The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-12 00:00:00

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a 4'
Volunteer Review a.istrettlett3tetii-1--1
S
COL M'MURDO'S ADVICE TO VOLUN rlinits.
Oa Saturday afternoon, in the presence of some
12,000 to 16,000 speetators, a grand volunteer re-
view took plcc.) on the Manchester race course, the
reviewing officer being Lieut. Col. M'Murdo,
The corps together numbered upwards of 3,000, and
they began to arrive on the ground about half-post
three o'clock, the that on the ground being that
dashing and amart-looking regiment the lat Man-
chester, numbering rank and file 509 men. Other
regiments rapidly followed, but it was not until a
quarter to five o'clock the last of them, we b'elicve
the Leigh and Atherton, reached the course. This
was three-quarters of an hour behind the time II et d
upon, and a quarter of an hour after the re% iewieg
officer had commenced his labours. This was un-
fortunate, to say the least ; but we presume ievould
not be helped, owing to the late arrivsl of the trt:ia
by which they came at its destination.
The troops were drawn up in lino of contiguous
columns, the first cr right king a !gtiadron of
cavalry, compostil of sonic 35 mmu rank and fi
Aid the Ist 111 krettaster L'ght iloree, und.,r tho
ota reasnd of Capt. Turner, a email regiment it is
true, lug a very gay one ; their brillteet esrlct
uniform, white leather breeches,
contrasting in a very p:eaaing mannerand black booty,
with the bat-
talion of artillery atationed on their left. Nezt to
the Artillery (230) were the Ist Manchester, .5C9;
next the 24th Lancashire (Rochdale), 204 ; next the
50th Lancashire (Salford), 341; and next- the 7th
Administrative Battalion, consisting of 352 rnen
belonging to Ashton and Oldham. Thue, making
a tett' of 1,409, not counting the cavalry and
artillery, composed the Ist brigade, com-
mended by Lieut. Col. the Hon. A. Egerton.
The 2d brigade, commanded by Lieut.. Col.
Dogdale, consisted of the 2d Manchester, 675;
the 4th Administrative Battalion (Swinton, Leigh,
Atbarien, Woreley, and Firnworth men), 318; and
the 31 Mviehester, 505—total, 1458, making a
grand total of 3162 men rank and file.
'rho weather during the early part of the day
was full of promise, and was so indeed up to near
five o'clock, when there was a heavy rainfall, which
in some measure prevented Colonel M'Murdo doing
all with the troops that ho intended. He with his
staff came upon the ground about half-past four,
and was received with a general salute, Ha then
rapidly rode round the several battalions, express-
ing himself highly pleased with the appearance
and bearing of the troops. This done, the cavalry
and artillery wheeled to ths right, and commenced
the march past, followed by the 3d Manchester,
and soon till the Ist Manchester brought up the
rear. They all marched past at quick time—indeed
one of the cavalry went psat at a sort of double•
double, hie horse fairly bolting away with him, and
in so headstrong a manner that ho had to throw
away his sword before he could pull the animal up.
This little incident caused some langhter, but that
was better than an accident. The whole of the
battalions marched past in open columns in exe.2l-
- style, and were loudly applauded by the epc c-
tater& Tho troops then resumed their original
position, and opened out to deploying distance from
the right battalion of the right brigade. The
brigades then changed front on the left battalion,
the right thrown back, when a lino of skirmishers
was sent forward, consisting of the Ashton and
Oldham troops, the imegivary enemy being b'yond
what was tho right of the original position. Tho
artillery had previously been wheeled to the left,
preceded by the cavalry. After the skirmishers
had kept up an ahnoat incessant fire upon tho
imaginary enemy fon some minutes the advance
was sounded, but they could get.very little fur-
ther, whereupon two light field pieces were
sent forward to support them. They unlimbered
close by the left of the line of eleirmiehers, and
for some time played upon tho supposed enemy but
without effect, and ultimately they bad to fall back
upon supparts drawn in lino. This lino was Fitrorg
and apparently iaviucible, for it advanced 1' rely
and poured into the sop tead Men' ;1.4,
fire, and when to their t kOlalf; hcay.,
pieces were brought they drove him back; wh -e-

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upon the cav,llry, stein this, crept ruund to the
right, in readiness to charge if the enemy showed
i.igns of wavering or retre cing. It would appear
that they did, for the order was given to charge, and
this little bond of 35 dashed forward and, amid
cheers cud applause (rem the spectator?, cut the
:rnaginary stragglers to atoms.
