The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-08-06 00:00:00

IN CAMP.

From tea-time till" lights-out" was sounded the
camp was dolefully dulL The men were tired with
their long journeying and there was neither camp-fire
nor any other provision for their amusement. Sonic
strolled about the park admiring its beauties, others
betook themselves to the village and there cheered
their .Irooping spirits with potations of honnebrewed,
or something shorter and stronger, while they sang
with such zest and chourued so uproariously as had
never surely before been bean! in Milton The fine
broad street forming the village with its neat cottages
an 1 spreading chestnuts between each of them, forms a
plow where surely rural felicity abounds. There were
but few visitors to the camp the first evening. and by
10.4.1 unusual quiet for a "first night" prevailed, for
the riflemen were for the most part endeavouring to
compose themselves to rest as best a soldier may. But
soon • change occurred As the small hours arrived,
there was a provoking amount of cock-crowing, exceed-
ingly ludicrous from its very cleverness as an
imitation, while some walker of the night with
!stentorian lungs persistently proclaimed a loss, with
• ridiculous recant for he who might ...lore it.
This untimely braying annoyed not a few, and it was
heanl with satisfaction next morning that the dis-
orderly volunteer occasioning it was called up and in. formed that the camp was evidently no place for him,
and he hail better go home, • hint which he bail to
take. The " rouse ' at six on Tuesday was smartly
responded to, for the tents were all too .lamp to be agree-
able, which led to an expression of general thasatisfaction
with the place. Many made tricks to the refresh-
ment tents or to the village to fortify themselves against
the cold by hot coffee, and some went for a refresher to
the baths provided for the men at the bead of the lake,
the report of which was that the water was desperately
cold. At 7.30 there was a large muster at the drum-
head, under the branches of a noble wide-spreading tree,
for prayers, which were conducted by the chaplain,
the Rev. Prebendary Onalow, the proceedinp lining
commenced by singing a hclizz." Holdiers of Christ,
arise." This service was tensed by a hearti-
ness and reverence most pleasant to witness. After a
hearty breakfast, the work of the camp commenced,
for they assembled on parade at 9.30, and after a brief
exercise is "setting-up drill" were put through the
ordinary battalion movements for an hoar. This gave
them a good appetite for dinner, after which work was
resumed, skirmishing being the leading feature. In
the evening, the bright weather attracted a goodly
number of visitors to the camp. and various amusements
took place, finishing up with a camp fire in the centre
of the park. There was a large assembly around the
camp fire, including many ladies. As soon as the pile
became thoroughly lighted, Captain Edwards of the
Ist corps, stepped forward, and said that their gallant
Colonel, who had always manifestol deep interest
in their welfare and happiness, agreeing with the old
adage "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,"
wished them to enjoy as far as could he all !wed relaxa-
tion from their military duties. He had expressed his
opinion that • marked improvement was to be seen in
their drill and he resiptam Edwanbil hoped that he
would also be able to say that an improvement had
also been made in their surging —(cheers). They had
an old friend present, whose voice they had often heard
wito pleasure, and be would now call on Sergeant
Holmwood of the Ist for a song "Work boys work moil
be contented" was then sung by the sergeant, the
chorus being taken up by the whole body of volunteers.
Private Indrews of the 3rd then sang a hurnorsome
song entitled "Round goes the world," and was loudly
cheered. The captain then called for Corporal Taylor,
of the 3nl, but as he was not present, Private Foot,
of the 9th, saw "The soldier's grave." After which,
in response to loud and =animals calls, Captain

Edwierds, sang in first class style, " Tuhal Cain," and
was loudly cheered and encored, when he gave with
equally good effect" The death of Nelson." Lieuten-
ant Long, of the 12th, was then loudly called
for, but not being present, Captain dwards
and Sergeant liolmwood wing • duet, "Where
the waters flow." Several other songs were sung with
tireood spirit, end the meeting round the first camp
of 1867 passed off !limit agreeably.

The dull routine of the camp up to Wedneedsy
varied in a pleasant manner on that day by the arrival
of about 50 of the DI Haute (Bournemouth) Artillery
volunteer., under Captain Haggard, Lieut. Coates, and
Ensign Webb with • similar number of the Bourne-
mouth Rifle Volunteers, commanded by Captain Creek
and Lieut. Parkins. They arrived in a number of
carriages during the time the battalion was at their
morning's drill, and the party watched their doings with
fraternal interest and satisfaction. As soon as the drill
was completed the Dorset men welcomed their brethren
of Hants with the greatest cordiality, and aU dined
together in the mess tent. Many more visitors arrived
in camp during the day, and the whole aspect of affairs
appeaser,' more lively. After spending a pleasant day,
the Hants volunteers departed amid the chew" of rifle-
men and visitors. In the evening the Sturminster
Newton amateur dramatic society gave a performance,
to the gratification of a large arembly, and at eight
o'clock • goodly party assembled around the camp fire.
Here, however, the proceedings were decidedly "aloe'.',

