The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-09-14 00:00:00

TIIE BATTLE OF TIIE AVON.
Td & NORTHARN ARMY.

TUESDAY Evmune.
The fourth and last battle of the Ma snares was fought
to day, and was, as usual, a glmions victory for Loth shier.
There was • misconception of the "general idea," and the
eumequence has Wee that born armies nave ist en playing a
very pretty game of Cross purposes, having cut each others
amumileations, taken mak other's camps and baggage,
changed sides or the Avon, and endi it the City In reverse
fashion, the Northern army fighting with its front and the
Southern with Ito rear towards Amesbury. . .
Amsabury is a large village or small town by a pretty
treat stream, the Avon, which winds towards Salisbury
through a valley preen a ith trees and meadows. To the
east of the river the pak•like laoilre,pe Is now checkered
with comes, Sr Armen Walpole lleaaquarters WI; g at
a spot known as Dtuaiugtein Yield. Amesbury is fatuous
for Several things. In the Mat place Stonehenge is
only two miles away, and is next the town has
an motel coursing meeting of great fame in sport-
ing circles. The hares of the plain are famous fellows ; the
troops startled scores of them to-day, with a Ste, e like a
racehorae, and they do cly Vat Lad Lurgan never dared to
bring Master M'Diatli down to Amesbury. Here, also, is Sir
Ewaret Antrobus's patk, which 0.1100 belonged to the Duke
of Queensberry, who woo the friend of Gay. Gay wee often
Coon here, and they Show a grotto where he wrote his
fables.

Sir Robert Walpole instructions were to defend the Avon,
and with th it intent he took up a position on the Downs
Wore the wooded enclosure known as Vesoasian's Camp,
thui crossing the river to meet his foe, and waiting the
attack with is stream iu his rear. . . .

Before eight the Northern Infantry were on their way,
brushing the dew upon the upland ionuwhiohloadsfeom the
tents about the river towards Vespestan's Camp. Sir
Rn otts position extended strongly along the rising ground
tu front of the Etonian work, and his Infantry formed
in a large stuliole &id by a wood, a spot which may
In its time have been the parade-ground of the Legions, ri,
hide, d a gurison of there over held that euchatire now
lined with trete. A better artillery position than Sir It mert's
there could not be, for there is not only the riots bu, several
clomps of wood at advantageous points. From one of them
to the left our artillery op, ued soon after it came Opus the
ground, firing till it had quelled some guns uhnnnls the
enemy had puihed on thus early and 'blued Minna the
crest of an undulation away beyond tine gray Ideas of
Stow-hence, standing a mile nut upon the plain in all its
lovely grandeur. . . .

_
Ttor lamming was clear and sunny, and it was difficult
to believe the atrocious mood into which thee soft
and Bitable skies had fallen ouly yesteram. The shinihg
and ainuous Avon had its course just behind the it ,m II
camp, before which the nouns were massed. Sir
ellOrirS Staveley's Infantry were to the left, Lord
Mark Kerr'. to the right, tlscir guns near them,
and Vie cairassed regiment, waited in reserve,
while the Light limaars and Lancers covered our front,
Not for lung Laid the Brigadier of the Houttehold
Cavalry keep the steeds toting their bridle, but presently
took his regiments and guns along our whole freest at a trA,
lan a wthe 0 uri-circular sweep. Every now and then he
brought his Horse Artillery into exc tient action ; he cleared
the whole c..unty of the ens 01).5 vedettes, and it was thin rc.
eonnaissance which told us that the Northern force was moving
on the Avon beyond our left flank, for Colonel Mar-hall castle
upon the rear of their infantry. . . . Northern Batteries play
from several positions along our left front covering the de
scent ml their Infantry on Middle Woodford, the place they
had chosen for crottatug the Avon. Two of Lord Mart
Ken's Brigades are marching to the left, and Sir Charles
Staveley's on the right, is ordered to swing round and
march in echelon in the same direction. The whole army
has thus erathged front to the left, and, with the ex-
ception of the reserve Brigand, is bearing down
upon the enemy, to attack his rear as he is croasing
the river on the left flank of our first position. Thu enemy
has his Batteries in some clumps of trees, and, with a heavy
11. e, they protect his Infantry es they make for the Avon.
What these guns were firing at could riot be exactly made
• out. It wasidterwards assured that thy enfiladed, de-
stroyed, and annihilated the whole Northern Army. . . .
. . . At last the enemy's infantry appeared en a hill to
our left. A large body or them illltielettiell at Woodford, and
were mar:hilts down a bare share with great comp-tame sir
open column. The guns are turned on them. Baug—trang
—bang went 9 and to-pounders, her there are two batteHes.
The attention of an Umpire 15 drawn, but Ito males
ho order. The range was fairly within the summers'
reach, but the disuses° was still such As to wake ths
practice not quite a certainty. Nearly the whole ut the
Northern Army was now making haste to the left to
execute its proud coup ea the rear of the ehemy. The
regiments of Stavelm's Division moved leiturely, for
our Notation commanders are sometimes too slow. Lord
Mirk K erra 1111-11, or most of them, are en route also,
and regiments red and regiments black, reginseuts Bat-
{tutu% Voinuteer, and of Militia, in 011e.CeSolell climb
and dereord the grassy spits Hurrah fur the enemy's
connu'unicatious ! The Stuff chuckle ea they make out
regime at after reemeut already on km okaar side. The
more thay ore memo's the more perfectly Blasi 1,3 Led up -Cr
their rear, and altogether astonish and n h them. This
was the oniy thought, and, oh ! to think at that detestable
gPneral idea" arid tuts foreign army at the! Salisbury w,
deoured "err osvir The tall and graceful 'pre of the Cathedral
rose overartdee iii allltaalenderbeauty aird was not fourmilus
oft mad phi Sarum, lordly deemed soother of our strong-
holds, was close by. the Nerhern skirmishers advanced
well First they seized a crescent wood, held it awhile,
and passed across the open beyond it At half-jest ten they
drove the enemy from a spur with a clump of tit:es
o twre had beva One of Ids batter iha. '1 he he xt el 0 r
brought them right upuu Ore Sootherners at the
All of thsht Let one briraele were accost and pis '
over. The troops slid on this stile the ssater show,. a
bunt front, drove in the skinet-hers of the ads' thei g
North, and gave undaunted battle to the regiments
as Hwy were hurtled up. Now, thought Sir Robert
and his Staff, now was the time to strike the blow,
to strike It quickly, and give the enemy no time to
Ming back his troops in inch toms no to retconquer
Iris communication, riluveley'a troops were hurried across
tire stubble fields and through the crescent wood. The next
greasy slope was seam strewed with the long semi tinter
which his advancing skirmishers made, followed by chanters
of supports and reserves, and by the long solid lists of the
1, gin:tads themselves, tunic and. haversit-k and truhrou
mite tag a tricolour of red and white and black all along the
earths. .

