The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-29 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The following official circular respecting the supply of
ammunition to the artillery force has just been issued from
the War-office :

The recent supply of field guns to a few artillery volun-
teer corps having rendered it necessary that some modifi-
cation should be made in the scale of gun practice ammuni-
tion, and that rules to govern the supply of blank gun am-
munition for reviews, field days, inspections, ice., should be
fixed, lam directed by the Earl de Grey and Ripon to
inform you that he has, with the concurrence of his Royal
Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, ap-
proved of the following regulations for corps supplied with
field guns—viz. :
I. Heavy gun drills and exercises are to be continued.
11. Where practicable, the regulated allowance of shot
for practice is to be fired in equal proportions from heavy
and field guns.

111. The allowance of blank ammunition for garrison
guns is to cease, and such ammunition for field guns and
for heavy guns on travelling carriages, when horsed for
reviews, field days, inspections, &c., will be allowed accord-
ing to the following scale :

(a) For each grand review or field day on a large scale,
50 rounds per gun.

(b) For each county or district assembly, if exceeding
3,000 men, 30 rounds per gun; it not exceeding 3,000 men,
i 5 rounds per gun.
(c) For less important assemblies and regimental exer-
cises, when the batteries are horsed, 10 rounds per gun.
IV. At such places as the Government magazines do
not afford accommodation for the storage of this blank gun
ammunition, the corps will be required to provide magazines
for its safe keeping.
V. The supplies of the above-mentioned ammunition will
be made on requisitions through the district commanding
officers of Royal Artillery in the same manner as gun
ammunition for practice ; and officers commanding artillery
volunteer corps, the head-quarters of which are distant
from Government magazines, should, at the beginning of
the season for exercise, apply for the estimated number of
rounds for use duzing the year, with the guns in possession,
and thus, as far as circumstances will permit, avoid the
necessity of making supplementary requisitions.
An exceedingly attractive fete in aid of the funds of the
3d Middlesex Artillery Volunteers was held in the exten-
sive grounds at the rear of the head-quarters of the 7th
Surrey, and was very numerously attended. The amuse-
ments consisted of an assault of arms, in which some clever
swordsmanship was exhibited, athletic sports for volunteers
only, for which prizes were offered, a concert, &c. The
weather was favourable, and the fife could not have been
otherwise than a success.

The directors of the London and South-Western Railwap
have given a prize of VO to be shot for at the next meeting
of the National Rifle Association at Wimbledon.

The annual competition of the 12th Tower Hamlets (Stoke
Newington) Rifle Volunteers took place at Tottenham on
Friday, the 19th, and Friday, the 26th inst., when the fol-
lowing prizes were competed for—viz., two prizes presented
by the commissioned officers, ranges 300, 500, and 600 yards,
five shots at each range, Wimbledon targets and scoring.
The first prize, value 8 guineas, was won by SergeantWort-
ley with a score of 38, second by Sergeant Rogers. Two
prizes presented by the non-commissioned officers, ranges
150, 200, 250, 300, five shots at each range ; won by Private
James Runtz, who scored 52, and Lieut John Runtz, who
scored 46. A handsome challenge cup, value 25 guineas, to
be held three successive years before becoming the property
of the winner, ranges 200, 400, and 600 yards, five shots at
each range, won by Private James Runtz with a score of
37, closely followed by Lieut John Runtz, who scored 36.
The Ladies' Prize, value 5,3, and 2 guineas, ranges 200,
250, and 300 yards, five shots at each range, won by Lieut.
John Runts with a score of 40, Sergeant Adams who scored
37, and Private Kelly with a score of 32. A Consolation
Prize, range 200 yards, five shots, won by Sergeant Cue-
worth, who scored 17.

A match between some volunteers in the employ of the
Bank of England and of Messrs Coutts and Co., originating
in a challenge by the former, has been held at the range of
the 2d, or South Middlesex Rifles, at Caterham. The con-
ditions were live shots at 200, 500, and 600 yards, Hythe
position and Wimbledon scaring. The prize was a cup, to
be presented to the man making the highest Note on the
winning side.. The result was in favour of the Volunteers
in Messrs Coutts's bank, their score being 176 marks,
against 170 of their opponents. The highest scores on the
winning side were made by Private Clarke, 40 marks, and
Private Smith, 36 marks. The ranges at Caterham were
engaged on Friday afternoon in a match between the effec-
tive Volunteers in the Sun Fire-office and the same num-
ber from Messrs Coutts' bank. The ranges were 200, 500,
and 600 yards.

