The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-13 00:00:00

THE SIM, LONDON, MONDAY EVENIINCt ItTN-- 11.:, 1864.

tham Siege Review.

One of these scientific displays for which this
garrison is so deservedly famous, and which from
the natural facilities of the situation can be
made to combine movements both by land and
water on the most extensive scale, took place on
Saturdayinithe presence of a great assemblage of
Bve eat
ors. It is seldom that more than one of these
great siege assaults can he
i
given at Chatham in
the year, for the simple reason that their proper
fulfilment involves all the labour in the way of
throwing up regular parallels which would be re-
quired in an actual siege. In fact, for the last three
months Chatham at the weakest part of its defences,
the flank of the werks on St. Mary's Creek, has been
regularly and scientifically besieged—the first,
second, and third parallels constructed, and every-
thing brought to that state at which nothing re.
mains but to deliver the general assault. Of course
it is part of the Engineers' education to gain such a
practical knowledge of siege works as can only be
derived from the formation of regular approaches
against a regularly fortified pace. Thus, all the
works through which the attack was delivered on
Saturday were constructed with precisely the same
solidity and care as they would be by an enemy
if attacking the garrison from St. Mary's Creek,
and all the knowledge to be derived from the lesson
of throwing up the works having then been achieved
advantage was taken of their completion to give the
public the spectacle of a final assault before all was
destroyed and filled again. The attack was supposed
to be made by daylight, and the besieged prepared
to meet it by counteramines under the most advanced
of the enemies' works—the trench cavalier, which
overlooked them, and the lodgment they had made
on the glacis of the Redan. They had also sunk
torpedoes in St. Mary's Creek, across which they
had constructed a boom, and as farther security to
this flank, had erected a strong blockade to prevent
their line being turned. The besiegers were to
menee operations by blowing up the boom, opening
fire along the whole line, forcing the passage of the
creek in boats, while another assault by escalade on
two points was made on the land side, where the
breaching mines under the works of the besieged
were sprung, end, through the opening effected
by these, a general assault made. A review so
novel and so varied in its operations of course drew
together a great muster of visitors. Their
Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince
Alfred, Prince Arthur, Prince Louis of Hesse, and
the Duke of Cambridge, with a large staff of officers,
including Sir Richard Airey, Sir John Burgoyne,
Lord Alfred Paget, Major Elphinstone, Hon. Col.
Wrottesley, Colonel Keppel, Major Cowell, &c.,
came down to be present on this occasion, The
Royal party travelled from Victoria in a special
train, and were received at Chatham by Lord
Harris, the chairman of the company, and General
Eyre, the Commandant. The Prince of Wales
and the Duke of Cambridge both wore the un-
dress uniform of Generals, the Prince having
also the Star of the Order of the Garter on
his breast; Prince Alfred wore the full uniform of
a lieutenant in the navy, Prince Arthur a Highland
dress, and Prince Louis the Prussian cavalry uni-
form in which he appeared at the volunteer review
in Hyde-park. Asmall party of German and French
officers also followed in the royal suite. It was at
one time announced that the Princess of Wales
would honour the review with her presence, and
great was the disappointment when it was known
she would not come. Perhaps, however, on think-
ing the matter over, the good folks of Chatham will
be consoled by recollecting that England has much
more gratifying spectacles to afford the Princess
than a public illustration of the terrible facility
with which numbers can overpower an ill-succoured I
fortification. The royal party on their arrival par-
took of luncheon at the mess of the Royal Engi-
neers, after which chargers were brought round for
the whole of the large party, who rode off at once
to the first parallel, and so by the connecting zig-
zags mule a complete circuit of the besiegers' works.
This occupied some little time, for they were of con-
siderable extent, and, as we have said, of the same
solidity as the approaches used in warfare—better
in most respects, and especially as regards finish,
