The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-12 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

Her Majesty's iron paddlewheel sloop Trident,
850 tons and 350-horse power, Commander Charles
J. Balfour, from the Mediterranean, arrived in the
Thames on Saturday morning, and took up her
moorings alongside the powder buoy off Woolwich
Arsenal. Having discharged her ammunition in
magazine lighters, she hauled up to the T-pier to
land her guns, shot, &c., and was inspected by the
Commodore Superintendent of the port, Capt,
Hugh Dunlop, C.B. She will proceed to-day to
the dockyards to strip and to be paid out of com•
mission.

The iron screw steamship Achilles, Capt. E. W.
Vansittart, arrived at Spithead on Saturday morn•
ing from Plymouth. On anchoring she exchanged
salutes with the Victory, flagship of Admiral Sir
NI. Seymour, K.C.8., Commandersin-Chiof.
The Urgent, screw steam troopship, Capt. Hen.
derson, will be undocked to-day, after having un-
dergone repeat's to her machinery.

The screw corvette Cadmus, 21, 400-horse power,
steamed up from her moorings at Saltpan Reach,
Chatham, on Saturday, and brought up alongside
the dockyard. She is attached to the first division
of the steam reserve until required for the pennant.
A movement has been sent on foot by a number
of the leading inhabitants of Chatham to bring
under the notice of the Government what is consi-
dered to be a great injustice to the trading and
other classes of that port. They maintain that
most of the vessels after they are built and partially
equipped are sent from Chatham either to the
Nore, Portsmouth, or some other port, where they
are fitted for sea, to the manifest detriment
and injury of the trade of tha town. In
proof of their statement the oases of the
Achilles, Royal Oak, and some other ships
are given, all of which have been constructed
at Chatham, but subsEquently removed from
that port before being despatched to sea. A meet.
ing of the principal inhabitants of the town has
taken place, under the presidency of the High Con■
stable, at which it was decided to appoint an influen.
tial deputation to wait upon the Board of Admiralty,
or other authority, to urge the claims of Chatham
to a fair share of the benefits and privileges accruing
from the equipment and fitting out of the vessels
of war.

The Admiralty has purchased a valuable site for
a battery on the South Denes, Great Yarmouth,
lying between the southern portion of the Marine
drive and the Naval Lunatic Asylum. The town
council of Yarmouth required £11,300 and the re.
linquishment by the Government of the site of a
proposed battery to the north of the Britannia
pier. The Admiralty offered £lO,OOO and the
site of the battery, and failing to obtain the assent
of the council gave notice of an intention to apply
to Parliament for compulsory powers to acquire the
land. The town council then acceded to the terms
offered.

The whole of the troops composing the division
at Aldsrshott, under the command of Lieut.-General
Sir John Penn efather, K.C.8., were ordered out for
a field•da; on Friday morning, and at half-past 10
o'clock took up a strong position on Thornhill, an
eminence on the east side of the South Camp. The
D battery, B Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, and
the Cavalry Brigade, consisting of the Royal Dra-
goons, Scots Greys, and 14th Hussars, under the
command of Major• Gen. Hodge, formed up at the
base of the hill to the south-west in contiguous
columns of squadrons in close order. In their rear
were the E and F batteries, 9th Brigade, Royal Ar-
tillery, and to their right front was a troop of the
Royal Engineer Train, with pontoons. The three
brigades of infantry, formed in contiguous columns
of companies, occupied the summit of the hill. The
object of the ,Lieutenant• General appeared to be
to check an enemy advancing upon the camp
from the direction of Sandhurst, via Cove and Fern-
borough, and whose light troops and supports, hav-
ing already taken the north camp, were about to
attack the south. For this purpose the position
taken up by the division was admirably selected,
and to accompliah the anticipated results the 2d bat-
talion 60th Rifles moved to the front, descended the
north-west side of Thorn-hill, and extended in skir•
wishing order near the iron church. The Ist batta.
lion 14th and the 62d Regiment also moved down
to the base of the hill, deployed into line, and lay
down, while Col. Grey, 85th Regiment (brigadier)
with the let brigade, and Col. Radcliff, 75th Rest.
(brigadier), with the 3d brigade, marched off the
hill to the westward, passing through the lower
part of the south camp, in the direction of the new
permanent bridge. Major-Gen. Hodge proceeded
round the south base of Thorn-hill with the Royal
Horse Artillery, the Royal Dragoons, Scots Greys,
;And a squadron of the 14th Hussars, and formed on
the right of Gen. Bates' brigade near the Commis-
sariat. On the infantry clearing the hill the E
battery galloped up and came into action, covering
Gen. Bates',brigade.• The F battery proceeded with
the lst brigade on the left, two squadrons of the
14th Hussars protecting that flank and the guns.
During these movements a pontoon bridge was
thrown over the canal in front of the centre of the
position. The dispositions of the Generals being
complete, the signal gun for battle was fired at 11
o'clock, when the 60th Rifles advanced in skirmish-
ing order, firing ; the E battery at the same time

