The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-09-07 00:00:00

NORTHERN ARMY.

HEAD-QUARTER, PERSEY, en day night.

grtmi4e

Sir Charles Staveley took out the infantry and artillery of
his Division this morning, msrdhing them on to the fine
grans plateau cf Pewley.hill, where they practised brigade
drill, and afterwards had a field-day, advancing in a new
order of battle against a foe typified by two guns sent to
the front, so that their movements might indicate those
of the enemy. General Marahall took the Household
Cavalry smite or tyro further away in the samedlrection, and
nal a fee hours of outpost duties. Passing through the
camps en route to the hill, toe horses' feet almost stuck fast
In the deuth of stiffening mud. The camps themselves
looked more like dra lug grounds than camps, clothes and
uniforms and waterproof sheets being spread out in every
direction.... Powsey itself was lost among it. trees, but
the white tents were town enough for the landscape. The
artillery and infantry climbed up the steep bill, so steep
that one of the gun horses slipped up, coning back
again. When the plateau was gained the guns were sent
forward to left and right, two being detached and or-
dered away to the front to lend reality to the illusion of
an attacking force. The infantry were drawn up, the Militia
Sad Volunteers who arrived yesterday appealing for the
first time in their places In the centre of their respective
brigades A better parade ground there could not be than
this plateau. Most of it was smooth abort grass, given up to
flocks of feeding sheep, but in the distance ware noMe Cenis
of turnips and Gooding sheaves. The troops looked none the
worse for all their wet and mud, and there is nothing the
British soldier knowa better how to do than to clean off
mud and dirt and wake himself look smart. . . .
All Pewsey turned out to lee the troops. The very waaher-
women left their tube, thus baffling those who bad conceived
the clever stroke ol renewing their wardrobe during the two

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days' halt. Life goes by contrasts, and the hoe morning was
twice as enjoyable an it would have been a week ago, when
sunshine was a drug 111 the ekles, and we were inclined to
grumble at too much of a food thing. The brigades were
acme time doing their drill, advancing, retreating, deploying,
and changing front, and then Sir,Charles Staveley proceeded
to practise them in the new order of battle. . . •
avaiLux-Euts, Wien LIPAVON.
Monday livening.
•
• • ..
Though there was heavy rain yesterday evening, the en-
camping grounns dried up during the night, and to-day
Rashall.park has been looking not only gay, but brilliant.
Ladies and gentlemen have come in great numbers to see
the tents, which, notwithstanding the recent heavy rains,
look ae white as snow without, and are as neat within as if
they had just been put up to be exhibited as models. The
men were so tired on Saturday night and yesterday that it
was with dlfticulty some of them were prevented throwing
themselves down anywhere and sleeping in their we
clothes. .. . There has been life and exhilarating
activity over the whole Cansp, and not tbe least disposition
to back out of the work. It Is wonderful how short an ex-
perience oaf CarOp• pitched near the town has convinced
hotel arid sliopkeeping villagers that it Is the bounden
duty of Psrliament to vote any money that may be neces-
sary for the Antumnal Elarcenvres. This class had con.
jimed up in their imagination the most horrible results
from the arrival of the soldiers, but when they have
had a day's takings from I 1 Division they are Illislllllloll.l
in pronouncing the Matioyavms to be ••u good thing for
the country." The farm labourers are very boisterous
over the affair. They nil the public house., where for hours
they give expression to their exuberant Mumbles' by stoat-
roe in tonca the most discordant "Old King Cole," " The
Red, White, and Blue," and one or two other vocal novelties
of the same character....