The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-29 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence,

MALTA, August 23.
Her Majestj'a ' screw steam corvette Chanticleer left on
the 16th for the Bay of Tanis. The Marlborough, screw
steamship of Lb' a line, accompanied by the Meanee, steam
liner, Resist ir ce and Royal Oak, screw steam ironclad fri-
gates, left C ,E 1 the morning of the 16th for a cruise in the
Malta char .n el. The two last mentioned vessels returned
to port on. the evening of the 22d, and on the following
morning '.b .e other two came in. Her Majesty's steam sur-
veying v efisel Firefly left on the 18th to verify soundings
in Smyth 's chart between Malta and Marsala. Her Ma-
jesty's. screw steam storeship Supply arrived from Wool-
wich and Gibraltar on the 19th with stores. Her Majesty's
steam frigate Magicienne arrived on the 20th from Susa
and. Tunis, and her Majesty's steam sloop Ardent, from
Sfax and Tripoli, to-day. The French schooner yacht
Erminia, having on board M. Chappon and family, arrived
at Malta on the 16th August, from Marseilles and Catania,
and left on her return to Marseilles on the 19th. The Eng-
lish schooner yacht Cecile, having on board the owner, the
Marquis of Drogheda, and the schooner yacht Redgauntlet,
having on board the owner, Mr J. N. Ferrell, left Malta
on the 15th August, both for Constantinople. The Impe-
rial Ottoman yacht Saidi Bahri, Captain D. R. Cominyn,
arrived from London on the 19th August, atter a splendid
run of eight and a half days, including several hours' stay
at Gibraltar to replenish fuel, and left for Constantinople
on the 21st August.
The Royal Sovereign, 5, turret ship, Captain Sherard
Osborn, C. 8,, sailed from Portsmouth for Portland roads
at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The Aurora, screw frigate, CaPt* Sir Leopold L. M'Clin-
Lock, which sailed from Spithead on Friday with the Chan-
nel Meet, was recalled from the Channel on Saturday by the
Pigmy, paddle steam tender, Master Commander 'Vine.
Yesterday morning she sailed again from Spithead, but this
time for the eastward, and will escort the Royal paddle
yacht Osborne, with the Prince and Princess of Wales on
board, to Copenhagen and the Baltic.
Her Majesty's paddle yacht Osborne, 430 horse power,
Staff-Commander George H. K. Bower, which is appointed
to convey the Prince and Princess of Wales on their tour
to copenhagen, St. Petersburg, Scc., having been repainted
and her defects have been made good, left Sheerness yes-
terday for Leith,where their Royal Highnesses will embark
and proceed direct to Denmark.

The Medusa, paddlewheel vessel, 312 horse power, Mas-
ter-Commander John H. Allard, left Sheerness on Satur-
dlay for Leith, where she will join the Royal yacht Osborne
in conveying the Prince and Princess and suite on their
northern tour.

The Forte,. 39, screw steam frigate, 2,364 tons, 400 horse
power, Capt. A. Mellersh, bearing the flag of Rear-Admi-
ral R. L. Warren, late Commander-in-Chief on the south-
east coast of America, arrived at Sheerness oa Saturday
evening, to be paid out of commission. On anchoring at
the Nore she exchanged salutes with the flagship of Vice-
Admiral Sir C. Talbot, K.C.B.

The Salamis, paddlewheel despatch vessel, 835 tons, 250
horse power, Commander F. G. Suttie, arrived at Sheer-
ness from the north on Saturday, to make good a few
trifling defects. She will sail this evening or early to-
morrow, to join the vessels which are to be placed at the
service of the Prince and Princess of Wales during their
visit to Copenhagen.
The d Dckyard and other naval establishments at Chatham
were ciceed at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and all business sus-
pended for the day, the whole of the workmen being
granted the customary holiday on the occasion of the visit
of the 'i.ords of the Admiralty to the port on their annual
tour of inspection.

The ,old appointment of timber teeter at Chatham Dock-
yard, -which has been held by succeeding officials for
a very 'considerable number of years past, has just been
abolish ad by order of the Admiralty, such an officer being
no lot af;er required, in consequence of the present exigencies
of tho service necessitating the construction of our future
vesse'lt-3 of war of iron, the dockyard at Chatham having, at
the a amo time, become the principal naval establishment for
iron sb ipbuilding,iThe order from the Admiralty ablishing
the office referred to at the same time directs the appoint-
ment 'of a now subordinate official, to be termed an " issuer
of iroi a," in lieu of the timber tester, who has just retired on
a sup orannuation allowance.

