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THE FRENCH ARMY . WRXTER , of obvious military knowledge , graphiciy , yet inforraingly , describes the sham fight near aulogne on the 8 th . We give the sketch entire . The sham fight , which took place upon the line of road tween Boulogne and Calais , must have satisfied the Prince inBort and all the distinguished officers who were present the occasion as visitors , that the French army is well titled by its efficiency to the military refutation which it joys . Of the two corps cTarmee in the field , one was led by the Emperor in person , and he displayed his own aeralship and the discipline of his troops in presence of , and an act of courtesy to , some of the most distinguished perlages in that country which was the steady enemy for so iny y « ars not only of France but of the name or Napoleon , jreover , the scene selected for this friendly show of power
7 all within sight of the famous column which has furnished many hot discussions to the strange medley of visitors 3 Ught by the sea air and the importunity of creditors to ulogne . Eleven or twelve miles north-east from this ? ourite watering-place there lies upon the road to Calais b small town of Marquise , and beyond that , along the line the highway for about four miles , a fine tract of open antry , undulating in surface , but admirably adapted for 3 manoeuvring ^ of troops . The greater portion of the land under-cultivation , but as the French system of agriculture es not here at least encourage hedges and ditches , no ob-• uctions are offered to military operations thereby . Fancy arself , therefore , overlooking an open district , intersected the Calais road , with a fie * hamlets , farmhouses , and ndmilis nestled on either side , the hollows filled occasiony with patches of woodj and the eye carried by the humiqky nature of the ground over a succession of little valleys low heights in the distance . Over this expanse the harvest 3 not yet terminated , arid the scene , though not strikinelv
iutiful , is agreeable from its unpretending character . Iinidiately to the north of Marquise the two corps cVarm ee face jh other , that commanded by General de Schramm being pposed to threaten Boulogne from the direction of Calais , lile that of the Emperor hastaken up ' a position to resist any ther advance . Both had bivouacked on the spot , having irched thither on Thursday -from . the camps of Equihen the one hand , and of Horivault oil the other . As each up holds about 10 , 000 men , there were somewhere near , 000 infantry on the field . The cavalry to the number of m 2000 to 3000 came from St . Ornei- and Montreuil , and sre were six or ei ght batteries of artillery . The whole force t was under 25 , 000 men . Schramm ' s right rested on the lage of Beraes , and bis left on the farm of Blacourt . The operor ' s right on the village of Hydriquent , and his left on 3 _ hamlet of Ledquent . Between the troops lay a small rine with a brook running through it , and , thus separated , sy awaited at an early hour yesterday morning the signal begin theiight . As early as six . o ' pToeW the Emperor le . i hotel with Prince Albert and an immense and " brilliant
"tege . HisTIajesty and the Prince travelled in the same rriage—and were repeatedly cheered on their route . They ived at Marquise shortly after seven o ' clock , and having tunted on horseback and proceeded to the ground the tnceuvres immediately commenced . What they were to no one knew beforehand , for even in such matters the nperor shows his characteristic reserve . The right opened th the artillery on both sides , which was kept up heavily some time . Then the bugles and drums of the Emperor ' s Pantry sounded am advance , which was finely executed , : h battalion being brought forward in dense columns , ming quickly , and throwing out its light company to rmisli , while the guns still supportod the movement , ter an interval , the long lines of Schramm ' s corps , drawn upon the opposite height , brolco into columns , and slowly I back towards Calais . The Emperor , directing his attack
itinuously from his right , and pressing forward with his ralry , succeeded in turning his opponent ' s left . General Schramm thereupon changed his front , so as to face this nk movement , still , however , retreating . It would be possible to give any precises topographical description of 0 operations that would bo at all comprehensible , t the general idea of a forco driven back along straight line of road , like that to Calais , and rough a district of country such ns has boen deibed , retiring first on ono side and then on the other , 1 making a stand , now in a wood , again in some small mlot or farmyard , or other building or natural point of fenco , should not bo very difficult to muster . The maj uvres extended over a distance of three or four miles , and course embraced an infinite ) number of detniltj into which is impossible to enter . It may , however , bo stated , that in
