TIE Sar-
dinian infantry Gas among the, best in Eu-
rope.r He states the fact--worthy of all
consideration in country whose summers
are as hot as ours-that the Russian and
Sandman troops are furnished with linen
coats and pants for warm weather. In de-
scribing the Russian hospitals, he calls them
| "tthe models OF The world" for comfort. con
veniencer cleanliness, and tender care for the
sick, and, in conclusion, adds: "Iwould call
attention to this system, as being eminently
worthy of consideration, in the event of the
establishment of large temporary hospitals
during a war or any concentration Of large
number Of troops" He applauds, in warm
terms, the French commissariat, and the "a
cility and skin which that versatile. gay, and
agile people show in adapting themselves 10
camp life and especially in cooking and pre-
pairing savory dishes frora ration list on
which an Englishman. or a Yankee would
starve gut the fare meted out 70 the Rus
sim, soldier, if served up to our, vol
unteers, would raise greater disturbance
than any which has vet occurred in the army
| of the Potomac He thus describes the daily
round OF the Russian infantry soldier
breakfast. simply Of bread and salt, with a
/ little brandy. Dinner, ut il o'closk. of bread
and soup, made of meat, cabbage &c. Sup.
! per, at 4 O'clock, Of, bread and soup. or oat.
meal porridge. The bread is brqwni both
it and :he soup are course and acid but they
are nutricious and plentiful The acidi,y is
agreeable to the taste Of the Russians" The
writer's for the London press, who were with
the allies in the Crimea, describe the Rus.
sian bread as black, coarse, and Disgusting
( to the last degree From the contents of the
| haversacks of the Russians taken, or who
| fell at Inkermann, and other engagements
near Sevastopol, it anpelred that this black
bread was the only ration served out to the
mon Bat, though our volunteers would not
relish the Rus sian rations, some of them
might feel compensated, therefore, by the sill
fperiority Of the uniforms which Capt Me-
/ Clellan describes as stout, serviceable, and
good Nearly two-thirds of McClallan's
work is devoted to cavalry Ia notice of which
! must be POSTPONED till another time.