, 1870-08-07
How They mnrch-Whot n French
Soldier Carries,

How They march-what n french
SoTdler Carries.
Ftp,n ~ Lsndoa fsts7rnpA.
Tho whole Of tho Imperial Guard has now
lef, Paris. The last regiment that left-the
Fourth Voltigeurs-wete marched mp to L.
villette this afternoon. The weather VAS in
tensely hot; the sui converted the long ave-
nue. to which King Hanssmapn hss giren his
nh1ne into perfect oren, and the march must
men were picked men, very different from
some OF the line tatta1ioua which went on
last week, and carried cheeEfully md with IN
elastic step tho enormous load with which thsy
we're laden. Whcu will Generals and men in
authority take the advies given 70 many yeaEs
and acted On, believe, by Havelock In 1ndia,
and +'Stonera1r' Jackson in the American
war? This advice, which is founded on e1-
perieuce OF real warfare, Kas to the effect
that to retain his sfieiancy - fighting
nan the infantry Soldiers impedsH'enfd should
be reduced to minimum, and that the weight
be has to carry should be reduced by two
thirds at the very least. Aatahsl Nfal did hts
rery best to eject this By organizing regi-
mental tzain, con4ieting OF ono horse two
tsched to each company. But he died before
the organization Of this t'regimental'' train
could be completed, and the number Of these
eafta is 60 iae.guitcaut that only tho 1nperiA
Qua d has hsd about dozen distributed to
each regiment, and they are used for the gnr-
pose Of carrying spare ammunition only. The
result il, that tnough the foot soldier has
much lighter weapon IN the chassepot thanh
the old nuzz1e-1otler, be still has to cA1rs on
his back and shoulders weight Of about sew
enty pounds French, that il. upxA-d Of one
sumpter mule; one Of these voltigeuss, whoa I
treated to glass Of beer. supplied me With
details OF hiA pack" Fl st. there ia the
Chs4sepot, seven and . half pounds the
sword. bayonet, and scabba1d, three pounds! !;
ten pounds OF ammunition, distributed partly
in two pouches and partly in his knapsack; a
pair OF ehoes h tour. pound loaf Of bread d
canvas bag slung over the left shoulder, and
containing any creature comforts the man may
hare procured it was empty in many Cases,
but my friend carried in it pound of tobacco,
veal and ham pie. and i string Of ce7reids a
! roA- Over the knApsack-Rrst, a great-coat ;
| secondly, . blanket thirdly, his share OF tho
! cansae Tor the tente d*otri. and sticks fc. the
sane and foutthly, huge camp kettle.
| trousers, combs, brushes, needles, thread,
buttons, pair OF gloves, . couple Of pairs
| OF eocks, and three shirts in addition, = TASK
capable Of containing about quar-: Of liquid
is flung ores the right s1ouldar. i long
l march With rpeh weight mnat incapaeitAte
all but the very stronges. men; and it is only
| too easy to understand how it happens t1lAt
knapsacks and fHIcdinenta ARE Invariably
| dropped The moment the first shot is fired.
In the Frenel, army the practice is generally
to order tile men 10 lay down their knapsacka
| on going into action, but the stamina OF the
men has been tried to the uttermoet before
tlcy get up to the front by the carrying o1
such monstruus loads. Picked men may stand
it; but it is sufficient to look at an average
regiment Of the line, after few miles march.
irg, to form Al opinion OF this vicious System
| OF overlooking, for the maintenance Of which
that sturdy old veteran, "ueneral Routine,
is alone to blame