The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-08-09 00:00:00

lORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

arrived on the grated, and wee received with • general
salute, the hand playing as used.
The foroe under anus eoroprised the following sooord-
-1 ing to the official returns:—

TIIILD STAT.&
Reviewing officer, Colonel Willi', Deputy• Adjutan-
t South-Western District, Colonel Lord Eldon,
Lieut.-Colonel Ilaussil, Lient.-Colonel Steward, Major
Kinder'ley, Major Esdaile, Hants, acting as Major,
Captain and Adjutant Barrett, Surgeon Howe, Assistant-
Surgeon Tizard, Quarter Mister Bergman, Chaplain
On-low, Sergeant Mai a. Abbott. goarter.3laster
Sergeant N ewman, Orderly Stalf.Sergeant Green,
Paymaster-Sergeant Frausjiton. Total 14.
BKIDPORT. —Captain Sir Moiyneui Hannan, Lieut.
Good, Ensign Ewen*, Hon. Chaplain M. L. Lie, 5
sergeants, 1 bugler, 83 rank and file, 1 sergeantoinatzue-
tor. Total 94. Sick 2.
WA REllAll.—CAptaiu Farrer, Lieut. Bond, 3sergeants,
1 bugler, 44 rank and file, 1 sergeant-instructor.
Total 51.
Doncilrerrin.--Captain Coombs, Lieut. Hodges,
Ensign Williams, Surgi ou Einiwn, 6 sergeants, 18 band
and bugler, 52 rank and file, 1 surgeant-instructor.
Total 81.
PooLlL—Captain Viant, 6 sergeants, 34 rank and file,
I sergeant-instructor. Total 42.
Wgrgourg. —Captain Thresher. Li. ut. Tisard, 1
Hon. Staff-officer, 3 sergeants, 39 rank and Me, 1
sergeant-instructor. Total 46.
WINBOWIL —Captain &Lakes, Lieut. Pope, Staff
Lieut. Ray, Hon. Chaplain Ouslow, 3 'militants, 39
rank and file, 1 sergeant-instructor. Total 48.
SHICHBORNL—Capt•in Fa/ wasser, Lieut. Tanner,
Ensign Caller, 5 sergeants, 1 bugler, 61 rank and file,
sergeant-instructor. Total_ 72.
_

131.A.Dr)111D. —Captain Hamlin, ',lent. Johns, 2 Hon.
Btaff•odhers, 5 'err ants, 2 buglers, 43 rank and 81., 1
sergeant•enstruotor. Total .58,
SHAFTLIBOIT. —Captain Lyon. Ensign Bennett, 3
seevante. 33 rank and file. 1 sergsant•iustruator.
Total 39. Bon guard Total 47,
STOHLINSTER NlWTON.—Ensigo Dashwood, 15 rank
and fil., 1 iergeant•instructor, total 17. On guard 8,
total 5.

GILL' MGRA)II. —Captain Matthews, Eosigu Kin.', 4
sergeants, 1 bugler, 39 rank cud file, 1 sergeaut-instrue-
tor. Total 47.

STA LBIU DG-1.- —Lieut. Long, 6 sPrgeants, 32 rank and
Me. 1 sergeant-instructor. Total 40.

Bert:wins officer and Staff ... 14

_
Wimborne
Sherborne
Gillingham

Total strength of battalion 663
On guard ... 16
... 617

Total
_,..

The battalion then went through the principal move-
mentausual at reviews,including marching pa.t in quick
and double time, which was remarkably effective. When
formed iato line, they presented* very grand spectacle.
They threw out skirmi.hers, and skirmished well,
relieving skirmisher. in regular order. The company
and other squares were briskly formed, and the bat-
talion square especially was a marvel of serried strength.
Some very good volleys were fired, the riff.s were dis-
charged well together, sounding u one shot, and thc
tines in the park sent beak the eoho in a succession of
grand roars. The battalion WU formed in a hollow square
the staff and officers rode inside, and the square faced
inwards, when _