In. order to facilitate the unloading of the transports which
are &most daily arriving at Chatham Dockyard with the
armour plates, angle, plate, and other iron for the ironcased
frigates Bellerophon and Lord Warden, under construction,
as well as the large quantities of iron required for the gene-
ral service of the establishment, the Lords of the Admiralty,
on the occasion of their official visit to the dockyard, directed
a tramway to be laid down for a convenient distance along
the Anchor wharf, at which most of the vessels discharge
their cargoes, as well as along the Centre wharf, adjoining
the dock in!which the Bellerophon is building. The rail.
way,lwhich. is intended to extend for some distance along
both wharves, will be so constructed as to allow of the use of
a sufficienst number of portable steam cranes being employed
in unload,•' ng the various vessels, thus releasing from that
duty save ral hundred labourers hitherto engaged almost ex-
clusivel . at that laborious work, and allowing their energies
to be t' arned to some more profitable employment in the
dockyr ird. The steam cranes to be used are similar to those
in us,3 alongside No, 2 dock, where four of the portable
steam lifts have been at work far about three years past with
the u Lost satisfactory results, every portion of the iron used
in the. construction of the Achilles and the plating of the
irotre.ad frigate Royal Oak having been raised and fixed by
thew; means. The cranes are now being manufactured by
I‘l,g srs. Taylor, at the Britannia Works, who also supplied
these at present in use at Chatham Dockyard.
The screw gun vessel Torch, 5, which has been in the
,shipwrights' hands at Chatham Dcckyard for some months
past, undergoing a most extensive repair, is ordered to be
completed with all despatch, in consequence of the dock
being required for one of the vessels attached to the Steam
Reserve-..report states the Ariadne, 2G, 800 horse-power—
which is ordered to be brought forward for commission.
A general regimental Royal Artillery order has been pro-
mulgated at Chatham, in which it is announced, by order of
the Duke of Cambridge, that in future several important
alterations will be made in the supply of service ammuni-

tion. to the various brigades and batteries of Royal Artillery.
In future the common and diaphragm fuzes will be issued
in cylinders of 50 each,and tubes, brass, friction, and primers
in boxes of 100 each. All outstanding orders for the supply
.of calico bursters of Gill) for 10-inch common shells which
were intended to replace others of 51b have been cancelled,
the size of the two begs being the same. All that will be

necessary, therefore, in rectifying the charges will be to add
I lb of powder to the bursters, and to alter the old mark to
_. _

Gi in any convenient way.
A brilliant field day, by the whole of the troops at Alder-
shot, was held on Wednesday, under command of Lieut.-
Gen. Sir J. L. Pennefather, K.C.8., who has just returned
from a tour of military inspection on the Continent. The
division formed up on the common, near the Royal Pavi-
lion. at 10 o'clock, in two lines, facing westward, the Royal
Artillery and infantry in line of contiguous columns at quar-
ter distance, and the Royal Horse Artillery and cavalry in
line of contigu ,us columns in close order. The troops having
marched past, the Lieut.-Gen. formed his army in order of
battle, with his right upon Eelmoor and his lett upon Burn's
Plain. The three brigades of infantry advanced in parallel
limo; of regiments, at wheeling distance, one regiment, in
skirmishing order, covering the front of each brigade, The
Royal Artillery advanced in line in rear of the skirmishers ;
the cavalry in line of regiments in rear of the right brigade,
with the Royal Horse Artillery on their thinks. The enemy
was supposed to occupy a strong position on the west of the
Long Valley, his right resting upon Bickloy Copse, his cen-
tre upon Long Hill and Cocked-hat Wood, and his left upon
Pyestock. Between the contending armies lay the Long
Valley and the arid plain to the eastward, The battle was
commenced a few minutes before 11 o'clock. The object of
the attack appeared to be to turn the left flank of the enemy
and drive him from the strong position he had taken up,
With this view a simultaneous fire was opened by the whole
line of skirmishers, and two batteries, posted on the right,
kept up a sharp cannonade. On the recall of the skirmishers
Colonel Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar and Major-Gen.
Taylor each brought two regiments into action, while Bri-
g idler Budd steadily advanced on the left, still under cover
of his skirmishers. Tho Royal Dragoons now dashed to the
front of Gen. Taylor's brigade, and charged across the Long
Valley by wings, retiring by troops from both flanks.
Prince Edward and Gen. Taylor again advanced, and it was
now apparent the Lieut. -Gen, was bringing the weight of
his army to bear on the left and centre of the enemy's posi-
tion, Prince Edward's, Gen. Taylor's, and Col. Burr's bri-
gade, the whole of the artillery, and the fine brigade of ca-
valry under Gen. Hodge, made a combined attack upon
these points, and gained possession of Long Hill, from which
a dozen guns were quickly brought to bear. The left of the
enemy having now given way several brilliant charges were
executed by the Royal Dragoons, Greys, and 14th Hussars
in succession, who lashed onward over very difficult ground.
clearing all before them. A few changes of position followed
by which the Lieut.-Gan. brought his army into the form
of an obtuse angle, and thus advancing to the south-west,
he drove the enemy in the direction of Crookham ; the artil-
lery, posted on every little eminence they could gain, com-
pleted his discomfiture, and he fell back upon Beacon Hill,
fairly beaten. " Cease firing" was then sounded, and the
eroope returned to quarters.
Orders have been issued at Aldershot for the Major-Gen.
commanding the 3d brigade to hold the 31 battalion
Grenadier Guards (Col, Prince Edward of Sase-IVeimar) in
roadineea to march to-morrow (Tuesday), en rout,: for Lon-
don, encamping at Bagshot Heath to-morrow night, at
liounslow-heath on Wednesday night, and marching into
hursday.
London on T

