Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1862-02-27
THE FRENCH ARMY.
IT'S DISCIPLINE DESCRIBED BY A
TRAVELLER.

'ne OF the best developed bodies
Of men that the world has ever
seen. Formed almost entirely of
nonscripts,. the sons of honest falni-
lies, it draws its strength from
the best blood of the nation.-I
For seven years they are kept cir
culating through France, except
when each regiment takes its turn
in Algiers. Thus the entire coun-
try is known to the entire army,
from the thronged capital to the
most quiet provincial town. The
ideas OF the most ignorant are en-
larged and their minds expanded,
as they are drawn away from the
contracted circles of their little
communea; and the sons of the
poorest villagers enjoy the pleas
ures and reap the profits Of travel.
Each individual of this mass is
taught to walk, to stand, to run,
to jump, to swim, to climb, to ham
die the small sword and the broad
sword, to manage the musket and
the bayonet with such skill as not
only to slay his enemy far off or
near at hand, but to protect HIM
self against more numerous bavo-
nets, or against the long sword of
the trooper, or even the far reach
ing and more formidable lance.
Paris is the center Of this sys-
tenn, and having ore day obtained
the necessary permit, | had an
opportunity of seeing how sedu-
lousy this training is attended to.
lice were not more than half a
dozen soldiers exercised at this
time, but it must he remembered
that those who show most fitness
for the task are chosen and drilled
most thoroughly, SO that in their
turn they may become teachers in
their several regiments.
After some of the more ordina-
ry gymnastic feats, three men
were placed in front of an end
wall, against which were three
platforms, rising one above the
other to the roof. Each of the up
per platforms was smaller than the
one below it, by about eighteen
inches, enough to make comfort
able standing room for q man.
Each platform had three equal
faces, forming half heNagon, and
just under the edge of each face
Of each of the platforms was firm
y fastened a round iron bar 50 that
If a man was not tail enough to
jump and catch the edge of the
platform he might catch the bar
below. l forgot to mention that
each platform was about seven
feet high, and, besides being fas-
tened to the wall, was supported
by wood work below, but so far
from the edge as not to interfere
with the men.
Three soldiers were placed in
front of these platforms, standing
on the ground, and each opposite
one Of the faces. The moment
the word of command was given
each man jumped at the edge of
the first platform; caught it; raised
himself SO as tc turn up one elbow,
and SO got on the top; jumped in
like mannerat the second platform,
got on it, and then upon the third.
All this wis done SO quickly, in
fact with such rapidity, that L
could readily understand the con-
fusion of the Austrians at the
startling movements Of the French
soldiers. Ii seemed but an instant
before the same three soldiers
who had been standing motionless
upon the ground in front of the
platforms were. standing just as
motionless upon the highest plat
form, waiting for the next COM
mand. AT the word they de-
scended in the same way, and stood
once more upon the ground.
Ina yard attached to the gym
nasium | noticed a jumping ditch
some two feet deep and about
tour feet wide at one end, spread
ing out to about nine feet on the
other. 1t was about ten feet long
80 that the widening was sufficient
y gradual.
Here was also a strong plank
fence, with a roof on top, forming
1 sort of a shed, with the back
toward you, and about fifteen feet
nigh. The roof did not lap over
The fence, but was securely fas-
,ened to it, as was also a strongI