The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-24 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER REVIEW AND FIELD DAY AT

CHATHAM.

A review of the whole of the corps, comprising
the artillery, iefaetry, aid mounted volunteer force of the
countyof K.ent, in conjunctioa with the regular troop, took
place yesterday afternoon on the lines et Chatham. in the
presence of many thousauds of spectators, amoopt whom
were a large number of ladies, and the most influential re-
sidents of the county. About two o'clock the town of
Chatham presented a scene of the utmost excitement ariaiog
from the constant arrival of corps by railway, from all
points of the county. The shops at Chatham, Btorupton,
and Gillingham were generally closed, business was ens-
peoded at the dockyanh and other public establishments.
and the day appeared to be observed as a holiday by all
classes of the lobabitante of the district. The
several corps marched to the review ground,
preoaded by their respective beads, along the military
road, and thence through the wally port, and at 3 o'clock
the entire volunteer throe had assembled on the lines, which
presented a brilliant appeorauce. 'The ground was well
kept by the West Kent Yeomanry Cavalry, the East Kent
Mounted Rifles, a detachment of the Royal Marines, and
the Kent county coustabulary, wider the commuted of
Captain Ruston. The volunteera herring formed in batta-
lions, a strueg infantry force from the garrison, comprising
two battalions of the Chetlion division of Royal Marine
Light Infantry, and detachments of the depot battalions of
the 12th, 20th, 83rd, 77th, 101st, and other regiments
arrived on the ground, the Loyal Marina; being commanded
by Colonel T. Lemon, commandant of the division, and the
entire force by MajorGenenil Eyre, commandant of the
garrison. Viscount Sydney, Lord•thentenant of Kent,
accompanied by Major General Lyre, and other field officers,
took up a position at the flog.si all, near which arrangements
had been mode for the distribution of prizes to the successful
competitors at the animal luau contest of the Kent volunteer
Associ.tiou, held on the previous two daps at the govern-
ment practice range, Milton nest Gravesend. The volun-
teers and military, with the coloured each carps, torn mad
line of contiguous column, and r. ceived his lordship and staff
with the usual "elute. The succeolul competitors were
then called to the front, the prises being placed on a table
near the standard, and the Lorthbieutteast, in a brief ad-
dress, expressed the Vessure he felt with regard to the
satisfactory condition of the volunteer force, both Artillery
and Rifles throughout every district of the meaty of Kent,
which had ever been foremoet to ',Uwe its patriotism. His
lordship then pro-soled to award the various prizes, at the
termisstion of which the battalion and field day evolutions
commenced. His lordship, Major.Genersl Eyre, and staff
having taken up a position at the standard, the entire force
marched pest in open order, at wheel distance, in excellent
style. The brigades of Artillery from Woolwich Arsenal
and Dockyard, and the Gravesend brigade, comprising the
batteries at Gravesend, Blyekheath, Faversham, Sbeernees,
• and Gillingham, commanded by field officers, formed the
advance, followed by the several administrative battalions of
rifle volunteers. Tire total number of rank end file, includ-
ing the volunteers. rial matinee, and infantry, amounted
to at least seven thousand men. After matching past a
• series of evolutions were gone through, which terminated
• about half.pant six o'clock, when Viscount Sydney eapreseed
his entire satisfaction with the efficiency displayed by the
• entire force, which then matched off the ground. each corps
accompanied by its band. The programme originally laid
down was not carried out, it having been intended that the
attack should he mode by the force upon the regular troops
stationed in the totrenchinents and defeediog the forth:l-
otting.. At a late hour hest night the town wan crowded
by voluateere and visitors, and the scene presented at the
North Kent Railway Station defies des,cntaien. Every
avid erite carriage was squired, and although frequent
special trains were started, it was apparently impossible to
fled the means of traneit for all who desired to return
[ I hems.