The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-07 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

On Wednesday Gen. Todleben visited the camp at Alder-
shot, and was present at an inspection and review of the
whole of the troops at that station. The General, accompa-
nied by Lieut.-Gen. the Earl of Cardigan, Capt. the Hon.
G. Wrottesley (Royal Engineers), and attended by his suite
arrived at the Farnborough station of the South-Western
Railway shortly after 11 o'clock, and was received by Lieut.
Gen. Sir J. L. Pennefather, K.C.8., and his staff. The
whole party then took horse and proceeded to the Long Va-
lley, where the troops had been previously ordered to assem-
ble, and arrived upon the review-ground about 12 o'clock.
The Russian general being in plain clothes was received by
the troops with shouldered arms. The division was formed
h three lines, facing eastwards. Major Gen. Taylor's and
Major Gan. Russell's brigade, with two batteries of Royal
Artillery and two companies of Royal Engineers, formed
the advanced line; Major Gen. Bates's brigade, with the
Royal Engineer train on his right, and two battalions of
Military Train formed the second line; and the Cavalry
Brigade and D battery Royal Horse Artillery, under the
command of Major Gen. Hodge, C.B, formed the third line.
In this imposing order the troops were-inspected by Sir J.
Peiiefather, Gen. Todleben, and the Earl of Cardigan, who
rode down the front of each line, not without recognition on
the part of the Russian general of some officers whom he
had met upon aa: erner field of operations. 'The inspection
over, the generals, staff, and suite rode over to the saluting
point, where the bends of the Royal Horse Artillery and
Cavalry Brigade were stationed. The division then marched
past, the Artillery, Cavalry, Royal Engineer Train, and Mi-
litary Train in open columns of batteries and squadrons at
a walk, and the infantry in open column of grand divis'ons
in quick time. The Royal Engineer Train, Royal Engineers
and the two battalions Military Train filed off to quarters after
marching past. The D battery Royal Horse Artillet hand the
Cavalry Brigade repassed in open column of squadrons et a
gallop, swept round to the right, and formed up in rear of
Long-hill. The division was now rapidly manoeuvred, and
was formed in order of battle at the base of Long hill, facing
eastward. Gen. Taylor advanced his regiments in quarter-
distance column at deploying distance, covered by skir-
wereheee. 0.. tlio ieudu or the skirmishers the regiments
deployed, and the brigade advanced in line. Arrived on the
high ground on the east side of the valley, Gen. Taylor
haled and opened a splendid file fire, while the E Battery,
9th Brigade, coming up on the right, opened a smart can-
nonade. " Cease firing" was sounded, the brigade formed
fours, and Gen. Russell, who had been in support, execut-
ing a similar manoeuvre, passed through Gen. Taylor's
brigade, advanced about 100 yards to the front, halted, and
opened fire. After a time the brigade ceased firing, changed
position to the left, and formed line facing the Basingstoke
oanal. Gen. Taylor also changed position, and formed line
in rear of Gen. Russell, and Gen. Bates in quarter-distance
column at wheeling distance in rear of Gen. Taylor. Gen.
Hodge formed line with the Royals and Greys upon the
left of Gen. Russell's brigade, and the 14th Husars formed
the second line in their reel.. The new formation being com-
plete, Gen. Pennefather engaged the enemy to the north-
ward, and Gen. Russell opened fire together with the Royal
Artillery on either flank of his brigade. "Cease firing" was
again sounded, and Gen. Taylor's brigade advanced and
came into action. The Ist Royals, Scots Guys, and 14th
Hussars retired by open column of troops from the right,
whetled to the left, and formed two lines in rear of the in-
fantry, as before. The whole of the infantry was now thrown
into echelon of squares, and the Royals and Greys advanced
by sections of threes at a gallop, and when clear of th 3
squares reformed line and executed a brillia charge ;
they then retired from both flanks, and reformed in two
lines in rear of the infantry. The 14th Hussars executed a
similar charge, retired in like manner to the former regi-
ments, and formed in rear of the Greys. The brigade, now
in three lines in successive order, advanced at a gallop end
charged by alternate regiments, then retired to the original
ground, and the movements of the day were brought to a
close. The troops were then ordered to their quarters in
barracks end camp. Gen. Todleben rcie off the field ac-
companied by Sir John Pennefather and the Earl of Car-
digan, and, having partaken of luncheon at the quarters of
the Lieut. General Commanding, left the camp shortly
afterwards. The weather was dry and favourable for the
munceuvres, which were witnessed by a considerable num-
ber of spectators.

General Todleben returned to London from Portsmouth
on Saturday last. During the time General Todlebea re-
mained in Portsmouth he was the guest of Major General
Lord W. Paulet, C.B. Accompanied by that officer, he
visited the various objects of interest in and around Ports-
mouth. the lines of fortifications connected and detazhed,
the dockyard, her Majesty's turret ship Royal Sovereign,
the gunnery ship Excellent, &o.

