The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-10-18 00:00:00

GRAND SAILORS' REVIEW, AND ATTACK

ON TUN VERNE.

On Tuesday morning last the inhabitant, of Castle.
town were enlivened by • redden appearance of • num-
ber of launches putting elf simultaneously from the
Fleet. They were evidently well laden tab him-jackets,
and made straight for the shore, one detachment fur
the Breakwater Piet. and the other for the Government
pier opposite Caetletown. Sight-mere immediately
rushed out of doors to Vie foot of tbo Common, and
they were loon rewarded by seeing the landing, about
• quarter past nine of between 400 end 500 sailors, all
ready for fight, being armed with their rifles and
enthuses. They consisted of twelve companies of small-
arm men, and brought with them a battery of six field
guns. The men were from the Agincourt, Warrior, and
Hercules, Ind were under Commander Markham, of
H.M.S. Warrior, while the battery was commanded by
Lieutenant Prise, of the Agineourt. They marched,
spool:Taxied by the gene to the foot of the heights as
Verne Gate, and formed in bittelion, the Heicales
men and ball the Warrior's being on the left wing, and
the other half of the Warrior's, with the tars from the
Agineourt, the right. After • few minu's' stand easy,
they fell in line and eperatime were commenced. The
battery was formed ap in the rear, and the battalion
went through review curate.; formed open column
right in front, and marched in review order before Capt.
Markham and his staff. The fine fellows exhibited all
that awing and dare-devil in their marching past
witch eh/trattoria° the British sailor and make him each
a desperate enemy to meet, whether in the open field,
or on the d.ck uf hie ship, and terrible they would look
when hurling back a boarding party, or themselves
dashing over the bulwarks of a foe. After the march.
past, two companies advanced in skirmishing order,
uml r cover of ihe fire of the main body, the battalion
deployed,and therms covered the right and left flanks.
Supported by • rapid ire, the ekhmlahera made •
spirited dash at the Wein; at the Vern*, the centre of
the Week being the Mmmet house, which so proud'
neatly overlooks Fortune's Well, and was supposed to
he the key of the enemy's outworks. Though the
&cleanse was rapidly madmthe position was too formid-
able by nature and art, the advance having to be made
up the elope of steep bills, In the facie of the piquet
house, which might he supposed to be loopholed, and
occupied by • andletiant body of the enemy; while the
Citadel of the Verne towered above all. sad ecru-
mended every inch of the ironed. For the purpose of
this sham attach, we presume it was reeogaiseil that
the Citadel has not yet tie heavy guns, at no skinning
could have been attempted In the tam of the terrible
fire they would throw on the attacking form. Even
with only the cover of the piexinet house and the advan-
tage of the position, it was obvious that the enemy
meld repulse the assault of the skirmishers, and the
latter retired in good order upon their supports. Tee
enemy was now supposed to have left his ponder',
and to be pursuing the skirmishers down the
slope. It was a mined time for the attack ;
but the main body formed up solidly to rendes the
charge, and fired one volley at the advancing enemy,
This shook their lines, and when a woad volley fol-
lowed, they were drives back to the former position in
confusion The akirtniehers fell in at the rear. and
another couple of commune modes Allah at the pkquet
house; but they were repulsed in the same manner as
before. Six &Masks in this way, were made altogether,
each subdlviakia taking tern in the assault, but each
was repulsed. The enemy, however, would have been
wearied by these repeated Weeks, and Commander
Markham directed a mashing adman*, by all the twelve
eompanies, supported by the gam. This was made
with the greatest promptitude end spirit, sad with •
rush like that at the heights of Alma, the whole force
hurried forward, and mated the whole position at the
charge, amidst hearty harnabs. By this time the sound
of the firing had aroused She whets population of For-
tone's Well arid Peen, who amembled (the school
Widnes being also grsoted holiday) on the Common
and the Castle Road, and we heard the numbers esti-
mated at WOO. By sad bye Rear-Admiral Wilmott
arrived on the field, acoonipaaied by Captain Beandah,
Captain Lord Guildford, and the staff, T force was
; i:rtzh he
.iand the captured position was armed with the
field-guns, and left in charge of • faiirinon, in placing
the guns in position on the some casualties
warred. A gun Wangling to H. .fi. Warrior was
espeteel, and part of the limber fell on • seaman,
broke his leg, and badly crushed his knee. A numerous
and effinsint medical staff was on the ground, and the
poor fellow wag eonveyed to the .rear by some of
H.M.S. Agiamionrt with all despatch. Been this
comparatively small accident served to remind the
spectators of the horrors inevitably ettaishing to actual
war, and grand as was the eight of • number of breve
fellows assembled to practise the defense of their
ootiotry, one could not but hope that they might never
be brought Into hostile troth/ion with • real foe. While
the wounded was being carried off, the work of re-
placing the gnu was proceeding with alacrity, and all
was right in one minute and thirty ammo& The garri-
son in sharp of the gnus took up position on the brow
of the hill in front of the plaques house, and the bulk
of the assailants retired. However, the newly-captured
position wee not left long quiet, for a forge (by the way,
the same as those who assaulted before, bat who were
supposed to bean army relieving the citadel) appeared
They fired several volleys and advanced en mule.
The battery replied briskly, bat could not chock the
advance, and when the assailant, were within 40 yards
they charged at full spied. and in an instant were upon
Site artillerymen. Boise of the latter drew their
swords, and thetv wee • smart sirmle. It was short;
bat in the mesons, other, of their party bed die
mounted the guns, and carried off the vent-pieces.
Their Sight yr bat short; they were speedily over-
taken and brought bask, and the capture of the battery
was complete- Commander Markham than lumped on
• captured gun, and led off three cheers, which were
lustily responded to. After this the 1,414411 mi and
their gum returned to their boats, the right wing by
the Ormiletieera pier. and the left by the Breakwater
pier. Considering the eaten of the ground, the
swages were gam throagla in • very satisfactory meo-
w more esgeMally those of the artillery, *hien we.
worked Is splendid style, while the drill was gone
through made, this gartaery-lieatenant of H.M.S.
Heresies. It was Wended to have • review on a
grander male on Wednesday marring; bat the weather
was so Waimea VW the affair was postponed.

RIADIIIO ROOs.—The Insulinl statements for tin
wearier j••• ended, shows • bassos in hand et
19e- 3ed.
THB evening elms ils ecioneetion with the sebool, bee
commenced tor the winter. Eighteen young moma end
lads were present on Monday evening. It, is to be
hoped time many more will avail thorniseliree et the
opportunity to improve.
eacissay.—A boy named George Orem ot this village
one dey last week, tell under the wheels of a waggon,
vitas on lbo may from Blaadford. Tb• boy Motes that
budll while getting up to rile ; that tbe front wheel
west over his kg, and—rathor mmvollons— the other
over his body. Kr. Fielding has attended him, and he
Is progressing tevournbly ; no bones being broken.

SR AP WICK.
Owe Aocantirt. —Thomas Ford, • labourer, ia the
=of Mr. Matotoo, at Maimlok. mei with • serious
oa Tuesday morning,. With • doubl•-barrolliid
✓un he was abottlati rook. shoo It exploded, swiss
oossidotablo Injury to ttia band and are. Ho woo woo
ofkrzwozda aeaysysd to this Dorms Ooanty Hospital.
CLlttilifrUbla
Aoomars.—• ratio. 111111i0011nudist hoppeood to a
/met eise of Ws Wisp is &Wale" evisaift. Atka
week lie ad fats ires pAlast wands Itt go. by