A more delightful morning could not have been chosen,
U the volunteers end their friends bad had the selection
of the weather for the review day. The sun shone
beautifully, yet the fleecy clouds that overspreat the
sky and the cool breeze that was wafted across the
land, pleasantly moderated the heat, and rendered it
genial and pleasant. From early morning till mid-day
the approaches to Milton Abbey were orcwded with
vehicles of all description% from the gay four-in-hind
to the humble lutubering waggon, while stalwart men
trudged along the roads rejoicing in the day's freedom,
elderly women slowly and with quiet mein wended their
way to etre the unusual spectacle, fond mothers with
children in arms made a Ullmann, pleasure of the event,
and lads and lasses flicked thither rollicking and gay :
nev r was therein Milton park before such an assemblage
of people as graced the review.day of our citizen-
soldiers. On the route too, there was a special display
of bunting in honour of the day, every village exhibiting
from many coigne of vantage fires about the size of
the moral pocket-banderehtefs Mrs. Jellaby wished to
export for the behoof of the Cannibal islander., while in
various place, there were more elaborate decorations in
the way of evergreen arches with mottoes of welcome
sad greeting. As mid-o.y approashed, and the wolun-
kers were assembled on their grill•gsoond, tine am hi
theatre was surrounded by crowds of speetators, while
many of the county gentry and visitors had taken UP
positions in carriages on the north and east, from which
they bad an admirable view of the operations. The
rising ground on the west was occupied by a vast
assemblage, and the constantly moving mass exhibiting
every variety of colour, presented a most animated
spectacle. Altogether the attendance was unusually
great and the estimates vary from 5.000 to 12.000, bat
we should judge that the former number is somewhere
soar the mark. The volottteen turned out in • smart
and soldierlike manner, and acquitted themmlves
remarkable well. Colonel Bruce arrived precisely at
mid-day, and wan received with the customary salute,
immediately after which the review commenced.
The marching part was regarded with much
intermit by the assembled thousands, and the
men displayed great steadiness. As a whole the
battalion did this opening movement with great credit.
while the Ist, 3rd, and 12th corps were especially
noticeable for the admirsble line they maintained. It
has been customary to See this done by the two
former corps, but hitherto the Stalbridge company
have been amongst the "dark ones" and we are glad
to see it coming to the front. But the grand interest
of the review centred in the firing. Both the file
and volley firing watt done with remarkable precision;
by the former • terrible roll was echoed through the
valley with most extraordinary force. and tte latter
gave • sharp incisive explosion as of one great gun.
The skirmishing too, exhibited our volunteers to
great advantage, and, after being extended in an
Immense line they reformed into column with • celerity
to the uninitiated simply marvellous.
The following were the movements :—Marched past
. .

in open and qua;ter-di•tance column. Counter-marched
by oompaniem on the march, and deployed on the front
company. The manual and platoon exercise under
Lieut.•Colona Steward. Changed front on a centre
eompany. left thrown back. File dring. Advanoed in
Jouble column of subdivisions from the centre. Formed
line on centre subdivision. Changed front, left thrown
beck a quarter circle, covered by the left company.
Fired volleys by companion from right to left. Ad•
voiced in line, and broke into column right in front.
. .

Formed square 'on the front company. The. Noire took
ground on the right. Re-formed coleran. Skirmished.
Relieved Pkirmishers retiring. Formed company
aitt.res. Fired by ales and volley.. Extended. Changed
front to the right. Reinforced from the supporta and
returned. Formed on the coverers.
Colonel Bruce then addressed the battalion. He
exprented his satiefaction at what he had seen. The
manual, and platoon, and skirmishing were simply
adminahle—always eonsidering the limited opportunties
which volunteers ham of learning their duties. He
would not—he honestly oonfeued it—compare the
volunteer, with the regular army: if he dit they would
laugh at him. But, taking into consideration the
comparative positions of the two forees, he was surprised
at the proCciency of the hittalion. Coe point, however,
he would bring to their conaideration. rhea Masi pay
attention to the :nail details of soldwring. Five or ail
men carefully instituted in turning to the right or to
the left, and in the other rudimentary parts of drill,
when brought together, would work well. They would
be like the separate parts of • piece of clock-work,
which, when constructed with precision, work
admirably when joined tocther. It wan quite wonder-
ful. considering the few opportunities they had, how
accurately they had performed their drill. He shoold
have great pleuure in making—not the tunal report,
that was too cold a word, but a most favourable report
to the War Ore. Ile wished that every batulieu
assembled in camp, and had the game advantage.
powered by the Dorset battalion.
Colonel Mengel said he could not resist that oppor-
tunity of expressing the pride he felt at hearing such •
good opinion espreaud by Colonel Bruce of the battalion
he had the honour of commanding, and, a. he might
not soon again have an opportunity of eeeing so many
of them together, he would say to them that he
hoped they would pay attention to the reviewing
officer's advice, as regarded the minor details of drill.
—(ainters).
This concluded the proceedinp connected with the
review.