The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-08-24
From tho London Telegraph
WHAT A FRENCH SOLDIER CAR.
RIES.

Tho whole of the Imperial Guard has
now left Paris. The last regiment that
left-the Fourth Voltigeurs-were
marched up to La Villette this afternoon.
The weather was intensely hot tho sun
converted the long avenues to which
King Haussmann has given his name
into perfect oven, and the march must
have proved very trying. Nevertheless
the men were picked men, very differ,
ent from some of the line battalions
which went off last week, and carried
cheerfully and with an elastic step the
enormous load with which they were
laden. When will generals and men in
authority take the advice given so many
years ago by Lamoriclere, more lately
by Troohu, and acted on, believe, by
Havelock in India, and "Stonewall"
jackson in the American war This ad.
vice, which is founded on experience of
real warfare, was to the effect that to
retain his efficiency as a fighting man
the infantry soldiers "impediments"
should be reduced to minimum, and
that the weight he has to carry should
be reduced by two thirds at the very
least. Marshal Mel did his very best to
effect this by organizing regimental
train consisting of one horse two wheeled
wagons, four Of which were to be attach
ed to each company. But he died before
the organization Of this "regimentap
train could be completed, and the nnm.
bcr of these carts is so Insignificant that
only the Imperial Guard has had about
dozen Distributed to each regiment,
and they are used for the purpose of
carrying spare ammunition only. The
result is, that though tho foot soldier
has much lighter weapon in the Chas.
sepot than in the old muzzlc loader, he
still has to carry on his back and shoul.
doris weight Of about seventy pounds
French, that is, upwards of one third Of
the regulation weight carried by q sum.
ter mule one of these Votigeurs, whom
l treated to glass Of beer, supplied me
with details Of his "pack." First, there
is the Chassepot, seven aud a half
pounds /; the sword, bayonet, and scab-
bard, three pounds ten pounds Of am
munition, distributed partly in two
pouches and partly in his knapsack;
pair of shoes; four pound loaf of bread,
a canvass bag slung over the left shoul-
der, and containing any creature COM
forts the man may have procured it
was Empty in many cases, but my friend
carried in it pound of tobacco, some
cigars, flask Of brandy, good sized
veal and ham pie, and string of GER
velas Pail. Over the knapsack first
great coat; secondly, blanket; thirdly
his share of the canvass for tho tente
d'abri, aud sticks for the same and
fourthly, huge camp kettle. Inside
the knapsack he had second pair of
trowscrs, combs brushes, needles, thread
buttons, pair of gloves, couple OF
pairs Of socks, and three shirts in ad-
dition, flask capable Of containing
about quart of liquid is flung over tho
right shoulder. A long march with
such weight must incapacitate all but
the very strongest men and it is only
too easy to understand how it happ ems
that knapsacks and impedimcnts are
invaribly dropped the moment the first
shot is fred. In the French army the
practice is generally to order the men
to lay down their knapsack's on going
into action, but tho stamina of the men
has been tried to the uttermost before
they get up to the front, by the carrying
of such monstrous loads. Picked men
may stand it, but it is sufficient to look
at an average regiment Of the line after
few miles marching to form an opin
ion of this vicious system Of overlooking
for the maintainancc Of which that stur.
dy old veteran, General Routine" is
alone to blame.