The soldiers are young conscripts of the French Third Republic who are taking part in summer exercises, probably in Champagne.

[3] They are dreaming of the glory of their predecessors, and of exacting revenge following their country's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War.

[3] In a patriotic allegory, French soldiers from previous battles are depicted in the sky above in an intentionally indistinct way.

They include soldiers from the French Revolutionary Army, as well as those involved in the battles of Austerlitz, Trocadero, Magenta and Solferino, the invasion of Algiers and the defeats at Gravelotte and Reichshoffen in 1870.

For Detaille, creating this painting was to "take a direct political position", showing his support for nationalist general Georges Boulanger,[3] as well as celebrating the army.