Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-09
MISCELLANY.
WOgk AND PLAY " A FRENCH sAur
from tho St. James Mag lzinel.

From the st. James Nag lzlnel.
The train hated, and found myself
at Petit MourmelOn, a village where the
camp of Chalons has its beginning. =
Inst aad of following the main road,
which runs with long curve to Grand
Mourmelon. avillage rapidly attaining
the proportions of a town, at once
started for the camp proper. The in
fantrv are qaartered nearest the railway
station. ana send out their trdUileurS as
far as the high road. where they teaze
the women bringing provisions to the
various rest lurautS. Whole battalions
were at work in charging the barracks,
which are made out of branches of
Young trees, and of the cottages. The
framework, formed of slender trees, is
covered with layer of clay, and a sort
of wall is produced IN this fashion. =
While entire companies were occupied
in erecting the framework, others were
busted in trenching and digging. The
huts are rooted with straw, and the
building. though so rapidly run up, has
a cOmpactness and sOlidity which makes
IL resemble a comfortable dwelling
house. There Is a plaIk flooring in
each hut, forming an inclined plane
with the outer walls, so as to constitute
a bedsted A row of pegs for hanging
IN accoutrements Is the sole furniture
OF the room. which derives its light
from few side lnophOles, and is tOler-
ably dark inside when the outer door is
closed.
The infantry camp, by itself, forms a
large barrack town, with numerous
streets named after the latest glorious
exploits of the French army. The prin-
cipal street has been chrisJeGed Solfe-
rino. The streets are admirable as re-
CARDS the lines of communication. They
are lined with two rows of paving stones,
and the earth in the centre is stamped
down so hard, and the curve kept so
oval. that you may fancy yourself on
MacadamiZed road. Comfort has been
attended to in a remarkable degree. In
front of each hut are earth seats cover
Ell with turf. Small gardens surround
the huts, and the beds are enclosed,
sumo with small blue stones, others with
laboriousIy collected small shells, which
torn a very pleasant contrast with the
rather gloomy background of the ugly
looking Int.
Life In this barrack town is remark
are made of straw or clay-the former
resemble awful scarcecrOws-Stand at
every corner. Hundreds of soldiers are
dragging in straw, bags of bread and
wood. The distribution OF the last
named article is very interesting sight.
Several hundred loads of wood lie scat
tered about on the ground. The whole
resembles agigantic funeral pyre, on
which q hundred forms are covering
while waiting the auto dG fe of which
they are TO be the victims. But the
affair terminates more peacefully. The
sergeants distribute the wood to the
men, the latter imprnvise out of the
longest logs a litter, ON which the wood
Is piled, and before you can look round,
the square Is cleared, and the hundred
loads of wood, half forest, are IN mo-
tion.
At some spots the TROOPS are busy
an digging up the ground, and forming
a circular hollow in which the watch
fire viii be kindled at night. Round
the russell hearth. lie fellows who have
DOTTED their uniform, and are prepar-
ing the meal in their blouses. One
splits wood, a second places the iron
pots on the logs, while a third main
tGins the heat. Here man grasps the
huge ladle, dips it into the pot, whose
contents he actively stirs up, so tath the
soup flies with kissing sound. There
another tries the food by raising the
iron spoon with the smoking broth to
his lips, and then quietly returning it
TO the depths of the company's caul-
drOn. A party of soldiers has gathered
round q mountain of potatoes, and
while their companions are cleaning
their muskets close by, and pipeclay-
Ing their belts. these gipsy-like gentry,
crouching on the ground, sharpen their
knives, and scrape the pota toes, which
are then thrown into the cauldron.
Further on, recruits are being drilled,
and drummers exercised. Presently a
strengthening party comes along the
road. Their caps sit crooked their
coats are thrown over their shoulders
and in their hands they have common
cudgels. do not know what to make
of these gentry in shirt sleeves, till the
sentries present arms, and / discover
that inspection Is taking place. These
comfortable gentlemen are officers
eolOnels, majors, captains, and subal-
terms, all mixed up together The
Asnd instead of holding sword, is
buried in the depths of the trowser
pocket. The chest Is bare one has
two epaulets on his tunic, another one,
aud the third none at all. Then the
gentlemen stroll down the lines, hating
now and then TO look at the merry sol
dier's games which are going on.
A blanket is spread ont, and held at
each corner nv iOur rnuScuIar faiIo1vs
In the meanwhile other soldiers look
about for a victim. Some unsusplcious
man Is dragged from his harmless avoca-
cation, and in spite of his resistance,
thrown upon the blanket. The latter is
pulled tight. There is shout of lone,
TWO, three T. and mp flies the helpless