Trooper 3809: A Private Soldier of the Third Republic

Had been a fortnight in the infirmary, when one morning at ten o'clock one of the Sergeants of my squadron ordered me to dress in tunic and _képi_, saying that he had received o...

At 5 o'clock in the morning I was aroused by a loud shouting; it was the Corporal of the Week who was passing through the room calling out, "Any sick men here?" The names of the...

At 6.45 A.M. all the troopers who had had their names put down on the sick list were taken to the infirmary by the Corporal of the Week. We awaited the Surgeon-major's arrival i...

Although my Sergeant-major had altered his behaviour towards me, he could only help me in the squadron, having no power over the _Volontaires_, who were under the absolute comma...

When I returned to my room the Corporal told me to follow him, as I had to undergo another medical inspection. Two other _Volontaires_ who had been drafted into my squadron acco...

In June we began "squadron school," and were drilled on the manoeuvring ground with our respective squadrons. It was only then that all the officers attended the drill, for the...

It will be readily understood that the end of that year was one of the most unpleasant times I ever went through. The cold was bitter, and we were pretty nearly frozen in the _S...

It must not be imagined that a trooper can be sent to hospital without having to go through innumerable formalities, the French administrative system being so devised as to comp...

According to the doctor's orders I went to the medical visit in the morning. Being a Sunday, there were but a few men who had reported themselves, but besides myself there were...

I do not intend to enter into many of the details of my second year's service, as this was a mere repetition of what I had already gone through, and I will therefore confine mys...

At the end of January we passed our first examination. Each one of us had to command in turn the various kinds of drill we had been taught so far--viz., drill on foot without ar...

So far none of the _Volontaires_ had been punished, and it fell to my lot to be the first to become acquainted with the _Salle de Police_. I had been ordered to ride that evenin...

I have already explained that twenty years ago, when I served my time in the ranks of the French army, French military law differed from what it is now. It is true that--speakin...

I have omitted to mention that in compliance with the regulations I had been obliged, before being taken to the prison, to hand over to my Sergeant-major whatever money or jewel...

At the end of about three weeks the Colonel decided to form the _Volontaires_ into a separate _peloton_, as, according to the usual custom, they had to follow a special course o...

When I was sent to prison there were four other troopers undergoing a similar punishment, but I did not see anything of them until the call for "Soup," as they were kept out all...

The day following my second night in the _Salle de Police_ was a Saturday, and inspection-day. Our clothing was to be inspected on this occasion. Each trooper had to lay on his...

vitiated air of the place, and it is a wonder to me now how we all escaped typhoid fever. I asked for the doctor, and when he had examined me, he gave orders that I should be im...