AtMalf-past eleven there came a lull. There was a shot
fe m the batteries new and then, and the musketry hit
stopped for a geed reason. Why, with the exception of the
regiments ordered to lay down their sum s, the Soul had
Army was all en the Amesbury r Icll.lOLl side of the river,
hits the Northern Army was all on the Winterleourng or
Portignoulh aide. The two armies had changed places, and
were fighting With their faces set the reverse way to that on
which .they tat atarted. Here, lodged, was wh it is called a
great turning no ,venemt. Ore der it could not Ire, stains that
both armies retired completely routed for when the battle
began again, the Southerners were defending the Ameshwy
site of the Avon. . . At half past citrus we were resting
on our laurels, holding the ground down to the rivereside.
We waited to see what the entmy would do now that we had
rot off his communication and taken his baggage. We
suspected that he would collect al: his forma, and make
grand attempt to re-cross to his own site, and we were well
prepared to meet him, for now all Staveley's Dividon was
close up to Watiford ; or perhaps Sir John might make a
way to what was now our left fitnir, cress nearer Alias-
Lary, aud, making another whole turn, try to take
cc hi cur tear in the afternoon, Just as we had
taken him in the morning. Tending to Lord Mark
Kr rr to guard his new left Sir Bohan Welpote
gave irCharm. Stavely the care of the right. IS was thee
Ste John Michel selected to attack, for, though he was on the
stra....ht road to Leaden, he stilt had on eye to his lost
baggage. Bodies of Infantry were collected, reeiments were
brought bark in their tracks, and skirmishers were pushed
forward, or, rather, were pushed backward to the river, ACC
we should probably have seen some new and remarkable
development of this extraordinary battle if the Doke . .
had not ordered the bugle to sound. The mutketry begin.
Bing on the river banks stopped directly, Ow big guns
booming on the distant ridges were stilled at last, tire final
gun being fired from a Northern battery to the left; the
licht cloud of the explosion rose into the air, took the pale
blim tinge, fleeted away into nothing upon the wind, and
ended the Matumarcs of 1872. . . . . .
DURRINGTON-FIELDC, Tuesday Evening.

