30 HORSE, FOOT, AND DRAGOONS. 



were billeted on the inhabitants, and the streets were crowded 

 with soldiers in groups of two or three together, their paper 

 billets in their hands, seeking their quarters, which were easily- 

 found, as the quartermasters had been in the town in advance, 

 and on every door-post were chalked the numbers of the com- 

 pany and regiment, and of the men who were to be quartered 

 in the house. This is considered by no means a hardship by 

 the French people, and the soldiers were hospitably received. 

 Military and civil life in France are closely allied, and nearly 

 every one has some relative, a son, a brother, a husband, in 

 the army; for, as is generally known, service for a time in the 

 land or naval forces of France is compulsory to every citizen, 

 no matter what his position in civil life may be, and so all 

 realize that at some time their loved ones will be cared for in 

 the same manner in some other part of the land ; therefore, 

 as a rule, they give what they can, cheerfully and even gladly, 

 making of the arrival of their soldier guests in their midst a 

 sort of little fete. Place is made for them everywhere, carts 

 and horses are unceremoniously put aside to accommodate the 

 cavalry and artillery, and usually peaceful stable and barn yards 

 are speedily converted into impromptu barrack grounds. 



The infantry had nearly all arrived, when the rumbling of 

 heavy wheels, the clatter of iron hoofs on the paved streets, and 

 the cracking of whips announced the approach of the artillery. 

 Twenty -four pieces, with a like number of caissons, and the 

 necessary wagons and forges for four batteries, the horses and 

 guns covered with mud, the men tired and wet, wheeled up the 

 street in front of the hotel, and went into park on the market- 

 place. 



Here all was life and commotion. The guard had been told 

 off, and occupied the Tow^n-hall; the men for this duty were 

 already lying on the benches under the arches of the building, 