A silver cup, the third presented this season by Captain
Rogers to the second and third class shots of the members
of the let company of the 20th (North-West) Middlesex
Rifle Volunteers has been competed for at the rifle ranges
of the 'regiment at Willesden. The conditions of the con-
petition wore third class ranges, but targets on a novel ar-
rangement—viz., with the bull's eye and centre on the lower
half of the target. The following wore the highest score :
Lance-Corporal Harvey. 42 marks—Private Wilkins, 39
marks—Private J. D. Campbell, 37 marks—and Sergeant
Smith, 30 marks—but Lance-Corporal Harvey and Private
Wilkins having won the two silver cups presented by Capt.
Rogers in the previous competitions, were not eligible to
win in this, and the prize was therefore awarded to Private
Campbell.

The drills of the Ist Middlesex Artillery Volunteers,who
are now incorporated with the Ist Tower Hamlets Artillery,
as the Ist Middlesex Administrative Brigade, have been
suspended till Saturday, Sept. 17, when round shot practice
will take place at Plumstead ; but for the convenience of
members, gun drill will be carried on at the headquarters of
the corps in Leicester-square, under one of the instructors.
The practice with round shot, temporarily brought to a
close until the date above mentioned, has been attended
with the most satisfactory results.

The second annual prize meeting of the 4th battalion of
Kent Rifle Volunteers took place on Wednesday and Thurs-
day, at the Murston Range, situate about two wiles from
Sittingbourno. The 4th battalion consists of the sth, 6th,
16th, 24th, 29th, and 36th companies, all of whom, with the
exception of the 6th, were represented on this occasion.
There were four competitions, the value of the prizes being
about £76.. At the close of the shooting Lieut.-Col. Dyke
distributed the prizes to the successful competitors. He said
he had been informed that the shooting had been very good,
and he urged the Volunteers to continue to practise, with-
out which it was impossible to attain efficiency. At the
same time he reminded them that shooting was not the only
thing necessary to make Volunteers efficient, nor was it the
first thing necessary to attain that object. Battalion drill
was of far greater consequence than shooting, and he should
be glad if some means could be devised to insure a wore
constant and regular attendance to that important duty.
The annual inspection of the 26th Kent Administrative
Battalion Rifle Volunteers, in command of Col. Thorold,
was held on Saturday last in Charlton-park, near Woolwich,
permission having been courteously granted by Col. Sir T.
Wilsan, for the purpose.
In Essex a match has taken place at Erentwood between
the sergeants and corporals of the 3d Essex Corps. Five
shot on the side of the sergeants, and four on that of the
corporals, an average being taken tO represent the score of

the absentee. The shooting was at the ranges of 200, 500 ,
and 600 yards, and the scores made were as follows :
Sergeants, 114 ; corporals, 148. Private Chamberlain has
been elected an ensign of the Colchester corps in the room
of Ensign Green, who has been gazetted lieutenant, vice
Mr J. S. Cooke, resigned. The annual prize shooting of
the Colchester corps will take place this week. Among the
prizes are two of £lO each, given by Mr T. J. Miller, M.P.,
and Mr P. 0. Papillon, M.P., the representatives of the
borough.