3 progress of thorn a complete illustration was given , not ly of those difficult Hanking movements by which fcho futo battles is so frequently docidod , but « lso of the mode of ndling French artillery , infuntry , nnd cavalry in advance rotroufc . The artillery aim < if tlio servico ia evidently a rourlte ono with the Emporor , and ho used it on Friday th unsparing effect . Tho 12-jioundor guns which he has ken auch pains to introduco givo tho liuld batteries of tho ¦ onoh army a terrible power , which it did not fail to show at it know well how to uso . Whorovcr a favourable posiw offered itself , there the guns wcro pushed forward with pid energy and the tiring wi \ s admirably tmstuineil . Grant at was also shown' in tho soleetion of sheltered yd . oomanding spots whence to direct a cannonade mid in tho
lack or Uoionco of two hotly contested position ^ ono n 30 d and the othor a windmill , this wiih jmrtionliirly connououa . The guns , though conwidorubly heavier tlum our vn , aro drawn by tho same number of hor « eB , a result men is probably duo to their bo lug mounted on carnages with rger wnoolB . 'IhisoxpoHos thom more to tl . iojmpmy ' tt ahot , ?« . iP - « m otllor dw « wlvniitngo » , but , thu range of tho ri JZ , r ? ndora mc « -o « Bo . l weight of metal n matter of , 1 «^ , ™ P ° » n « o . In tho Fronoli artillery Horviw , ns in " . „ ' n ftltoin I > »« w hitherto to hnvo bocn mndo to intro-, T « i , T ' , tory ««»<»« vhy an improvuiuont of tliu lowid iu Iront oi MarquWa not ho rough null brakuu iu > it
was at Chobham , the gunners appeared to be quite as much jolted in their seats . The guns were all fired on Friday by percussion , and , though the loading was performed with ^ reat rapidity , there was not that excessive haste which , in our service , with the Horse Artillery especially , sometimes leads to accidents . Another point about tliis arm of the French service which struck me was the admirable and steady way in which the horses did their work . They went at an . excellent pace when rerquisite , were not in too high condition for the field , and appeared to be strong and hardy animals , with the requisite amount of roughness about them to stand fatigue and exposure well . VVith the artillery the infantry fairly divided the honours and labours of the operations on Friday . A large proportion of the army encamped in this neighbourhood consists of
young conscripts who have hardly yet completed their training ; but the manner in which the various lnanoeuvres were performed by the troops engaged was beyond praise . What we most of all admired was the rapidity with whioh everything was done . There was much more running at full spe « d to take tip position than would nave been attempted in our service , and , though an English spectator wonld miss the extraordinm-y precision with which movements are effected by the troops of his own country , on the other hand the very absence of this might fairly be regarded as arising from the military instincts of the French soldier , enablin g him in some degree to dispense with the more pedantic formalities of his profession . It was a fine sight to see the dense masses of columns in which , the Emperor threw forwai'd his ba-ttalions , and the impetuosity with-which they made their advance , now deploying rapidly into line and
throwing out skirmishers ; now barely visible behind the shelter of some friendly height , against which the enemy ' s guns thundered . The fusillade of muslcetry was hotly and ¦ W 1 3 'sustained by both sides at all the ; . . more ¦ ¦ warml y-disputed- positions . Sometimes volleys \ yer
when he takes the neld . He does not ask you to imagine a powerful enemy in fifty sappers , and a General of Division in the officer commanding them . Except in the whistling of Minie bullets , the ploughing up of the ground with cannon shot , and the killed and wounded , every detail is carried out- He bivouacks on the ground the night before . He fights at an lour when a feather-bed soldier would be asleep . He executes manoeuvres with an -absence of rigorous formality which implies , not carelessness , but the easy consciousness or perfect self-possession , and even to the ambulances and the supplies of the vivandiere , all that he rnjuires attends him on the field . So , at least , it was on Friday ,. when the Emperor drove Schramm ' s corps back again towards Caiaisr At one point , and . of course only by a portion of the line , wore squares formed to receive the attack of cavalry , so that the movement of which we in our reviews aro fondest , and which we consider adds most to the effect of
