The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-04-21 00:00:00

THII DORE= BATTALION AT THE
PORTSMOUTH REVIEW.

- - -
(ST • "nue rintre.")
IlreentV, II p.m.
The weather today him hese glorious, and every.
thing, so far as I cm torn, bas passed off with eclat.
Yellowing the fortunes of the Dorset Battalion, I found
seated at the breakfast table at the tamed hostelry, the
Salton? Home, about fifty of the Dorset Battalion, and,
before leaving it for the review, each man we. prs.
rented with • substantial slice of meat inserted Weems
the two halves of a roll, and this during the day was
found to be very aceeptable. Them of Use battalion in
the town mastered opposite the Sellers' Home, shortly
alter mom a.m., and marched to the Railway Station
to catch the 7.56 a.m, train for Perelman, where the
main body of the battalion was to be massed with other
battalions. Good time was kept by the Railway, and
the Blindfold carps sad the,. is the Dorset and
Somerset line were tie Anil to arrive, followed shortly
after by therresidaa. Two bands et the battalion were
pcsseat, Haim of the 3rd and the bilt corps being on the
ground. Lieut. -Carmel Maned had the maimed of the
Ant division of the fourth brigade, having his eider
la 4.-camp Major R. and Castleman
(Blandford sores), Captain and Adjutant H. Carew,
101 Administrative Battalion Cornwall. being Major of
Brigade. The field stale of Us; Domet Battalion may be
thus plead:—
era/Fr.—ln addition to those asses mentioned
itbove—Lient,Colooal Steward (who bad the command
of the Dorset Satialloo), Hattalion•Surgeon Rowe, and
Ca and Adjutant Barrett.t.
risulta rear, (let).—Captain Edwards, Sedge Hounseß,
sergeants, bugle* band or 'Sonoma 6, rank and Al.,
St total, 60.
Wanznsis, (2n4).-oaptala Ferrer, Lieut. Bond,
M is, he, 5, rank and file, 44; tote'. 51.
irnacnsrren, (3rd). —Captain Coombe, lieut. Hodgea,
E Williams, serpents, he., 21, rank and file, 48;
fr:"X7O.
Poeta, (4110. —Lieut. Al
te. &M. 8 rank and filder,k4r *tit). Williams,
mirrnwors. 4Lth).-o.,..J.Meeshor, Lieut. Thard,
gorieanta 114., rank and file, 46; total, 54.
Winnow ( Pope, sergeants, ho., 7,
soak and file, ,• total, 44.
Basanosan, (bh). -Captain ralirseser, Lieutenant
Ilebeoth,6o.llo. Tanner, mageante, ha, 7, rank and
Ala, 48 •
frasaltuesio, Ittilt).—Clapeala naming Lamm. Johns,
ser=s, lets., 22, rank and 11., 47; told, 71.
ISHOILY, (911).—Capbein Aron, Lieut. Berridge,
=os4.Bellneek serpents, is., 5, rank and file, 46;
itruniasnrin, (10th).— From some mess or other this
Corps was not repre.e.le4 in DM& [WG hear that an
antalgamatios with another corps— ,Huridge—willsooa
lake place).
GILLINGHAM (11th). Captain Matthews, Ensign
KA.," sergeant., km., 6, mak and fila, 40; total, 48.
STALIMIDGIL (12th), —lAmit lang. Ensign Dmihwe°d•
Amieteet-Surgeon Leash, sergeants, he., 5, malt and
Ale, 44 ; total, fa.
Grand total of all ranks, 626, bang only 431'. than
roughly guessed at.
Owing to the Whetterse corps not being up to the
numerical standard to maintain its existence is a
company, it was swallowed up by another. Pareltain
vas very prettily decorated, and it may be said that the
battalion bad the honour of • march poet, it it did not
take plats" OD Soothes& Common. The various coin-
psalm marched down the wide part of the streets in
fine, and the inhabitants of Fulham were the review-
ing officers. The marsh to the scene of operations was
not of that dusty character or dry natum width
distinguished the march to the Salisbury review
ground, still it was sufficient to try the men.