than any the English made in the Crimea. This
inspection over, their Royal Highnesses proceeded
to a small casemated battery in the centre, between
the right and left attacking columns, and so placed
as to command an entire view of the operations,
both by land and water. Oa the left, near the
creek, was the weak part of the position, where
amid a debris of rough brickwork rose a much de-
faced battery with a litter of gabions behind it pre-
cisely similar, though on a smaller scale, to the
position of the Russian Redan. This resemblance
became painfully striking, when at the final move-
ment such thin and weak columns were seen
issuing across the open to attack it, On the
right the besieged were not much better off.
The guns of the third parallel looked down upon
them, a nest of rifle pits were in their front, while
down into the Redan, their last hope, a trench
cavalier—that is a strong earthwork with its parapet
covered with sandbags, with intervals between them
for the riflemen to fire through—the strongest kind
of loopholed wall in fact—was waiting for the signal
to deal out its murderous volleys. The besieged
garrison were all men of the Marine Artillery, the
besiegers Marines and Royal Engineers, so that the
difference between the red uniforms of the latter
and the blue undress of the former marked the lines
of attack and defence most clearly. Before three
o'clock all were in their places, and the view from
the summits of the casemates, which were crowded
with spectators, was wonderfully fine. The wide-
spreading angular lines of attack and defence were
clearly visible at every point, with the troops lying
close in wait behind them. Out to sea, or at least
on the waters of the Medway, mixed with the white
hulls of the convict ships, lay several men-of-war,
hugely conspicuous above them all being the dark
hull and four lofty masts of the Achilles, round
which and other ships was swarming quite a fleet
of little boats armed with guns, and filled with
troops, waiting for the signal to make their dash at
the creek and turn the works by landing in their
rear. Suddenly, amid profound quiet, the signal
was given, soon after 3 o'clock, by a dull, heavy
explosion from the middle of St. Mary's Creek, fol-
lowed by a quick rising column of smoke and water,
which carried the fragments of the destroyed boom
high into the air. All eyes were fixed on it as the
mass slowly fell, leaving the creek covered with
smoke and foam, and then on every aide the long-
sustained roar and rattle of the attack and defence
began. Then, indeed, the hopeless condition of the
besieged was seen at a glance. Around them on
every side, high over the devoted lines, and down
in grassy nooks, where no on one dreamt that guns
lay lurking, came the roar of guns which seemed to
shake the air. From the rifle pits on the right
front a constant sputtering fire was poured into
every embrasure, while from the trench cavalier
we have spoken of as looking into the demi-bastion
of the red an came volleys, which swept the
parapets opposed to it far and near. Though
supposed to be surprised, disheartened, and over-
matched, yet tha garrison, to do them justice,
stuck to their posts as manfully as if they were
Danes; all their guns were worked at the double
quick, giving shot for shot as well as they could to
the besiegers, while the infantry lined the parapets,
and at least replied to if they could not keep down
the volleys of musketry which were poured into
them. Bat now a new foe came upon the scene.
With the first signal the boats from the men-of-war
into
with nearly
had started towards the creek, and taking up difs
ferent positions,
confesihreellle,d attacking h
guns lo so as to enfilade some of the de-
fences, kept up a steady, rapid fire, supposed
lo be
v
alftheworckss,e in which nod
fronterw e
on land, but not harassed by the quick distant fire
of the boats at sea, which were so actively engaged
as to cover tle Medway with wreaths of smoke.
Thus pressed on every side the h esey•ed, as a last
resource, sprang their two mines—one under the
cavalier, which was doing them such murderous
mischief, one under the lodgment the enemy had
effected in the redan. As the spectators were so
close to these spots both the mines were of small
charges, only sufficient to destroy the profile of the
works and drive the enemy oat of them, which they
did most effectually. Thus for a moment relieved,
the besieged turntd their attention to the boats, and

