Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-08-07
A French View Of Our Var.
THE COUNT OF PARIS HISTORY OF THE AMERI
CAN CONFLICT

AuE NOb NJ VI PARIS HlsIOhf VI IN. AA.hi-
CAN CONFLICT.
The first two volumes of the long-ex-
pected work from the pen Of the Count OF
Paris have Just appeared in Paris. The
History of the Civil War in America is full
of historical interest. The Count, as is
well known, served for some time with the
Federal armies, and his political sympathies
were strongly enlisted on this side; on mil
itary questions, however. he is strictly i'm
partial. We suboin, from the Times cor
respondent 5 translation, the following pas
sages
THE FEDERAL TROOPS.
In one Of his poetic visions the Prophet
Ezekiel describes deserted and silent plain,
covered with dried and scattered fragments
of lnnumerable skeletons. At the sound of
his voice these shapelese debris spontaneous
IL gather together. bone to bone. and the
slnewS and the flesh come up again upon
them, and at the last divine word falling
from the lips Of the inspired spectator
hreathes life INTO them once more, and an
animated multitude fills the Solitude which
previously was covered by the shadows of
death. The rapidity with which the bat
tali0ns Of volunteers in the North were re-
cruitcd, brought together, and formed may
he compared to the apparitions of these
mysterious legi0ns rising suddenly and
taking form and life before the Hebrew
prophet. The quick creation of great ar
mics in the midst of the States which were
faithful 10 the Union was a. strange and a
unforeseen as the Biblical miracle. In effect,
the little army which We have seen fighting
deserts of tho " a1, a
the military traditions; the American pea
pie were ignorant of It's operations and in
different 10 Its success. The inhabitants of
the great cities of the East had never seen
company OF regular troops, and knew the
national army only from small number OF
Old soldiers. the solitary guardians %. the
Federal forts. All that concerned the army
had been neglected, and tine War Oii.e was
lett to vegetate IN miserable hOrel while
the other public departments were lodged in
marble palaces Every one hastenei to
respond to the first appeal Of the President
Patriotism. ambition. vanity. the spirit of
speculation, entered into the competition,
and contributed, although unequallv. to
stimulate the national movement The in
geni0uS turn of mind at once practsed
and calculating. ofthe Americans neglected
no means OF fastening the speedy forma-
danger demanded SD impcratyely Recruit
ing offices. which were opened even in the
smallest villages, became the habitual rem
devious Of the whole population. Some
from love of adventure. others from dcyo-
ton to the Constitution Others in order -
testify their abo!tlunl-t convictions, in
scrlbed themselves on the register a. simple
soldiers. Those who mad sufficient influence
undertook TO raise company, "A regiment
sometimes even an entire brigade.
The American loot soldier displayed from
the beginning great persona! bravery. The
c0mbat- IN the middle of woods where he
might fall unperceiycl and perish without
succor. were tine strongest test OF this sort
OF courage, for they deprived him Of that
powerful motive in all human actions. the
nope Ot not seeing his name die with him:
nevertheless, it was in these struggles under
the green covering Of the forest that he
showed all his res lution He soon acquir-
cd remarkable sGIil Iu shooting. and learned
promptly now t0 direct his shots in outpost
Affairs. y trat 90 their character c1mpcn-
-atcd for all their defects. and revealed
already, under the dre-- Of these iuGLpcri-
cnced men, the walnut champions $40 ~
the end OF Jhc war carried hy assault tile .
enemy cliaGc,s-ihcy went more rc-1lutc- /
ly into fire the second time than the first [
ID happens % bad soldiers. ID they ignore f.
the impression which Will be- made. ON Them I
bv the reality of the combat. H. ran puds- /
fire with IT, much audacity rs .o,s,r,oI .
troops, and once engaged. they sometime.
continue 90 lulkea zoo! E,grc l,t exre- /
rience makes thcm tInliI. and their lo,rr-
fail them Whenever they are called uoau 10 .
confront danger with which they mr.. mot
acquainted. The experience of these dam
gers, the loss oi their comrades. the suffer-
lugS and htsuo> OF the war. tended on
the contrary. To confirm the courage and To-
increase The GOODNESS o.. the volunteers whom
d patriotic duty had drawn from civil lite
Iron. II it j. pure and of good quality. is
and fortified under the rcdoub.cd
blows of the smith. white metal or bad
OH lo'4ll -Ne0 way ana soon Hes INTO