After this charge the crn're bittalion adranud
in liuesunorted by t 1.1 0 ba,t ilions in cchelee,
and ultimately thry formed u single. From the
inner II ink the flink battalions advanced and formed
compiny squares arid fired volleys, the centre bat-
talion four deep preparing to receive cavalry. Attcr
that a grand charge was made in line, and the field
was then in their undisputed pmeseion, the heavy
rain having dispersed the spectators, and the bravery
of the troops combined with the strategy of the
commander, having worsted the imaginary enemy,']
Having called the officers in front, Col. M`Murdo
thus a :dressed them :—Officere, gentlemen all—l
have had the pleasure of reviewing you several titnee
before, and on each occasion I have been more satis-
fied with your performances. I have especially re.
marked the consolidated battalions of Manchester.
They started on good, sound, and safe principles of
discipline and order; and now 1 have seen you offi•
cially for the last time, I cannot resist tho gratifi-
cation I feel in expressing to you how much I
admire you as volunteer soldiers, and citizens. I
do not talk to you es I would to aoldiers of tho
line, although your efficiency is quite sufficient for
the day of battle if ever you should be required to
face tho enemy of your country. Ido not think it
possible, if you desired it, ever to arrive at the same
state of efficiency as the soldiers of the line. I have
seen a great deal of the volunteers; I saw you from
the cradle of the volunteer movement; I saw you
when you wore creeping; I saw you when you were
walking as soldiers bearing arms—as firm soldiers
in solid battalions. And now let mo tell you that,
having arrived at your present state of efficiency, it
is incumbent on you to look to rapidity of move.
moot. You have attained quite the natural amount
of steadiness to deploy into line; you chango front
and advance in line most admirably; and now I
recommend you in future to work upon your parade
ground with the great object of rapidity in these
movements, and if ever you find yourself in front of
an enemy you will find the enemy has been rather
drilled with a view to rapidity than steadiness and
slowness. At the ,battle of Mollnitz Frederick the
Great deployed his traeps into slow lino to the
strains of music; but those days have passed away,
sill it is rapidity—rapidity alone—that will gain
the battle. I therefore want you volunteers to work
upon your parade ground with this view as much as
possible. I would not have given you this advice
two or three years ago; but 1 ace that you
have
arrived at that stage of efficiency io all your simple
movements that you may require it. Then practise
these movements at the double, and you will then
find in the day of battle that you will be a match for
thatemy ti
hn
op
battleoi nt of
of
s!rapidityreri offlou
movement.
ymoour n
saye
rapid movements of the French troops. The An,
trians were still in column when the French were
swonb y I. et
in extended order, and they being thus in extended
column, about two paces between each file, at-
tacked the Austrian columns before they could
double into line. I will not detain you longer, but
I assure you that I leave the tube of inspector
of the volunteer forces with the greatest and most
profound respect, fur I I.),!lieve that upon them will
depend the honour of this country in case of any
aggressive movement of a foreign power—which
may God in His mercy avert!—and Which Ib '• Zilao
is in your lower to avert. So long as you main-
tain the high and eiiieieutstate ;"
01 urati tel you
shoresfi,i): ogfaallarneatt
cßoiroitnaeiln.thtrucri:dbolsew!
ay
hove now resulted nu t licitly will uppru'acit the
n
amidst tre•
nendoua cheering frum the troops, I h tl
y w c or
after left the ground.
In the evening a complimentary dinner was given
to Colonel Malllurdo at the Queen's Hotel, at which
upwards of sixty eineers belonging to the various
Lancashire regiments• were present. The chair
was create by Colonel Dogdale, eupport«l nn the
right by Colonel M'Alut do and Lieut.. Colonel Penn,
of the Bth Regiment, and on the left by Colonel
Lloyd and Major liridgeford.
In response to the toast of his health, Colonel
MaMurdo made a long and interesting speceh.