In Suffolk, for the fourth time, Sir C. Rowley, of Ten-
dring Hall, has thrown open his grounds for a Volunteer
fete. The Sudbury, Hadleigh, and Stour Valley companies
assembled, numbering in all about 136. The three com-
panies formed a battalion under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel Anstruther, assisted by Captain and Adjutant
Barnardiaton. The Volunteers were entertained by Sir C.
Rowley at the close of some creditably executed man os uvres.
The annual prize shooting of the Ist Suffolk Batallion took
place at Bury St. Edmunds on Friday. The following are
the names of the winners of the various prizes : 300 yards,
first, Corporal Harding, Sudbury ; second, Corporal Gill,
Eye; third, Private R. Burrell, Bury St. Edmunds. 300
and 600 yards combined : First, Private Walton Burrell,
Bury St. Edmunds ; second, Corporal Fisher, Eye ; third,
Sergeant Norfolk, Bury St. Edmunds. The annual prize
meeting of the Suffolk County Rifle Association will take
place at Bury St. Edmunds, September 8 and 9.
A very spirited competition took place last Wednesday
at the range of the 2d Hants Rifles at Millbrook, near
Southampton, for the possession for the ensuing year of
the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Challenge Vase, a.hand •
some gold cup of 100 guineas value. Ranges 200 and 500
yards, five shots at each. There were in all 65 competitors
from different parts of the district, and the winner was
Lance-Corporal Page, of the 7th Isle of Wight (Cowes)
corps, who scored 33 points. The rules require the vase to
be won three :successive years by any one corps to become
its absolute property. It was first shot for in 1862, in which
year, and again in 1863, members of the 7th Hants (Fare-
ham) Corps were at the top of the score, and on this occa-
sion Sergeant Freemantle, of the same corps, made a score
of 32, being only one point behind the winner.
A match has taken plate at Ely between the Ely andWis-
beach corps. The shooting was at the ranges of 200, 400,
and 500 yards, and the Ely side won, having made a score
of 395 marks,while their Wisbeach:opponents only obtained
337 marks. Eight officers and men shot en both sides.
The annual meeting of the Somerset County Rifle Asso•
ciation took place on Wells Match Ground, on the 23d :and
24th inst. :The prizes were competed for by about 150 Vo-
lanteers, some of whom exhibited excellent shooting. The
Enfield rifle was the only weapon used.
During the whole of last week the rifle grounds at Over,
near Gloucester, were the scene of some spirited competi-
tion among the Volunteers of Gloucestershire and the neigh-
bouring counties. This was the annual prize meeting of the
Gloucester Rifle Association. About 20 different competi-
tions took place, but the chief interest of the meeting
centred in the competition for the Lord-Lieutenant's Chal-
lenge Cup, the Countess of Dude's prizes, and the county
match. The shooting opened on the first day with artillery,
engineers, militia, and yeomanry prizes. Seven prizes were
awarded to artillery, four to engineers, five to militia, and
four to yeomanry. For the county match on the second
day there were 63 entries. The first prize (112) was won by
Private Baker, of Bristol ; the second (£8) by Sergeant Bing-
ham, of Bristol. The Countess of Ducie's prizes, ranges 400,
500, and 690 yards, limited to pairs of officers, Volunteers
or militia. The first prize was won by Major Guise and Capt.
Boutein, of the 2d Glocester, who scored 69 ; and the second
prize to the highest score made by a single officer, was
awarded to Lieut, Stock, of the Bristol Artillery, who scored
39. Four companies entered for the Lord Lieutenant's Chal-
lenge Cup, four men in each company, and the prize was
won by the Glocester City Rifles, who made 193 points. For
the Glocestershire Challenge Cup ten men from Glocester-
shire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire companies en-
tered, and Herefordshire carried off the cup. The ladies'
prizes,were carried off by Sergeant Clutterbuck, 6th Stroud ;
Lieut. Purchas, 14th Worcester ; Capt. Boutein, 2d Gloces-
ter; and Private Adams, 18th Hereford.

The annual shooting match of the let Wilts (Salisbury)
Rifle Volunteers was held at the range at Laverstock, on
Wednesday and Thursday last. The competition opened
with the challenge cup presented to the corps by Sir Alex-
ander Malet, her Majesty's Enjoy at Frankfort-on-the
Main, and won last year by Private William Young. To
this was added a prize of 20 guineas. Private Watso*
made the highest score and took the challenge cup and
10 guineas, and Private Bridger, the second prize, £5. The
Mayor of Salisbury's prize (Mr John Waters) was won by
Sergeant Butler, Private Wells taking the second prize,
£3. The next prize, which was given by Mr Giles Loder,
was carried off by Private Perris. The officers' prize was won
by Sergeant Kelsey. A consolation cup was given by Sir
Alexander Malet for competition among the members of the
Ist Wilts who had never wen a prize. It was carried off by
Private Simms. Captain Pinckney's prize was won by
Private Grippe.

In Dorsetshire a friendly contest took place on Tuesday
between ten members of the Shaftesbury company and a
like number of the Blandford corps. The ranges were 200,
400,500, and 600 yards, five rounds at each. Tho contest
was a close and exciting one, and resulted in a victory tor
the Blandford men by 16 points only. Their total score
was 397, or an average of nearly 40 per man. The Shaftes-
bury ten scored 3SI, or au average of 38.