opening a smart cannonade to cover the movemenb
The 14th and 62d Regiments advanced in iinyeenT
support of the Rifles, who soon became warm-
gaged. The supports were brought up and reliev'ed,
skirmishers, who, on reaching the canal -1d
,
bravely defended the pontoon bridge againsts tnu
desperate assaults of the enemy. In the midst c).f
.
this contest the Ist battalion of the 14th Regis
merit dashed over the bridge, formed line, and ha/:
ing thus gained a footing on the north side of the
canal opened a sharp file fire. The 62d Regim on
d on
quickly followed, and became warmly engage
the left of the 14th, While these movements Were
going on a sharp engagement was proceeding on
tho left. The Ist and 3d brigades had crossed the
new permanent bridge, and, ably assisted by the F
battery, Royal Artillery, made good use of their
time against the right of the enemy. siteulta"
neously with this movement General Hodge, wh°
had crossed the canal by the Commissariat-bridge,
could be seen advancing with his brigade on the
right. The D battery, Royal Horse Artillery'
coming up at a gallop, covered by a squadron of the
14th Hussars, joined in the engagement, now he,-
coming general on all sides, and General Bates!
brigade, coming into line with the Ist and 3d hrl‘
gades, a very heavy fire was thrown in by the three
brigades and by the Royal Artillery. The enemy
retreated before this concentrated attack, and the
troops ceased firing; but, a further demonstration
being made, the brigades halted and threw in afeW
more rounds, when the enemy again retired, and s
general advance in the direction of Cove.comm°ll
was ordered. This movement was covered by a line
of skirmishers flanking the army by the Farr
boroughsroad. Arrived upon the common, the diva'
sion in much the same order as before, the artillery
however occupying the high ground in the centre
of the line, and the whole division facing westward'
Lieutenant-General now changed position to
the right, bringing the 3d brigade in line on the
right, with their right resting on the Farnborough'
road ; the second brigade forming a second line Lia
rear of the 3d brigade. The three batteries, with tee
14th Hussars, on the left of these brigades, and the
Ist brigade, forming the left of the line. Purl,
these movements the Royal Dragoons and the See'
Greys manoeuvred in front of the centre to the north;
wards, then returned by sections from the right °
squadrons, passing through the guns in position,
and reforming line of regiments in rear of th
cavalry. Brigadier Radcliff advanced his brigade
and opened fire. Brigadier Grey also opened
fire
with his brigade on the left,while the three batteries
of artillery were firing in the centre, The retrea:
of the enemy now became complete, and the caMP
being freed from the presence of the invader,
" Cease firing" was sounded, and the troops re'
turned to their respective quarters.
The detachments of non-commissioned 0"`""r
and men selected for service with the companies, Of
Royal Engineers at the various home stations ieft
head-quarters, Brompton Barracks, Chatham. 0;
Saturday, and proceeded to join the Ist conspanYlekb
Devonport, the 3d company at Portsmouth, the 1
and 26th companies at Weymouth, the 7th colnlie°4
at Dover, the 20th company at the Curragh, and the
29th company at Aldershot camp. In consequenco
of the number of men who have been withdrolf.
from headquarters, to augment the companies enui:
merated, orders have been received for selectionl3, t 4
be made of a corresponding number of men from
depot companies at the Royal Engineer establish;
ment who have completed their instruction in
sAP
ping and mining and military engineering on t`llo
field works, to be draughted to the various sebtr
to take the place of the men who are withdrawn
home service. The remainder of the Royal /:31;
nears at Brompton are now busily employed dill;
in cutting brushwood on the Crown lands at
in order to lay in a large supply to be need 44
making fascines and gabions for the field We'
operations during the approaching season.
roe
al
A General order has been issued, dated se°
Guards, November 29, 1864, by the Field Mars,l3:o
Commanding-in-Chief, with the concurrence o', fig
Secretary of State for India in Council, anthorieZ
exchanges between officers of the Staff Corps 11137-p
the substantive rank of field officers and Pr°Pe
qualified regimental officers of the same rank, wit
out reference to the station on which the reghne-
of the exchanging officer may be serving. the
A requisition was last week presented t°
Secretary of State for War, by the heads of dePs.p's
meats in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, solicittibe
permission to close the entire establishment on .00
Saturday preceding and Monday following Wier.
mas Day, the time to be made up by working °job
hours during the present and forthcoming 'ivseobi
and thus affording three successive days for
serving the Christmas Holidays.