The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-31 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

Yesterday the Duke of Cambridge, Field Marshal Com
mauding-in. Chief of the army, held his first review of the
terrihoi
Highness,
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ins
st,ohnaes C?j. teaevtshi
'Tuesday
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eydv
aci snntnirni:toc,nfeeerd t
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7s ehaes oSnu.n, rirsi vRe yea at
and rcw siaud at Govern-
ment-house, the official residence of Gen. Eyre commanding
the district, in readiness for proceeding with his inspection
the following morning. A garrison order directed the
troops to be under arms and prepared to take up their posi •
tions on the Great Line by 9 o'clock a.m., but at that hour
there was a heavy fall of rain, and the appearance of the
clouds indicated anything but a favourable day for carry-
ing out the contemplated manoeuvres. A subsequent or,,er
was accordingly issued countermanding that previously
given, and directing the forces to be formed on the Lines
by 10 45. The force drawn up on the review ground
yesterday was an imposing one, the line being formed
by the mounted C field battery, 9th Brigade, Royal
Artillery, under the command of Capt. A. J. 11.1‘Dougall,
numbering 6 officers, 94 non-commissioned officers and men,
82 horses, 6 12 pounder Armstrong field guns, ammunition
waggons, &c., which occupied the right flank ; the corps of
Royal Engineers, consisting of the 2d and 10th companies
and the five depot companies, the whole numbering 40 offi-
cers and 450 men under the command of Lieu.-Col. J. F.
Browne, C.B. ; the three depot battalions of infantry, occu-
pying the garrison, consisting of the depot companies of
the Ist and 2d Battalions 4th King's Own Regiment, Ist
and 2d Battalions 12th Regiment, Ist and 2(1 Battalions
19th Regiment, Ist and 24 Battalion 20th Regiment, 31st
Regiment, 45th Regiment, 43d Light Infantry, 51st King's
Own Light Infantry, 52d Light Infantry, 75th Regiment,
77th Regiment,
81st Regiment, 834 Regiment, 91st High-
landers, 91th Regiment, 101st Royal Bengal Fusiliers, and
1021 Royal Madras Fusiliers, the whole constituting a
force of 1,200 men of all ranks and SO officers, the several
battalions being commanded by Col. H. Jervis, Col. E.
Newdigate, and Cel. the Hon. J. J. Bourke. The infantry
forces formed the centre of the line, having the Royal Marine
Light Infantry on their left flank, formed on this occasion
into two battalions, under the command of Col. S, Lowther,
aide de camp to the Queen, and Col. W. F. Foote. The
united strength of the two battalions was 650 officers and
men. The whole force formed a miniature army of artil •
lery and infantry, necessarily destitute of cavalry. The
Duke of Cambridge, attended by
troops having been formed at quarter-distance columns, the
Major-Gen. W. F. For-
ster, Col. Sir A. H. Horsford, Deputy Adjt.- Gen., Col. C.
Tyrwhitt, aide de camp, Col. F. E. Chapman, Deputy
Adjt.-Gen., Royal Engineers, and other distinguished
officers, arrived on the ground shortly after 11 o'clock, and
was received by Major-General 11. Eyre, attended by his
staff, in front of the line, the troops giving a general salute,
with colours lowered and bands
playing. The Duke of Cam-
bridge then commenced an inspection of each battalion,
riding along the columns from left to right, after which he
took up his position in the centre of the Lines, at the saint-
lug post, for the preliminary ceremony of marching past.
Although the field days of the troops have been but very
recently commenced, and the battalions have consequently
had but few opportunities this season of being brigaded
together, the marching past yesterday was fully up to the
average of that witnessed on these occasions. The troops
first marched past by grand divisions, at the termination of
r
which they changed front and marched past, iu quick time,
in open columns of companies. Better marching was per-
haps never before witnessed on Chatham Lines, the soft,
spongy s:ate of the ground, and the consequent difficulty
the men had in keeping foothold, being taken into conside-
ration. o n.
were This
made
portion of ooafrtrhyeingout the manoeuvres of the
inspection terminated. prepara-
tions
day, which were generally simple, consisting of the attack
and repulse of an enemy" supposed" to be making his way
from the flats of the river to the garrison by way of the
Lines. In order to feel the strength of the party about to be
attacked, a strong body of skirmishers were thrown out
from the main body, but after a short time these were driven
into their supports, the main body having in the meantime
taken an echelon movement. A general advance was then
sounded, and the enemy having bythis time been supposed
to be met in force, a brisk fire was opened from the entire
line, while the Royal Artillery on the right and left flanks
brought their Armstrongs into action. After some time it
appeared evident that the attacking party had received a
check in the attempt to break the centre, and it now gave
indications of an attempt to operate on the right flank,
which resulted in the order being given for a flank move-
ment. As the whole of the operations on the attacking side
were taken for granted, the hazardous movement was unat-
tendk with the risk which would be imminent to a force in
the field. The force then changed front and again advanced,
and afterwards formed divisions to resist cavalry with the
artillery in the centre. This movement was effected
in good style, and was undoubtedly the most imposing
feature of the e proceedings. A few other manoeuvres
folloved, and the original line having been reformed with
the Artillery on either flank, the entire force advanced and
gave a general salute, which brought the review to a close.
Commanding officers were then ordered to the front, when
the:, were briefly addressed by his Royal Highness, who
was understood to express himself in generally eulogistic
terms of the manner in which the troops under their com-
mand had acquitted themselves, as well as his satisfaction
with the manner in which the day's evolutions had been
performed. He quitted the ground shortly after 1 o'clock,
and, attended by a numerous retinue of officers, rode to the
military gyammiuna jtvz't erected, Tlaig building id the