suoli displays , was hardly shown at all during the day . There was another circumstance which , perhaps , it may be interesting to notice . Hitherto the French army has formed its line three deep , like all other continental services , the first two ranks to fire and tho last to load ; whereas with us the practice has always been to form lino two deep , each line loading and firing for itsolf . On Thursday it was observed that the battalions under the Emperor's command—and probably it was tho same with General Schramm ' s corps also - ^ -were drawn up two deop , Technical and insi g nificant as it mtay appear , this change is really ono of great importance in military tactics . The system of nuvneouvring iu dense columns and deep lfncs , besides exposing an army to heavy ' loss of life under fire , nccustoina the men to expact to bo closely backed up in tho hour of peril , and prevents tho goneral from extending his front bo as to have tho full benefit of
his superior numbers . Tho reputation of tlio British infantry , wherever it has fought , is largely due to an appreciation of theso strategical considerations ; that of the 1 < rench , on tho contrary bus beon achieved in disregard of it , and upon entirely different grounds . But from the alteration noticed on lYiduy thoy appear to bo no longer insensiblo to the advantages of our system , and prepared already , in some respects , to adopt it . In their attachment to movements executed in close column thoy still perseyero , and ib formed ono of tho most prominent chnructorietics of tho manner in which his corps was handled by the Emperor . Tho immoneo bodies of troops kont by tlio great military Powovb of the Continent probably render it necessary to manoeuvre in nolid musses , for thctro aro liniita within which a field of battle must bo confined , and within Lhoso limits tho saying of tho firnt Napoleon is still accoptod— " that victory ia on tlio side of tho atrongoHt battalions . " A careful and candid observation , howevor , of the infantry evolutions on Friday suggests
Blronjj doubtH -whether , with any number of men u > ajtaro , that iroquont rciKort to tho uso of donso columns iufaco of an enemy is not , attended with groat danger , Advancing triumphantly it may ainawoi- very well , but in rotront heavy loos of lifo londd quickly to conlu » ion . that again to panic , and total rout follows . Tho Fronch army , us it showed itself on Friday , la a . aplundid forco , worthy in Us cfUsctivoiieaa of the great nation whose sword mid shield it is , Tho inlimtry ospocmlly appeared to great udvantngo : nrnlj take il uliogothor , }> robnuty thoi'o in no boily of uuldioru in tho world bo well oiganiHcd us tho Chaaaours do Viuconnos . It limy , howovoi' , uo ponnittcd to Englihlnnon who witnessed tin ) bhuin il ^ lit to rojaiu uiuibutcd conlldunco in tho precise hoIhjuI of uiwcijilino iu which their own Holdiors aro trained ; fur without . m » uI » n ayatom it would upponr extremely < lUacult to oxucuLu Uiomo dulicato movomoutu in tho face of an oiuuuy upon wliith t , Uo ftitu of battlos ho frequently tuvna . 'i'liuro wero two rogimcnt » of JLuucortt audi two of
Dragoons on the ground yesterday . The Xancers wero with Schramm ' s corps , and the Dragoons with the Emperor . One or two charges were made ia the course of the manoeuyires but as a general rule this arm of the service was not much ' used , though the face of the country was very favourable Perhaps it is beginning to be felt in France that with Minie " * rifles having an effective range of 800 yards , and with , the certainty that great improvements must shortly be introduced into the whole system of our field artillery , the occasiens are likely to be more rare than formerly on which Cavalry can be brought forward with advantage . For show purposes they will probably be used as long as meu view with an admiration akin to Othello ' s " the big wars tbafc make ambition virtue . " There are regiments in the French army better horsed than some , at least , of those which were engaged yesterday , but , speaking generally , it was ¦ wo
nderful to notice how they were supplied m this respect . The horses are not so large nor powerful as ours , but thrj- ocetn hardy and active , and their strength is not unfairly taxed by mounting then with gigantic troopers snch as Prince Albert ' s orderlies , fine animals themselves to look at and to be made the most of , but not intended to be carried by any quadruped except , perhaps , an elephant or dromedary . Having tried to convey some idea , of the ground where the sham fight took place , of the mariner in "which it was oonduoted , and of the extent to which the different arms of the seiTice took part in it , it is necessary now to speak of those who were present , either as chief actors on the scene , eras visitors . And first of the Emperor . He-was , as usual , in the undress uniform of a General of Division , wore the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour , was superbly mounted on a dark chesnut lorse . and looked his share in the proceeclhags of" the day to perfection . His seat on horseback has been often praised .-eut was never-more advantageously set ofifi as ,