The iteriewiga Ofveicta addressed the volunteers,
saying the Find Dorsetshire administrative Battalion
was the first battalion of volunteers which be had had
the honour of inspecting. He was, therefore, not able
to judge of their work in the field to-day relatively to
that of other corps; but if all the volunteers came up
to their etendard, in them the ocountry has a most
efficient force. After being out at drill a short time
they would soon know the use of their weapons, and
complete their efficiency at drill. In the modern eye-
tout of tulles with the use of breechloaders which
have been lately introduced, the great thing is working
in quick and double time, and skirmishing rapidly with
great precision and intelligence. He looked upon the
volunteer force as composed of the most intelligent men
of the country, arid ii supplied a want we have long felt.
In England we had no conscription, and the line was
mostly recruited from tho uneducated class, which bad
not that intuitive and iodivilaelintelligenoe, sharpness,
and aptitude which distinguish the ranks from which
the volunteers are drawn, therefore, he hope I to see
the voluote,r system extended far beyond what it is at
present. Every soldier working in light drill must be
intelligent end able to tske every advantage of cover,
wherever it is, and the nest thing to being under cover,
is to be alwsya out of sight. This looted like
an open space; but skirmishers must always
sett soul, sort of cover either behind a tree,
or by any other position they may find available.
By lying down they can always get a greet deal of
cover. The ikinnishers must always be more or less
in the open ; bat the reserves and supports must be
from 50 to 70 yards behind them, and as much as
possible under cover. If today the enemy bad marched
from the coast the reserves end supports could have
been so placed as to be under cover, and out of eight,
until the enemy were close upi.n them, in fact the
enemy's bullets would have gone over their hearla. He
hoped before long to see them armed with bree
104 I era, and they must learn to husband their azutuuni.
tion, because with the rapid are of breech loaders, •
man can•mt carry into the field enough issoireenittou
last mut throughout the day. bet them remember,
while they loaded quickly, they should always take
time for aiming, and never fire unless they had a distinct
objeet to aim at. Wheneber they fired always let them
take aim, for if they wrire their ammunition
by firing at nothing, they will have none to fire
when they have some one to aim at. The main •
object of drill is to get them into the best position
possible tx use their firearms, and this is a pelt of the
drill they could go through at home. There is no man
who cannot pay a certain 'mount of attention every
week at home to position and aiming rilL By this
means they would obtain an intuitive combination
between the eye and band, just as a man seeing a wood-
cock rise in an hurry, visits his gun and knocks him
over, so it will be with the volunteers : when he catches
a glimpse of en enemy, he will miss his rah and fire at
him. Never let them firs unless they had something
to fire at, and not fire for the aake of making • noise.
All their movements had been very steadily performed;
they cannot expect the precision which is found in the
regular army, bat for volunteers they were most
steady and efficient body of men, and he considered
them a most valuable force. They had the intuitive
intelligence, and in a month they would beau valuable
as any. One observation he must make about their
I camp, having lived under moves himself. The first
thing an old moldier does is to trench his tent. They
met pitch their tent on a fine night ; but if a heavy
shower come on, they would find it most oncomforteble
in the morning to have everything wet beneath them.
Always let them trench their tent, and as they turn tip
the sod place it just inside the curtain of the tent and
let the curtain fall down over it, If they were on
sloping ground, they would have to trench only about
two-thirds round, letting the water run to the lowest
side. It must not run into their neighbour's teat ; but
be would have to take care of that. Whenever they
had a fine day let them throw up their curtain and put
out their bedding.or else it wiliest as musty as possible.
They should seise upon even every fine hour to put
their bedding outside in the sun. Colonel Willis con-
cluded : Col. Hansel: You have a very fine battalion,
the niakings of n very fine body of men, in case, in those
troublous tious on the Oontinent, you may be wanted.
The bettelion square then faced outwards, and fired a
splendid volley boos all ranks, whieb was delivered
with fine effect.

The weather at the commeneement of the review was
6ne ; bat the movements had not been above half gone
through, when down came • succession of thowers,
which drove the public to the shelter of the trees.
Ttls continued till alter the close of the review ; but
in the aft.rooon it cleared up, and became fine.
When the battalion marched beck to 'amp, the con-
course in the park soon dispersed. a large party taking
the steamer to Weymouth, and others returning in
traps to Wool. . _

In the afternoon a variety of sports were entered
into, when foot racing, Jumping in moire, tro., took
plose for the prises offered by the amusement com-
mittee. The evening was spent in the usual way, the
volunteers doing their utmost to net-chain their friends
and sequaintanees, and the reign of fund was supreme
until darkness set in. There was quiet in the °amp at
an early hour, for the volunteers were tired after their
day's exertion, and they were anxious also to recruit
their 'Denied for the return journey on the morrow.
Friday was a glorious day, and noon after six o'clock
the tents were strums and all the baggage of the
various corps was stored in waggons ready for rernovaL
Most of the companies returned home by rail. but the
3rd Dorset (Dorchester) corps marched homewards
across country, halting at Alworth, where they were
provided with dinner. Thus another sum:earful en•
campruent has ended.

Au unlucky accident happened to • man named
George Howes, at Wool. He attempted to jump op
behind one of Hoot Dfay's carriages, which was t•king
passengers to the station. but unfortunately caught a
leg between the carriage and the wheel, and it wan mip-
pcoand broke the poor fellow's leg. He was lifted up
and conveywa into • house and attended by Dr.
Grainger; nod the latest report• give the hope that the
leg was not broken, though terribly bruised.