The head-quarters of the A. and B batteries of the 4th
Brigade Royal Artillery urn trailer orders to leave Alder-
shot on tirednestfiy for Wool
wil, halting. at Hounslow
for ono night, anti procc,,edin,-2; to
their destination on the
following day.
An amateur theatrical performance waq given by the
officers of the Staff College at Sandhurst ou Friday evening,
before a select audience. The pieces represerA:d were " A
Wonderful \Vornan" and " Medea Burlesple," In the
former Nlajer Goodenough., WA., as the Viscount, and
Capt. Brooke as the Marquis, particularly distinguish,d
assisted by Dent. Young (ftu.,
themselves, and were ably
dolpb), Lieut. Fawcett (Crespin), Mr Howard and miss
Oliver. Ile burlesque that followed, in which the charac-

ters were sustained by Col. Clive (Grenadier Guards), Capt.
Willis (33d Regiment), Lieut. Peyton (the Buffs), and
others, made an excellent finish to the evening's entertain-
ment. An amateur orchestral band, led by Lieu. Palmer,
of the 13th Light Infantry, was in attendance, and agreeably
filled up the necessary intervats.
Troops of the 16th Lancers have arrived at Colchester,
Ipswich, and Norwich. The headquarters of the regiment
will be Colchester.

Col. the Hon. H. H. M. Percy, V.C., from half-pay, late
Grenadier Guards, has assumed the command of the troops
at Colchester in succession to Major-Gen. Guy, C. 8.,
appointed to command the troops in China. Major-Gen.
Guy has issued a farewell address, in which he states that
he "cannot relinquish the command which he has held for
three years without offering to the officers, non- com-
missioned officers, and soldiers his cordial acknowledg-
ments for the correct and satisfactory manner in which
their various duties have been performed." Major Vacher
is about to relinquish the office of Brigade-Major at
Colchester, on appointment to the Quartermaster-General's
staff at head - quarters. Deputy - Inspector - General
of Hospitals R. Dane, M.D., having been appointed to suc-
ceed Staff-Sorg. Mure, MD., as principal medical officer to
the trcups at Colchester, Staff.Surg. Mure will proceed to
Glasgow as medical officer to the recruiting district on the
arrival of Dr. Dane.

We have to announce the demise of Admiral Henry
Litchfield, who died at his residence in London on Friday
last, in his 78th year. The venerable Admiral entered the
navy in May, 1800, and was midshipman of the Impetueux,
and assisted at the blowing up of the Insolente in the
Morihan River in 1800. He also assisted in cutting out the
French corvette Guepe from Vigo in 1801, and afterwards,
on board the Pique, ho was present at the reduction of Aux
Cayes and other ports of San Domingo in 1803. He served
on shore at the attack on Curacoa in 1804 ; he was Acting-
Master of the Renard at the capture of the French corvette
Diligente, and the destruction of the French privateer
General Ernouf ; and afterwards Senior-Lieutenant of the
Reindeer at Walcheren. He commanded the Mohawk in
the operations on the coast of America, including the attack
on Crany Island and Hampton, and served in her boat at
the destruction of the United States' schooner Asp in 1813.
The gallant officer held other active employments up to
1326. His commission as Lieut. bore date June 29, 1807 ;

Commander, July 12, 1813 ; Capt„ November 20, 1826 ;
Rear-Admiral, July 13, 1854; Vice-Admiral, November 7,
1860; and Admiral a few weeks ago,
The following appointments and promotions were made
on Saturday at the Admiralty :—George B, Moore, Burg., to
the Brisk—John Cruickshank, assist.-surg., to the Brisk—
Gordon Jackson, assist.- surg., to the Duke of Wellington—
Robert W. Jones, engineer, to the Warrior—William Hair,
in the Hawke, promoted to first-class assist. -engineer—
John B. Gibson, in the Indus, confirmed as first-class assist.
engineer—and George Hostey, assist-engineer, to the Asia,
for hospital treatment.
The following appointments have been made in the Royal
Naval Reserve : —To be Lieutenants :—Thomas Row Harry
and Ralph Renner.