sprung their first torpedo under water. These tor-
pedoes, the most modern and most destructive en.
gine of river warfare, were ranged in a line of six
across the month of the creek. Some were made
of tin cases, other were differently contrived on
a new principle, on which it is unnecessary to be
more explicit, and all were lit by the voltaic
battery, carrying the spark through insulated wires
into the centre of the charge. Though these tor-
pedoes had been down a week in 30 feet of water,
and contained charges varying from 1001 b to 1601 b
of powder, yet not one failed to explode. The first,
thoughnter
60 a small charge threw a great mass of
w
feetintcotrhge,
the
air, and at this alarm
all the boats drew hurriedly away, as column
after column of water and smoke rising to a tower.
ing height, and falling in a shower of foaming
spray all over the creek, showed the imminence of
the danger they had escaped. The last of the tore
pedoes fired was one containing 1601 h. of powder,
and the effect of this was apparently tremendous
enough in force to have broken the back of a three
decker. In the meantime the besiegers were by
no means idle; on the contrary, the fire of both
guns and rifles was redoubled, if possible, from
every point, and it was evident that the crisis of
the general assault was at hand. The besiegers
had altogether 11 heavy guns, eight mortars, and
four howitzers, and all these were going at once,
when suddenly there was a lull, and on the left and
centre the assaulting columns were seen hurrying
across the open with scaling ladders. In a few
minutes afterwards these were planted by the left
column at the re-entering angle of the redan,
and the men swarmed tp like bees on to the para-
pet. But though the parapet was easily gained, the
work of this column Was only begun, for beyond
lay one of the permanent dry ditches of the Chat-
ham lines—a brick fosse some 30 feet deep and
nearly 50 feet wide. There was no escalading or
jumping this, and the besieged were keeping up a
fierce fire on the column from the interior line of
works beyond the fosse. The advance of the left
column was thus completely checked, but not for
long. Covered by the fire of their comrades, a group
of sappers crept round the edge of the ditch with
guy ropes, and then, once across, those left on the
other side affixed the ropes to a single legged
"turtle," Which was hauled into the centre of the
fosse, and then steadied by the guy ropes, and with
this for their centre pin, the sappers, with marvel-
lous rapidity, proceeded to construct a Birogah
bridge—a piece of military engineering which we
have copied from the Austrians, as we have copied
so very. many other good ideas of theirs of the
same kind. Actually in almost less time than
we have taken to describe it this bridge
across the fosse was built, and built so strongly
that the instant it was finished hundreds of men
dashed across it, and even cannon was afterwards
brought over it. Directly this work was done there
was an end of the defence of the parapet by the be.
sieged, who retired behind a strong timber palisade
which enclosed the rear of the work; and between
the interstices of this they kept up a fire on the
attacking column, which was then again, checked.
There was no scaling this fence nor forcing it with-
out cannon ; so cannon were sent for, and as no
horses could move in such a place, the men had to
do the work themselves, and splendidly they did it.
They got a field piece up a bank which they them-
selves had previously to scale with ladders, got it
over the Birogah turtle, and lowered it bodily down,
ammunition waggon and all, into the courtyard in
front of the palisade, and with its first discharge
made the defence of the latter hopeless. The be.
sieged saw that all was over at this part of the
defences, and retired in more haste than order—
that is, to use an Americanism—they "ran like
blacks." Their now pursuers were instantly
through the stockade and close upon them, while
the work of the single gun which was firing through
the stockade into the retreating mass of the be-
siegers was supposed to prevent their re-forming.
The attacking column, therefore, cleared the de-
fenders from the casemate barracks with little oppo-
sition, and, still following the besieged, forced their
way through the postern and over the right face of
the work into Prince Edward's Bastion, where the
besieged surrendered, and the struggle was at end
at this point.
On the centre the attack was shorter and equally
successful. The column stormed almost at once,
first with a rush, carrying the close lino of rifle pits
which covered the front of the besieged works. The
poor besieged at this point were very hard pressed
indeed, for, having now no fear of booms or tor-
pedoes before their eyes, boats filled with troops
were seen hurrying fast up the creek, and, in spite
of a heavy fire, succeeded in getting past the bat.
teries. A detachment was sent to oppose their land-
ing and defend the stockade, while another sought
to dislo'lge the asssi!ants from the rifle pits in front
of the batteries. Both attempts failed. The sailors
and troops landed after a hot fight, and all being
now ready, the besiegers sprung their great mine
full in the centre of the enemies' batteries. This
mine was beautifully laid, and was the most im-
portant mine of the day. It consisted of several
2001 b. charges, placed at a great depth, so that when
at the proper moment it was fired the mass of
earthworks rose with a heavy, sullen heave, and
were spread over the earth, leaving an aperture
through which waggons might be driven. Before
the smoke had cleared away the column was at a
run to storm this breach, which was still dcspe?ately
defended by the besieged, till another loud explo-
sion far behind told that the landing party had
blown up the stockade and taken all of what now
remained of the whole line of defences completely
in the rear. Thence it was a running and hopeless
fight on the part of the besieged. They retired to
their inner line, which may be considered as a re-
trenchment, near the Cumberland Bastion, but had
now to meet the attacks both of the centre
column and that which had landed up the creek.
Between the two this last line was soon forced
in two places, amid a tremendous din of cannon
besieged
brought musketry. The final fight of the
brought the proceedings to a close, after a short,
though one of the most varied and brilliant reviews
which the public have ever seen. At the close of
the review the troops marched past in front of
the Engineers' Memorial Arch, near the barracks,
and this over, the Royal party returned at. once to
Victoria Station in a special train, which only
stopped to set down Prince Arthur and Major
Elphinstone at Beckenham, on their way
RE to Black-
heath.was the
Lieut,-Colonel Lovell, C. 8., •
engineer officer directing the attack, and Lieut.-
Colonel Browne, C. 8., defended the works,
while the boat party was under Captain Studdart,
R.N. Attached to the several columns of attack
were the following engineer cfficers
Left Attack.—To attend the column, Lieutenant
Burke; trench cavalier, Lieutenant Wynne.
Centre Attack.—To attend the column, Lieute-
nant Brooke; lodgment, Lieutenant Bell.
Right Attack.—To clear the breaches, Lieute-
nants Clayton, L. K. Scott, and Watkins ; in charge
of 3-pounders, Lieutenant Larminie.
Boat Attack; -To destroy the boom, Lieutenan
Frere ;to destroy the stockade, Lieutenant Richard.
, &c., Theutenani
son ; to lead the troops, boats,
Ramsey; gunboats, Lieutenant Heneage.
r
Reserve.—Left column, Lieutenant Taylor ; righ
column, Lieutenant BougheY•

GOLD AND SILVER.—There was no gold sen

into:the Bank on Thursday, £31,000, on tho other hand,
was withdrawn for export. A. little more demand pre-
vailed for silver, at a slight advance, for transmission to
India.

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The lonians and the English Troops,