Upon arriving at Portsdown the hill wad breasted,
and then a halt was very acceptable. As invariably
the dog appears on • Derby race course when be is not
wanted, at it would seem tb• hare is partial to volantser
?sclera When the Dorset Imitation was drawn up in
line the hare bounded "over earth's soft flooring" but
• few feet from the front rank. After dodging about,
and with a fair amount of booting, the timid and fleet'
looted creature (soaped by going over the other side of
the bill. The Dorset battalion was massed with the first
and second divisions, which represented the enemy, who
was supposed to bays landed and taken possession of the
new form on Portadown hill, and a force came out from
Portsmouth, aided by the gunboats in the 'kennel to
repel them. At the meet of the hill the invaders were
formed into line, two deep, and in this formation
extended for about two miles. Before them lay •
magnifirmot panorama, embracing in the view Ports-
mouth, Draper; Spitbead, and Hyde. The first
Intimation they had of the beginning of the mimic
battle was the booming of a gun from the Ribes lines,
followed by a rattle of musketry from the skirmishers
thrown out by the foroe advancing from the direction
of Portsmouth, to drive in the enemy's pickets.
While an admirable fusillade was maintained,
the artillery could be Neon coming out from the
lanes and roads of Catboat and Wymering, their
accoutrements gleaming in the meridian sun. The
conflict raged for a while between the skirmishers of
the contending armies, and then the defenders were
reinforced by the gunboats Stork and Fancy convoying
up Porehester creek a squadron of steam launches. and
towing a flotilla of pinnace's. They brought their guns
to bear on the village of Portagrove and the heights.
The enemy's skirmishers were at length driven in, and
having taken up a new position, made a determined
stand. Now the whole line on tha top of bill com-
menced file firing, and the fusillade was maintained
with unbroken vigour, till the low ground was shrouded
In a dense aloud of sulphurous smoke. For miles the
battle raged : the field guns and pins of position
belched forth oontinuou, salvo., the squadron served
their guns •ith marvellous rapidity and precision, and
the musketry kept up a constant roll of firing. The
line then advanced in splendid order to the foot of the
hill, throggh a high hedge, and across some cora-
lielda The battalions which held Oosham ware
attacked in form by the defenders, and a desperate
battle raged in the village Arm* At length the enemy
were driven out; then fresh reserves were brought from
behind the Hilsea earthworks, and, with the aid of
artillery, turned the Sank of the invaders, who retired
to the top of the hill, outfiankedontnumbsred, and over.
whelma The Pools corps was peculiarly ant °Annaba tide
day, but, as they are a good ternpereo and well-behaved set
of men, I must not magnify the offence. During the
pros's. of the review no Ism than three ramrods, whir*
bad been incautiously left in the rifles, were by this
corps sent through the air, fortunately without hurting
any of the spectators, who every now and then would
persist In getting too close to the line of formation.
Blaudtord also lost one ramrod from the same cause—
that of carelessness in not withdrawing it before firing.
I need not tell you that the Dorset Battalion did all
that was required of it, and folly entered into the spirit
of the review. An old drill-sergeatt who bad seen
reviews in several puts of this country araured me that
It was the beet arranged one he had ever seen, and the
manner in which it was carried out reflected credit on
all. Upon the termination of the at. i..ht the order
was given to thaw of the Dorset b.lialion who ii.teaded
to march to Portsmouth, instead of to Fareham, to fall
to the rear. There was a very fair proportion who
availed themselves of the privilege, and threatened to
tax the resources of the Sailore'rHome upon their
arrival at Portsmouth. The main body of the battalion
returned by the high road, pasting clam by Nelson's
monument, and reached Farehani by six o'clock, and
were halted in the field where they formed in the morn-
ing. Woos' Memel then went to the railway station
to make arrangements for the Dorset train, and in a
quarter of an hour the whole battalion was marebed
there, got into the carriaies, and were dispatched;
and they arrived home ta good time, and mush
earlier than they could have saticipetod. Sedating
Major Abbott was in command of the Portamooth
Wty, and at one or two places halted the men on
the road to partake of refreshments, to clear the dust
from the throat. Upon pealing the ritualistic church
of Wymering several rushed in to catch a glimpse,
but I wee too mush fatigued to go eves one step out
of my way. A friend who was present at the
Sunday warrior leads me to believe that the
highest point of Ritualism is peached in this
sacred edifies. I must not omit the decoration of •
gentleman's house on the right journeying to and
about two miles distant from Portanoutb. In addition
to other mottoes, in widish great taste bad been die'
played, was the fallowing, and to me original—

"To agarr7 arms is fair,
II the Infant of tin bowing Ix Just.'

