The Express.
London, England, 1849-10-31 00:00:00

FIELD DAY AT PORTSMOUTH.

PORTSMOUTH, OCT. 29.—This morning, at an
early hour, the guards of the garrison were relieved, and at
10 o clock the 4th, 77th, and 91st regiments assembled in
heavy marching order for Fortsdown, to ennui? for the day,
and for a field day.
The weather, however, appearing rather doubtful, the
Lieut.-Governor (Lord F. Fit=larence) altered the order of
march, ant the brigade marched out to the vicinity of
Lumn's Fort, and encamped along the seashore in open
y
columos of companies. The tents were soon pitched, and
fatigue parties told off, some of whom were sent awn to eat
rut growing on the common, others to arrange the fire-
places, and in about ten minutes above a hundred
fires were blazing, and cooking the dinners of the
several regiments. During the period occupied in cooking,
the men amused themselves in various modes in a large mea-
dow adjoining the camp ground. In one corner were some
fifty couple dancing to the music of half • dozen musicians
whops lively strains produced in succession country deices,
pglkas, and waltzes, which were gone through by many at
the men in a style that showed it was nothing new to them.
In another part was a second orchestra of musb lens engaged
io playing Scotch tunes to half a dozen young men who per-
formed a number of Highland jigs, flings, strathspeys, &e.,
with great agility, and excited loud cheers from their com-
rades. Ruining matches, football, quoits, and other games,
ware also carried out with great vigour.
About two o'clock the dinner cell Founded, and in a few
minutes soli n were quietly engaged in discussing the
merits of their Irish stews, which, as far as could be judged
by the agreeable fumes arising therefrom. were not •o be
despised by the mast fastidious appetite. The gerund and
officers, and many ladies present, tasted it in very liberal
supplies offered by the men. Half an hour after the cloth
was cleared the "turnout" sounded, and iii about ten
minutes the men were re-accoutred and standing to their
arms. At the roll of drum the tents disappeared is a
moment, and the entire camp equipage was picked up and
rapidly moved off the field, as news arrived to a large but
imaginary force approaching the brigade.
The regiments were formed in close column, and, faring
to the right about, eimmeneed their retreat towards Ports-
mouth, having previously thrown out a strong party of skir-
mishers to protect the rear, and est ce or twice the enemy
pressed so hard that the skirmishing party were obliged to
seek cover in the ditches and behind the sand bat ks, while
the 91st to invent advanced th their support, at the same
time that the 4th and 77th deployed from to:uum into line
to rcs:st the threatening attack a the enemy. The skit-
, mistier., thus strongly reinforced, enabled the main body to
retire; but when on &mama Common, a mounted
officer galloped in from the rear-guard skirmishers,
apparently conveying intelligence that a body of cavalry was
approaching, and the beadle instan.ly sounded, they assemble
and farm squares to receive cavalry, which was so rapidly
manceuvred that the danger was speedily overcome without
a shot, the cavalry appearing not to like the preparations
made for their reception. A portion of the enemy caving
got on the marching left flick of the brittle the column
wheeled and de; loped into line, opened a rattling fire,
advanced in line, charged, and wi h deafening cheer.. were
supposed to drive the enemy into the sea, whin all perished,
as the brigade shortly a'ter entered the garrison.