- - -
Perhaps the reader will best be able to form en opinion of
the nature of the operations from all account of thorn as tern
from the points of view ml a spectator following them trim
the c mmencement till the somewhat sudden collapse of the
struggle. It wee the duty of Sir It. Walpole s Army
to hold Auiesbury, and chick the further advance of
the enemy, woo lust night encamped in the neighbour-
hood of Berwick St. Jemes and Winterbiunte Stoke,
about five miles to the south-west of Amesbury, and
a little in the reur of where the Northern Army had been in
camp for some days before the fight nil yesterday. Tine enemy
was well sheltered behind high ridges which he would either
have to peas over or get round by north or eonth on his
march to Amesbury Early in the morning he showed him-
self by his vedettes, who, stealing out at various points, were
identiy feeling the way fir a good line. The Northern
Army went net idle either. At bine o'clock the oth
Meyers in twos and threes crenaed the Downs, and
entering stubble fields to the east and west of the romd
from the Downs into Winterbourne Stoke, searched about
every place for [kliegs of the enemy's intentions. Omen]
Shinto's wtiole division of Cavalry, Mein line the Wiltshire
Yeomanry and Colonel Borinerie mounted Volunteer Rifle-
men, were well concealed behind Sri 'ge ; the Outcry of the
Boyd Horse Artillery close by to fellow them up if it should
be thought advisable to charge the enemy in case his left
appeared on the hieh ground or endeavour tin work relord
by the north Soon after nine, the Southerners openel ii
battery from the plantetion on the top i I sheen D islet
to their right, and the Northern Army at nice cornmeticed to reply from the road between Norinanten and
Little Anst aliany. the enemy is teen adv. acing hie
left and skirmishers are thrown out from the Northern right
in tine direction of Stonehenge and toweled the crest between
Wieterbourth Stoke toot Berwick St James Shute brtnea
up his Horse Artillery to a clump which surrounds both
guns annul gunners, aud shells are throats rapidly Into the
enemy'. poeitious between their, buttery and Bei wick St.
Jenies, lint the Intentry :veneer on his left and return Het
Urn of the skirmishers. Sever d tinier Strutent Light Purse
dvsh down hr ism clomp, through the ititavenine valley,
and up the oiher side: bet ti ey are no sooner up
than down agein, and conceal themselves bellied the
plantation in rear of the artillery, because the enemy
Is mussing he miry out hes left ant briireleg up heavy gees
and plaiting them in positibei there. Seine ekirinishiug goes
on in very open order. The oppesing batteries boom,
Shutes horse Omega up retain, end the issue of the content
towards Wiutelli .uree Stoke apposite doubtful, when it
It evident that the scamp bins only been keeping as in play
at this side. Its st at ileeben is an attack by his HOC to
force Ins wey rowel hip leeper Woothord tied Like Mid,
and pleree our left Sink, which was held by the 4,11
Division, ranks leads his brigade over Normatiton, eltse
to Like Mit. Higher up, and lookieg down on the road
to our encampment, is Colonel Erstrange, with three
batteries of Artillery, one of 16-no:m4es' and two of
9-p ureters. The 90th Regiment and a portion of Stephen'
suns Brigeile is sent down to Lake Mill arid claims the
honour of havirg routed leveret of the enemy's battalions
In their attempt to cross the brinier. All anon g the valley of
I /Patentor, are serried Rees of scarlet, on ehe Win ti tern
slope are the 101,b, not far from the frent, tut still lyine
down and well sheltered ey budges; the end Battalion of
the It fin lb Linde and the Peevish nal Bliewle of Voluuteers
clone nt hand. 3 lie time is pared for the enemy
to reek° any demonstration over the Downie from the Invader's
centre, and manifestly We attempt to pans by his left wee a
feint ; but he has passed over the river, route Inked our
left. anti his horse, foot. and artillery are pouring along the
road to Amesbury and our Head Quarters.... Jost now the
whole of the 4th Batutlion of the Rifle Briganie in cal lured
near Woodford, and a Staff Officer from the 4th Division
rides np and demands their ammunition. ... At length the
Staff officer is toll that the ammunition is considered as
eavine been destroy ell, and ho rides elf. We huvo no idea
that the battle le over, beceuse there is a crowd of spec-
tators on horseb reit and in carriages on the top of the bill
opposite. A grand finale—the flashing of cannon fire, and
the thunder of batteries, and the halehoure incessant de-
tonation from long lines of skirmisher., who lie down, said
get up, and a tven2e and retire, anti as they come to close
(miners raise clout's of smoke witch envelope everything
and everyhody, even to the galloping Rides de-camp, in an
obicurity that is dispelled may when ttie final bugle an-
nounces that it this hot been a real battle it would now be
over—there was little or none of this today, ,
Immediately en the close of the battle, which was coon
after to-nice o'clock, the two rival armies became one. With
bands playing and colours flying, battalion alter bettalien,
reeiment after regiment, and battery after battery, de-
bouched from the lighting-4round to the Tare no downs and
roads leadiug to Amesbury. Some 30 000 teen and 20,000
horses ere now in fields and parks about 0 rringten
Such a allow as tels army made in marching threnek
Amesbury bras rarely been seen in any lergliah town or
vitlage. The whole country round carve in to see it, and
there was scarce standing room out old ors, and none ineide
;Alp nines, as the coltunes, during fell two hour', passed
to beautiful encampments. .