Tb• ladles seated in the wind-ows- received • hearty
ovation for the sympathy prettily expressed by those
In the house. It was a tedious =rob, and as Portsmouth
was neared the metropolitan corps blocked the way.
On foraging two deep these of the Dorset battalion
attempted to pass. On. mounted °Skier of •
London corps requested the Dorset men to fall
back with the words, "1 love you volunteer..
hut the orders of tbe Brigadier must be obeyed."
To get out of the difficulty those of our battalion turned
down • street and welded their London brethren. The
Dorset men were well received at the Home, and, being
Pertained, the new inmates se/lied forth to explore
Portsmouth, and to view the display of fireworks on
Souther Common and other attractions. The Mute
&Meerut to Portsmouth say Gosport, Gotham, and
WVinering exhibited proportionably • greater extent of
floral and other decorations than the town itself, but this
Is szoltslg• 'seine that in other reeposte it bad quite
enough to do. In the whole review I do not beer of any
serious siosident, and two only of a minor character, that
Of • sliest injury to the thumb of an artillery.
sod another to a volunteer by • ramrod
running into it. When the Dorset Battalion charged
through the hedge at the bottom of Portsdown
hill with rifles loaded with blank cartridge and at kW-
cock. / gsrptield to lind it seeomolished in safety, ,
seeing that the flight was of • very stiff &waster, the
hods, bard to get through, and the impetuosity of themes
gave but little time to those in the front rank to select
the most (avowable points 110•dsd and Pushed as they
Were by those in the rtar. Berthing of the esnduct
çsberally of the volunteen. I think it is highly mu,.
log; in one or two instances a little Seems might have
been taken, and I did hew of ono falling into the handl
of • military piquet in • state of drunkenness, and with
dress distrranged. Being the largest gathering of
volunteer, that has ever taken plasm in England, Port&
mouth mast be very well satisfied with the deport-
ment of the volunteers, and will not judge harshly of
the force by one or two sets of indirtiretion. As fats.
he Dorset Battalion is ermeerned, wren the latter remark
mill not apply.
TOZIAMT, 1244:140r.;
At breakfast this morning Sergeant-Major, of
the ltdetwt seeps, adverted to the great armoninsc:da-
Mon afforded by the Sellerte Home, and the great atten-
tion paid to the volunteers. Bo therefore proposed •
vote of thanks to the superintendent and the
whole of the officiela ; sad at the same time env
gelded that a eollection of not lon than sixpence
each should b. made 44 a alight acknowledgment
to the attendant& This wee resglily responded to, and
three hearty obese, were el's. as were also cheers for
the sailors of the British %atlas, use of whom galled for
sheen for the BMWs agnates's, sad • like eompliment
was of them. The oollectlee Is independent of one
white it is proposed to make throaghout the battalion
'or the knits of the Sailors' Heine, Tbe Doran
battalion remaining In Portsmouth will soon disperse
0.4 w sad by the 6,35 pm. train this wetting the whole
will Lim left to resume their Twice@ vocations as
sailing& Volumes might he winos, but harms "
denim to spin • 'ie. say ai
an remeirt• Perimassii
d lb pall artfim