New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-11-12
BEFORE THE BATTLE.

CHARACTER OF THE MEN AND CONDITION OF
TIE CAMPS--THE TRoOrs CONSTANTLY DRILL
ING AND PREPARING FOR BATTLB-AN EARLY
ENGAGEMENT EXPECTED.
fPRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRBsPoSDBET.I
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE LOIRE, SAL
sRIs oct PA great camp at this season OF the year
certainly the most dismal, dispiriting and uDnvfting
place IN the world TIE Autumnal rains have set In
In earnest and nobody unless they had seen 1t, could
fsEm an idea OF the muddy and slushy existence one
leads at sabrs 1t is singular fact that soon &c
begins to rain oil camps become sea OF mud but even
Upatoria during the rains could not come up 10 TINS
camp In the sOlogno.
Iarived there yesterday evening with acquaintance
In tho attendance. who had his quarters there winch
shared for the night but have now had put at my dis
position a van which have had mattress placed 10
heop and q IL upon which con write and draw 1nls
atte house IN the encampnent OF the ntendance vi
the Third Divtion of the Fifteenth Corps, and oil the
eers OF attendance Of the division are encamped on
the Same SPOT They have O colder who is capital
cock 40 that with the steaks Of the commssariat and
few "conseryes In the way of "ssucissons, pates.
&C. we manage not TO undergo any very great priva-
tOrs The van Is drawn by borse whenever the army
advances. So much for my installation.
At about $50 this morning, for miles and miles round,
the drums bugles, and trumpets suddenly began the
"Reyeil" and the Dianne," and from that moment TO
snpprhOr 10 In the evening, IL lie the same monot
Suous movement OF va et Wien" IN the mud and wet
Boon after daylight this morning body OF lancers, on
eneampnont the Quarter Generals IT was inmed'
Ntely followed by "peloton" OF infantry found there
was going to be execution aud followed IL
took place about two miles Quarter Generate
TIE eulprit was brought another way, believe,
for did not zee him till the pelOon drew up. he was
lancer and had his cloak thrown his shoulders
The detachment Of lancers was part OF his regi
ent brought there TO witness the ehassement OF their
eomraoe Before he shot handkerchief wac put
over his eyes and hts cloak taken of him, when he a
pesred In his shirt and trowsers only The soldiers fired
nj very short distance After the "feu de peoton,"s
.erceaut went up PROSTATE body and fred shot
INTO HE ear This IL old tradition which goee mp to
she time the Old Brown Bees, when man, after being
fired n by party OF twelve men, was very often not
half dead with the Chasscp6t, at the distance they
nrcd TIC poor devil must have been dead enough The
whole thing took place in about five minutes they have
got 40 used to H. There execution Deary every day
TOURS oct 26-I could not finish my letter at the
camp yesterday. arrived here during the night AS
told you in the few lines wrote ct the camp recon
nosnces had not .across any Prussanroops, but
II IL kuan that they had appeared near La Fere about
I'm strong They are in force about Vend0Ine, they
have fortified the Chateau de Targeau, &c. &c. and
altogether are Begecting nothing 10 secure ana
Improve good positions. On our sde everything
hSs been at standsti. Gen. dAureles went 1roD the
ramp to Tours yesterday and was return AT O'CLOCK ID
she evening not know, nor does any one what the
object OF his Journey was but 10 probable he If going
TO a forward, for II seems madness iOf the
army where 1t s till II lie attacked Inc
Prussians very likely about 10000 str"ns Sioee
the Loire, the right bank just Dehso orloahs' Aho
there very little doubt that they have by THIS
male thst town pretty strong by temporary WORKS
About strength Of the French forces about ssibrs
now oyerTated them IN the Last letter wrote
about them saw two divisions yesterday which were
not nearly strong the had the last time
Ut the camp; bat then there had been changes
ashtnR place Troops have been sent from Sabris TO
Blos reinforce the 10th Corpe gather from what
Bear Of the ntendance they persist IN the number OF
$1,000 about sabris The health 81 the troops seems
very good the whole. sAw at t.o military station
wagons, into which miserable looking wretches
were being put 70 De shipped of 70 the hospitals at
B0roryes OF Verzon, but Of IN large camp like
abundant and regular delivery. The field In which the
sxsn killed, and which il Close 10 the part
Of the camp live IN when ON there IL rather a
curious eight. Tie large expanse of ground f.
covered with fayed animals, which are being cut
mp with quarters and all parts OF the which have
been already cut In pieces; hesps OF skins further o.
oxen tied down by the horns being felled with huge
xnaets All thik is done by tic o. the intandancs
sDd here notice fact which makes one question
whether France is the warike nation II has got credit
for duties OF the soldiers OF the ineudane are Ger
family tho most disa greeable OF any military duties
without tho excitement and poetry Of bearing arms
and lighting, for the men OF the eommissariat or
viz pain-dei, rs they are ncknaned, have "a
aghL Well, anee the decrces calling 10
from 20 10 &c. &c. tis wonderful how young have
aoekod into tho ranks Of the commissaat Tor by hntc
pang the call they have the privilege Of obooeDg their
sorps I'D officer dtntsadQnt Ybe WA showing ne