In Lincolnshire, the Boston battery has appointed a "re-
cruiting committee." The Government inspector has sur-
veyed the carbine range used by the corps, and has con-
demned it as dangerous, owing to the recent enclosure of the
land. The insprctorisuggests that the battery should make
some arrangement with the local rifle corps for the joint use
of their range, and he has ordered that the two 32-pounder
guns at the Scalp battery, which have been in use during
the past two years, should be prevented prior to being again
used. A competition for prizes has taken place among
members of the Spalding corps, In the first class, the shoot-
ing was at 400 and 600 yards, and the prizes went to
Private J. Taylor, Private D. Cotton, Corporal S. Wallis,
and Private W. Sleight—in the second class the shooting
was at 200 and 400 yards, and the prize went to Private C.
Handley, Private W. Simms, Private R. White, Private
B. Lever, and Private R. Appleby; in the third class the
shooting was at 200 yards and 300 yards, and the prizes
went to Drum-Major Judd, Private J. E. Graves, Corporal
Barrow, Private C. Reynolds, Private Watkin, &o. Up-
wards of 50 recruits belonging to the Ist Lincolnshire Corps,
having•completed their drill, have been posted to their re-
spective companies. On Saturday the recruits assembled
on the south common, Lincoln, for the second period of class
firing. A cup, gived by the mayor of Louth, has boon shot
for by the local corps. The shooting was at 100, 200, and
300 yards, seven shots each; and the cap was won
by Lance-Corporal Brady with a score of 64 marks. An in-
teresting match has taken place between Lieut. Somerley
and Privato Marsden, on the one side, and Sergeant Mason
and Lance-Corporal Waite on the other. These gentlemen
aro reputed the four best shots in the Louth corps. The
shooting was at 200, 300, 400, 500, and 630 yards, 5 shots
each. Lieut. Somorley and Private Marsden made 112
marks, and Sergeant Mason and Lance-Corporal Waite 115
marks. The Barton corps has been entertained at Barrow-
hall, the residence of Mr G. C. Uppleby, the captain of the
corps.

On Saturday the Leeds Engineer Volunteers underwent
their annual inspection by Lieut.-Col. Harman, and the
number of rank and file assembled on the occasion was 750
—the largest muster of a single corps, as stated by the in-
specting officer, which had ever taken place in Yorkshire.
Lieut.-Col. Child was the commanding officer, and was as-
ilisted by Major Smith, a veteran who held rank in the old
Volunteer force more than 50 years ago. In marching to
the field where the inspection had to take place, the river
Aire had to be crossed, and this was effected by means of a
pontoon bridge which had been constructed by a party of
the Engineers. After the passage across, the bridge was
expertly destroyed, so as to cut off the pursuit of an ima-
ginary enemy, On the field the corps were put through
an elaborate series of evolutions and exorcises in the pre-
sence of at least 10,000 spectators, who frequently cheered
the Volunteers most lustily, The inspecting officer said he
should make a most satisfactory report to the Secretary for
War. Three cheers were then given for Colonel Harman,
after which the corps returned to headquarters,
The Howdenshire Company met on Tuesday to compete
for a handsome silver cup given by Captain Clarke, to be
won twice to give actual possession, The shooting wag at
150, 200, 400, and 600 yards, only hits to count, at each
range five rounds. Private Hawke (although a high wind
prevailed) scored 24, and was thereby the winner for this
year. Private Carlton was second, with 18 hits. The 18th
West York Volunteers held a fifth and final competition for
the challenge cup, presented by Major Waterhouse, M.P.
the cup to be won three times in five competitions, or to pass
to the highest scorer. The shooting was at 550, 750, and 900
yards, and private Ruther was the winner for the day with
33. No member having won the sup more than twice, Dr
Simpson having done that, the ownership 'everted to the
highest scorer during the five competitions, which proved
to be Dr Simpson, who had in the aggregate scored 125,
against the second best score of 110 from private Ruther.
The cup therefore becomes Dr Simpson's property. The
Hull Volunteer Artillery competed with a 32 pounder gun
for the priz 3 offered by Col. Inglefield, R.A. Tho rang©
was about 1,700 yards, and the winners were Corporal Hall
first, Sergt. Faija second, gunner Dewlson third, and Major
Sprat fourth. In another contest the target was smashed
.
up by one of Sergeant Major Piston's shots. The winner of
the last contest also hit the target. The result was—Brigade
Sergeant Major Piston first, Corporal Hall second, Sergt.-
Major Murray third. The firing was very satisfactory.
The fourth annual competition for the prizes offered by
and under the auspices of the Cumberland and IVestmore-
land Rifle Association took place at the Cummeredale range
Carlise, on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
The first contest on the programme was for the cup, value
50 guineas, given by the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, to
be shot for by Cumberland and Westmoreland volunteers,at
200 and 600 yards, five shots at each, hits and points counted.
The cup becomes the property of the volunteer who wins it
two years, not necessarily in succession, and each winner is
entitled to have his named engraved upon it, and receives
£lO. In 1862 it was won by a member of the Carlisle Artil-
lery Corps, in 1863 by one of the Carlisle rifle volunteers ;
and this year it has been won by Sergeant Banks, 10th
Cumberland (Egremont), who tied private Willman of the
4th Cumberland, at ;Al, and on i,hooting off became winner.

The Cumberland Battalion Challenge Cup was won on Sa-
tured by the five representatives of the Cockermouth Corps
of Rifle Volunteers. The Ist company of the Carlisle Corps,
who won last year, and would have earned absolute posses-
sion of the trophy if they had repeated their victory this
year, came second.