The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-04-06 00:00:00

The following extracts descriptive of the engage-
ment, are from a sketch by a Correspondent of The
To 'nes :
• •

From the Brighton station the men marched direct to an
enclosed space known as "the Level," at the northern end of
the town, where the two Divisions of the invading army
were to be assembled before receiving the order to set out.
At a very early hour General Lindsay rode from his head-
quarters at the Albion to the place of rendezvous. In direct-
ing the formation of the Brigades he was assisted by the
members of his Staff. . . .

Without the slightest exaggeration it may he said that the
assembled Volunteers were a remarkably line body of troops.
Taken all round, their average height was from one inch to
two inches greater than that of the Line, while in face and
figure they might have oompared aith any body of men in
this or any other country. They put one very much in mind
of the Prussian Landwelir, only they had more elasticity
about them than belongs to any German troops, lint no-
thing could have been better than the manner in which the
companies stood and kept together while In the enclosure
awaiting marching orders. There was no leaving the ranks,
no swinging about of their rifles, no shouting. There was an
orderly attention on the part of the corps collectively and
the men individually which elicited strong commendation
from the military officers in command....
. . .. • -

Precisely at ; quarter before nine the Prince of Saxe-
Weimar, by whose side was Prince Arthur, gave the word of
command to . the moving off of the First Division, which,
like all the other Divisions, was composed of three
Brigades. It took the direct route by the workhouse,
and, arrived on the Downs, commenced spreading
itself out from tile south-west of Warren Farm, which
was a reserved spot, round in the direction of Bolting-
dean on the coast, thus forming the right centre and the
right of General florofert's position. In the meantime,
the anival of the remaining troops who were to make
up the three Brigades of the Second Division was anxiously
awaited on the Level. They came to the enclosure with
bands playing at intervals of a few minutes up to half-past
nine, when the order for marching was given by Major.
General Greathed. By this time the inhabitants of Brighton
and inavy thousand visitors had turned out, and lined the
road on either aide all along from the Level to the
Downs. . . . . . .

It was jest ten as the last Brigade of the Second Division
arrived at the Racecourse on the Downs. At toe Windmill,
which was the eastern extremity of the manceuvring ground,
two Is-pounders, served by gunners of the tat Sussex Artil-
lery, had already been placed in position. About a quarter
eta mile further, the same corps had two other guns of the
same calibre. This was close to the Warren Farm, itself an
excepted position, as the red flags stuck in the ground indi-
cated to the armies on both sides. There also were two troops
of the 19th Hussars, concealed from the enemy in a position
which would enable them to dmeend the Wick Valley to the
right, or charge infantry up the heights on General Lysons'
side In examining the positions of the contending forces,
it must lw borne in mind that, though defending
the country against an invader, General Lyeens was on this
oceasnai taking the offensive, and that, beyond throwing (tilt
proper outposts, with reserves, supports, and pickets,
General Hereford could make no forward movement what-
ever. He might make what observations he could within
certain limits, but these were very restricted. No advanced
sentries were aPowed to cross the road leading from lezliner
on the north to Rottingdean on the suith, but General
Lysons' troops most have appeared on the heights at his omen
side before they cold be seen by sentries on Gine.' Hors.
ford's side of the Fainter and Itottingdeau Road. Again, the
General directing offensive operations has his choice of the
point of attack. There is no limit in this respect except that
imposed by his own discretion, whereas the General
defending has no choice. He must resist the attack
at the point it is made. If these circumstances be borne in
mind, the disposition made of his forces by Sir A. Hereford
will be more easily appreciated. The opposing army might
have crossed In its greatest strength betwepri Newmarket-
hill, facing General Hereford's left, and Retingilean High
Barn, almostopposite his extreme right, a distal., of between
two and three miles. The Newmarket-hill route would
bring an army iiown more directly upon the town of Brighton,
and therefore to anticipate something in that quarter was
only what occurred to all outsiders who consulted the map,
but military men knew that in dealing with such a com-
mander as General Luella it would have been rash to leave any
point unwatched by infantry and cavalry, especially as the '
army to be attacked at Brighton had not sufficient artillery to
defend the high Downs, on the town side, an they ought to
have been. It certainly appeared from the firing that
General Hereford was stronger in guns than General Lysol.:
but he wanted them more. With sufficient artillery his
position was very strong, because, having appeared on
heights, the enemy had to descend Into a valley and Come
up again before he could fight his way into the town ;
but the want of a sufficient number of guns obliged him
to advance and spread out his Infantry in a manner
which, hail Brighton been regularly prepared for a de-
fence, would have been quite unnecessary. As It was it
becanie essential for him to so place his First Division that
Its lot Brigade. under Colonel Parke, occupied the slopes of
the hill from Wmalendean, round nearly to Rottingdean the
toil Brigade, commanded by Colonel Eitington, and the Ord,
mider Lieutenant-Colonel Loyd Lindsay, were massed in great
force in the Wick-valley, and the three Brigades of his
, Second Division, commanded respectively by Colonel
Anderson, Colonel Weare, and Lord Ranelagh, extended
the line of defense back to the eastward aster as the Wind-
mill.

--From Woodendean-hill, over the Wick Valley, the very
best view of the whole operations was had from the time of
their commencement to the close. Here it was that General
Ellice, the chief umpire, and the Prince of Saxe Weimar
and-Prince Arthur awaited the commencement of the attack
awl witnessed most of the lighting. General Lysons con-
ducted his movements with such caution that while the
troops of General Hereford were awaiting the signal gun
very little could be seen or heard of the enemy, but for a
moment or two, at about half-put 10 o'clock. some troops
were seen on the sky line of the ridge near Itottingdean High
Barn, and soon after an amateur spy brought in news
, that hundreds of men were lying concealed belibid the Barn
i Itself. !Attie bolt seemed to be felt for an hour before the
attack was made that battle would be offered 011 the left of
the enemy's line and to Goren' ilonford'e right or right
centre to the first instance ; but there were suspicions that
this would perhaps be only a feint. The enemy laboured
111,1ter ,1 disadvantage and General Honford's army enjoyed
an advantaire which neither would have experienced In
actual warfare.
A crowd of spectator' on She ridges which separated the
wo males kept moving la the direction take* bp the atter&