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’
FORTIA’S TRAVELS IN SWEDEN. 45l
I’xpence of the whole army,
Men. | Silver dolars.
Provincial infantry, Ae PAS 245344] 291,351
Do. cavalry, - ai 10,282] &9%,551
Together, - - 34,626 ‘ 1,187,902
Recruited infantry, ~ = - 11,400} 870,926
Do. cavalry, - - HOO} 1544 ZL
12,100 1,025,047
The ftaff, - - - : 20,580
Fortifications, ordnance, and ammunition, 1,542,124
Cloathing for the troops, - 448,513
—————|__ 2,011,217
Total of expence, - ; 45224,166 *
* But caft up by the author, poflibly owing to fome 5:27 15848
omiffion, - fxs Z
The difpofition of the Swedifh troops is high fpirited, the officer generally brave, the
foldier much refembling the French foldier : he bears with impatience a continued fire,
and after fuffering a few feconds without being able to return it, you are abfolutely
obliged to charge. He readily reforts to the bayonet, and the Ruflians many times ex-
perienced in the laft war how much they are to be dreaded with this weapon. ‘The of-
ficer muft pofitively head his troops, and frequently advance a few fteps in front, with-
out which poflibly the line might refufe to advance, this form complied with the Swedes
will follow wherever they are led. During the war in Finland, a regiment of infantry
was ordered to charge the enemy ; the King fent for its Colanel, who was near him,
to be his aide de camp general, Notwithftanding this was told, not a man would ad-
vance, and His Majelty was obliged to fend back his aide de camp to head the regiment,
in which fituation he was wounded. The Swede fires but flowly, yet aims well : rarely
does it happen that a company fires at once, each man is left to difcharge his piece at
pleafure. After five or fix rounds, if expofed to a battery or a fuperior fire, you muft
lead to the charge, or would expofe yourfelf to the companies charging diforderly of
themfelves. ‘The Swedifh foldier is religious : prayers are read exactly every day in
each regiment; he is naturally honeft, fpurns at any thing mean, and is an utter ftran-
“ger to thofe vices which difgrace the foldier throughout almoft all Europe. This cha-
racter, however, belongs to the national troops alone ; the regiments levied, or in gar
rifon, are compofed in the fame manner as every where elfe.
It is requifite the Swedifh foldier fhould be well fed ; he bears with difficulty any fub-
traction from his allowance, or even with having it delayed. ‘This isa cafe which can~
not be too ftrongly recommended to Swedith officers.
Numerous abufes prevail in the adminiftration of military affairs. Commiffions are
_ publicly fold notwithftanding the King’s fpecial orders that fuch fhameful traffic fhould
ceafe. He knows, fo as to put it beyond doubt, that his orders are not regarded; ne-
yerthelefs he can do no more: the matter is conduéted with fo much art as never to ad-
mit of proof, fo that even the colonels are oftentimes in ignorance of it themfelves.
The minifters are not nice in keeping the promifes they make to officers: we can
guote in proof of this, a Frenchman who fought through the whole campaign in Fin-
3M 2 Jind,
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