preceding by a few yards ; everyone else , he ¦ went from Toint to . point , directing the movements of his troops . The . ' long haoit of command- ' .. seldom gives to any man- a manner so precise , determined , and yet reserved and self-possessed as the Emperor exhibited on this remarkable occasion * Whatever be liis tal « ntis as a general , he acts tlie part of one with marvellous propriety , and without a sign either of diffidence , floater , or affectation . The Prince probably influenced by considerations of good taste , seldom came prominentl y forward during the day from the rest of the staff . He paid a short visit to General Schramm ' scorps , and was thus enabled to watch the nnoveriients from thatpoint of view which , on such occasions , is always the best . ' His Royal 'Highness wore over the undress uniform of a Field-marshal the broad red riband with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour- A numerous aud magnificent cortege followed the Emperor and hisEoyal guest as they passed from point to point along the lines . '
The sham fight terminated on the fine open slope of a height some four miles distant from the point at which it had commenced . Schramm ' s corps holding the ridge -made a last stand against their opponents , who , steadily debouching from the woods below , at length drove them from "their position . The cool agreeable character of the weather added greatly to the enjoyment with which the whole spectacle "was witnessed . A . t half-past 11 o ' clock it was all over ; , and , while the Emperor conducted his illustrious guest to breakfastj prepared under tents in the hollow , the troops , with that alacrity which distinguishes French soldiers , lighted small fires of brushwood , had the vwandieres supplies brcught into requisition ^ and effectuall y refreshedTbhems « lves after the labours of the morning . This was certainly one of the most instructive parts of the day ' s proceedings , nor was it lass so , on the return home , to see th e quick way in wJiich ,
they came bade to their respective positions beforo Marquise and prepared to bivoua . ck for the night . It is very difficult for Englishmen , who havo derived their ideas of military evolutions from field-days in the Parks , with a few thousand nien at the moat , to appreciate such a spectacle as that of yeeterday without being prosont ; but the characteristic a of it arise mainly from two causes , —first , from tho open nature of the country here , which renders the movements of lnrge ma , sses of troops coinparatively easy ; secondly , from the acale upqn whioh armies , not only in France , but all ovor tho continent * aro maintained . There are very few districts in England where oven 22 , 000 men could be manoeuvred with , the samo freodom as yesterday . On our downB and woldB it might perhaps bo done , bat even there tho dcstructioji of
proporty that would onsuo rendors it impossible to attempt anything of the kind ; and at Chobhum it will bo remembered 8 , 000 soldiers could hardly ro a milo from their camp without squeezing their way through all kindo of natural obstructions . Horo on tho con . trn . ry , tho two corps < H ' arm < fe out yesterday woro positively swallowed up in the oxtant of tho Urraxn over winch thoy operated . They nover appeared to fill any part of it , and their numbora distributed over bo wide an area told less strongly upon tho eye "than would havo been the case within tho narrower limits , On the other hand , however , tlio . mimic view of -warf ' ftvo presented roso in truthful etVootivoness , and tlia spectator was loft to tho undititurbod enjoyment of the admirable sangfroid with which tho French army manoeuvres .
Untitled Article
THE EMPEROR OI ? THE FRENCH AND HIS STUJi ) . Thk Times gives a graphio account of tho Emperor as ho appears in that department of his state which is presided over by his Master of the Woreo . It secmo that " ho in so well got up lumsolf when on horseback , iuvd is followed by so splendid a rotilnue , tliAt it ia almost worth while to cross the Channel to Boulogne to see him pass through tha town . Tlioro cannot be a , nioro admirable arrangement than Mint displayed in tho turn-out , with tho outriders lending tho way , then the Emporor uloiio , gravely , yet griveoftilly acknowledging tho ealvitationa of the humblest pftsaor-by ; tlion tho oflloui ' tf of hio household iu clwso order behind thorn a umall party of the O aides , and last of all tlics ' CcHt-UurdoH , ' a umguiQcout turmiuution to the eavnJoiule , "
Untitled Article
September 16 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . g
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 16, 1854, page 867, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2056/page/3/
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