A board of officers, consisting of one field officer, 2d
Brigade, president; Burg, Barry (Military Train), the pi in -
cipal purveyor, and Capt. Akers (Royal Engineers), as-
sembled at the Royal Engineer-office, South Camp, Alder-
shott, at 11 o'clock on Friday morning, to report upon the
additional accommodation required at the hospital for
women at that station.

On Friday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, the field batteries of
the Royal Horse Artillery at Aldershott were formed up in
order to witness the presentation of medals fJr long service
and good conduct to Battery-Sergeant. Major John Brown,
9,1 Brigade, Gunner Walters, of the Royal Horse Artil-
lery, and Gunner Lamb, of the Coast Brigade. The presen-
tation took place with the usual ceremonies.
The Ist company of the Royal Engineers, which left
Portsmouth under the temporary command of Lieut Harris,
arrive lat Aldershott Camp on Tuesday. The marching-
in strength of the company was as follows—l cfficert 6 ser-
children. Capt. Lampriere assume 3 the Command or tne
company upon its arrival at the camp.
On Thursday the D Battery, B B.igade, Royal Horse
Artillery, Col D'Aguilar, C. 8., and the E and F Batteries,
9th Brigade, Royal Artillery, Col. Elgee, the whole under
the command of Sir D. Wood, were inspected at Aldershott
by Lieut.-Gen. Sir John Pennefather, K.C.B. The
batteries were put through various field evolutions by Col.
Wood, to the entire satisfaction of Gen. Pennefather, after
which they limbered up and returned to barracks in columns
of subdivisions. The men's quarters, stables, schools,
rations, &a., were subsequently inspected, end so satiafac-
factory was every department that the Lieut.- General con-
gratulated Sir David Wood, R.A,, and Lieut.-Col.
D'Aguilar, R.H.A., on the effectiveness in every way of
the fore under their respective commands.
The drill season having closed at the camp at Colchester,
orders have been issued direciing the depot battalions to
march into the country once a w,k ; the cavalry will also
make a weekly trench into the country. The whole of the
annual inspections having beencompleted, the Field Marshal
Commanding-in Chief has in aeh cular memorandum sanc-
tioned the issue of leave of absence to officers, and furloughs
to noncommissioned cfficers and privates. The number
going on leave of absence at one time is not to exceed ono
half of the officers and ten per company per month of the
noncommissioned officers and privates. The whole of the
officers and noncommissioned officers and p.:vates must bo
present at headquarters March 14, 1863, when the leave
season expires.

We are requested to state that the information contained
is some of the mai aing papers, to the effect that an explo-
sion of rockets had taken place a few days rho in Wool-
wich Arsenal, is utterly without foundation.
A detachment of Royal Marine Light Infently, is com-
mand of First Lieut. S. T. Collins and Second Lieut. W. P.
Weight, consisting of 134 noncommissioned officers and
privates, left Woolwich on Saturday morning, 9, by train
for Portsmouth, and were to embark for service on board
H.M.S. Victotia on their arrival at noon,

The paddlewheel sloop Spiteful, 1,054 fpns and 230 horso
power, was on Saturday towed up to Deptford Dockyard,
from Woolwich, to undergo thorough overhaul and repair.
Her delay at Woolwich beyond the time appo'nted was oo-
casion3d by a leakage in the after part of the strip, discovered
on her removal from dock, and which had to be made good
in order to her safety. The cost of repair has been esti-
mated to exqeed £S,OOO. Thia will render her spill to new.
The Warrior, 40, screw iron frigate, Capt. Hon. A. A
Vochrane, C. 8., dismantling at Portsmouth, is to be paid
oat of commission on the 22d inst. She is ordered to be
thoroughly dismantled, everything being re;.urned to store
and her machinery taken to pieces. On paying off she will be
paced in the second clam of the Steam Reserve at the port.
The Warrior is in splendid order in all her internal arrange •
ments and her crew have arrived at that Bt .:to of discipline

