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

HEAD-QUARTERS OP TES 4TH DITIP/ON,
RLERALRPARK, NEAR UPAPoill.
_ .

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Tuesday Evening.
Though there was some rain last night, and a shower this
morning, the weather looked promising from daybreak, and
the day has been a line one. All Upavon having been out
very late was not Up very early; lend no one was moving
about the value until the squeaking bagpipes of the
Aberdeenshire Militia announced that the head of the third
Moisten was dose upon us on its way to the encampments
about here. With the progress of the Third Division from
Poway I have nothing to do; but I may say that from eight
o'clock till eleven It came pduring through I:pavon ; that
camp. were being pitched onallthe available spots leftnnocen-
pied by the Fourth Division, anl that every brigade in the
Northern Army lay contiguous ; and the spectator could take
In at one glance an encampment on which there were nearly
111,000 men, 10,000 bone., and many hundreds of baggage and
supply waygona. Let critics who never saw a body of 20,0.0
men on a continuous march of many du a say what they like,
hut no one who has ever marched with • numerous colunin
In an enemy's country, and has had the same experience
In a friendly one, will deny that to feed 15,000 men and
10,000 horses with anythicg like regularity, and at the same
time curry their tents, luggsge, preaerved trod, and extra
equipments, is on ackieveinent which dons the highest credit
to a ft re under-officered as the Control and Transport
branch of the Army Service Corps . . . Every commod-
e -.lion to a General of Division or • Brigadlor is marked
" Strictly confidential." Nobody lathe Cupp ta supposed to
know where he is going to-morrow, or at what hour in the ,
morning he is to be celled out of his sleep and ordered to '
strike his tent and inSet.,. .
The enemy's Cavalry are accused of awfully sharp practice.
It is rumoured in this camp that, not content with having
taken soundings in the rivers, measured the depths of the
fords, and explored the mazes of every plantation on their
own side, they have been crossing over and doing the same
this; on ours. There is a general cry that this is not
only aUditClutia but "net fair ;" and I suppose our
Generals are going to try their hands at learning, by
cove- rt means, a little of the country of their hearths and
homes, but of which they know nothing, while the foreign
, foe, who igrided there about a fortnight ago, is ac-
quainted with every inch of It. Well, we shall see. As
the invader is marching up, and England's defenders are
marching down, and ae their respective positions might
, almost to descried with the aid of a good glue, the
struggle cannot be delayed much longer. Before the dose
; of this week • battle must have been lost and won; but
there is no say ing what this Army may not have to do
when it has annihilated the enemy on its way to Salis-
bury Plain. There is a talk of another invading army,
already on the high seas, which will take General Walpole's
forces in the rear alter he has disposed of the hordes who
are now rushing forward to sack the capital. In each an
event ail that will be left to the splendid forces now en-
camped on the down, and in the parks about Upuon will be
to make a final great e fort for a graceful march past Li
presence of the conquerors. . . .
In the small cavalry Field-day yesterday the troops first
paraded in line, the Dona Artillery on the right, next them
the 11th Lancers, then the 13th Demurs, and then the
linh Hussars. SW IL Wa.pole inspected the front and
rear ranks, the hands pia) ing while the General was
pasting along the line. The Brigades first marched
put by squatters. at a walk, then trotted past by
troop., then galloped put by troops, left In front.
After this the Horse Artillery guns, masked by the
13th Unseats, advanced and opened fire. They then
retired 10 yawls, and while they were retiring the
191 h Hussars charg d across their front. The guns then
. opened tie e again from their new position, and • fresh charge
Iwas Malta hey a squiviron cutting the pursuing practice. The
whole Brigade then formed up in line and advanced in
; review order giving a general salute. All this was very
pretty. It afforded thou who witnessed it an opportunity
. of seeing the fine condition of the meu and horses of three
of our regiment, of cavalry and a battery of the Done
grtillery after ten days' march. . . .
TILE SOUTHERN ARMY.

I all
I

811AFIESDVAY, Tneldly Z• 811.14.
To-day each of the Divisions of the Southern Army had a
field.daY upon Its own account, the troops commanded by
the Generals being divided, and being, In each case, two
Brigades against one. Its efficient force of Cavell y and
artillery being added to redeem in some measure this appro.
Priation of numbers. Sir A. Elmsford's Division went to
Launceston Down, and General Brownrigg to lifonckton-
COMMen. A feature of novelty, moreover, was given to
the operating!s over the well-known Down by the fact
that the thaffing was at right angles to the positions
hitherto maintMned and attacked. One Division commenced
eperations at line Vito*, the other at allavea. Both ^Perk.
tions were conducted with great spirit and were probably the
more satisfactory to the troops ~well as the oommanders,
front the tact that the Generale were loft in lank MOM=

J S. a

to themselves, and we nOt-hairipered by any epeeist- in-- -
etructlons. The Duke of Cambridge seemed much plowed
with the operations in each cue, and the principyil point
to which he directed the attention of the offliors at the
close of the movements was the somewhat excessive expen-
diture of ammunition—. . The Volunteers especially were
making the lanes resound with song, and their only
regret appeared to be 'hat, owlet to the new regula-
tions, they were not in the thick of the battle, and hence
their opportunities or skirmishing and exchanging volles
with the enemy were corm aratively limited.... The Army
of the South turns its back moot Dlandford to-morrow, and
it will march by the roads known as the Higher and the
Llwt r Shaftesbury Roads—the Infantry not starting much
before eight o'clock, the Cavalry probably an hour or so
earlier. Pontmell, the site of the nrst day's engegement,
occupos Stotts, position, and commands a view of several
counties. In the character of its scenery it differs widely
from mythic.' the troops have hitherto seen, but as • mili-
tary position ills one of the finest in England. Hostilities
may now be considered to have fairly broken out and the
armies at I march with all the caution bowasary in an
enemy's country.

The Daily Netes Special Correspondent, writing from
Hlandford, on tiaturtlay, narrates the following in-
teresting incident
As the Prince rude back from the Inspection a very touch-
ing incident occurred. An old Waterloo peueiuner, Hiscott
by name, who formerly served in the 10th Hussars, had come
to the park to see his old regiment and his )oung
Prince. lord Ashley detenninrd to introduce the old
man to the Prince of Wales, and after the inspection,
he 'termed forward and asked bra Royal Highness's
, leave to introduce a faithful sullect who had done
' the State some service In his ray. The Prince readily
assented, and the old man tottered slowly forward. Sto ping
from his charger the bine° shook hands heard'y with the
old whiter, and in a few well-chosen words expressed his
pleasure at meeting one who had done his dory so well at
the List great English victory with the regiment the Prince
was so proud to command. ilia Royal Highness then asked
some questions as to length of the old man's service, and
seemed much struck at being told that for thirty-one years
the brave old fellow bad been on duty abroad without
once returning to England. After shaking hands with him
again the Prince rode on. leaving John Hiscott • prouder and
a richer man, More than one person among the witnesses of
this little incident reinarked on the pretty picture that was
formed by the young Prince in all the glory of youth and
strength bone ing tenderly down from his charger to shake
hands with the faithful old soldier, white with the snows of
many winters, add bowed down with age.