that can only be attained by ur-emitting exertions at the
close of an or line' y commission. Sae has already exceeded
this term, and therefore, notwithstanding the just pride
we feel in still calling her the finest and fastest of her Ma-
jesirs iron clad fleet, there may bo good reasons for the
Admiralty putt:ng her out of commission. Three reasons
are spoken of as having it finencel the Admiralty in paying
her out of commission. First, want of men for the three-
decker Victoria; secondly, the defective condition of the
ship's boilers; and thirdly, the intended alt -,rat'on and
continuation of the armour plating around the bow and
stern. There is certainly a great want of seamen for
the Victor:a. The boilers of the ship have done an immense
amount of work, and commensurate results have followed
in the reduction of steam pressure from 221 b to 11.181 b, which
must deduct materially from the Warrior's speed at full
boiler Power. The alteration to the ship's bow and stern
would, if carried into effect, necessitate the opening and
lengthening the ship's frame forward and aft, otherwise she
would be unable to carry the additional armour plating, and
would be ruined in her present excellent sea-going qualities
and rate of speed under steam. The inspection of the Warrior
at Spithead a few days since by Admiral Sir M. Seymour,
G.C.8., the Naval Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth,
drew forth the highest encomiums on the discipline of her
crew from that veteran officer. In gunnery especially the
crew of the Warrior appear to shine pre-eminently, as her
crew of 314 seamen is divided into 106 seamen gunners and
acting seamen gunners and 208 trained men, and this force
has reached its present efficient state solely by the excellent
regulations and untiring exertions of the officers from the
first hour she was put into commission. In the inspection
of the crew at quarters by Sir M. Seymour the heavy 69-
cwt 68-pounder guns were dismounted on both sides of the
main deck, and shifted over on opposite aides of the deck.
One round was fired from the first four guns in the follow-
ing times : let gun, 3m 16s-2d gun, 3m 168-3 d gun,
4nl-4th gun, 4m is (the last two guns had to be shifted over
the chain cables), A 68-pounder was transported from the

bow port to the stern port, and one round fired from it in
3m ss. In another part of the exercise all the ship's guns
were laid arl• at extreme training for an enemy coming up
on the quarter, when the order was given, " Prepare for an
enemy coming down on the bow," ar.d the glans were re-
versed and relaid for the enemy's new manosavre in 40s.
Two rounds were next fired, double-shotted, at the enemy
passing on the opposite tack in 1m 265, and finally the pivot
110-pounder gun on the forecastle was transported to the
stern port and one round fired in lm 30s. A great deal
has necessarily been learnt during the Warrior's commission
which has an important bearing upon ships of similarly great
length at sea when undcr sail. One experience thus gained
is very decisive and important. The shortest time in which
the evolution of lacking was ever accompanied by the obser-
vance of the ordinary rules• was 6 min. 40 sec. By swinging
the crossjack yard at the sa.mo time that the helm weg put
down, the evolution was accumplia:ted in 5 min. 20 sec.,
and from the day this was first establ,shed as a rule that on
all future occasions of tacking the ship the crossj Ack-yard
should be swung at the time the helm was put down. It is
anticipated that a lkrge number of the Warrior's crew will
jo'n the Excellent gunnery ship at Portsmouth.
The Aurora, 35, screw frigate, Capt. Sir Leopold AMlN-
rock, is in dock at Portsmouth undergoing repairs and other-
wise refitting, it is reported, for the Nor►h American and
West India station.

Mr Moore, carpent3r of the first-chi'ss in her Majesty's
Navy. rnd regisaar of tides at Portsmouth Dockyard, has
been awarded a gratuity of TO by the Admiralty, "as a
special mark of their lordships' appreciation of his services."
Mr Moore, among his many other services thus alluded to,
is the inventor of the new form of water tanks, and their
present arrangement ofestowage, which 73 now universally
adopted in the fitting oat of her Majesty's ships.
The following appointments and promotions have been
made at the Admiralty:—Staff Commander Homy G.
Haynes to the Excellent, for the Royal Sovereign—Staff
Commander F. R. Sturdee to be Assist.lMaster Attendar,:.
at Portsmouth Dockyard, vice W. R. Mainprise—Staft
Commander T. C. Pullen to be additional Assistant Master
Attendant of Devonport Dockyard, for servica at Keyham,
vice Biddlecombe—Commander George H. Fi'zroy to be
lespeuoug comulanuer 01 tile Ous.6.4“3,—Juina
midshipman, to the Aurora—Hay A. P. Probyn, midship-
man, to the Princess Royal—William Skipwith, midship-
man, to the Research—J. B. Doyle, second master, to the
Espoir—William Johnston, assist. surgeon, to the Espoir—
James C. Eastcott, assist, surgeon, to Plymouth Hospital—
James T, Lyme, assist paymaster, supernumerary, to the
Fisgard—W . Darcy Gray, nominated to-ii naval cadetship
—W. Eames, chief engineer, to the Victoria—S. T. Wails,
of the Irresistible, W. J. Foster, of the Pelican, C. Mab-
berley, of the Asia B. Dixon, of the Blenheim, and W.
Fenton (a), of fhe Brisk, promoted to L. engineers—J. Pat-
terson, of the Rapid, and A. Moreton, of the Penguin, pro-
moted to acting engineers—John Wood, of the Frederick
William, promoted to ba first class assist engineer—F. H.
Hermann, engineer, to the Asia—C. Mabberley, engineer,
to the Victotia— Frederick Bush, engineer, to the Cumber-
land, for the Torch—A, Hindmarsh, C, Salmon, M. Why-
ham, and J. J. Nibbs, assist engineers, to the Victoria—W.
Thomson, James Adamson, 'I homes T. Truscott, George
J. James, and Jno. R. Atkins, second class assist engineers,
to the Asia,