The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-23 00:00:00

ATTACKING FORCE.

Ist Administrative Brigade Middlesex Artillery—Lieute-
nant-Colonel H. Creed, six guns.
Ist Huntingdonshire Light Horse—the Duke of Manches-
ter.

Bucks (Taplow) Yeomanry Cavalry—Captain Nathaniel
Grace Lambert.

Ist Administrative Battalion Buckinghamshire Riflo
Volunteers, sth Lincolnshire, 21 Administratiya Battalion
Cambridge, and 15th Glocester and 17th Worcester—Lieu •
tenant-Colonel the Hon. P. Barrington.
19th and 23d Surrey and 47,h Middlesex Rifle Volunteer
Corps —Major V. 11. Labrow.
Ist Administrative Battalion Oxford and Ist Adminis-
tration Battalion Warwick—Major J. W. C. Hartopp.
DEFENDIXGV FORCE.
Hon. Artillery Company—captain W. C. Jay, 2 guns,
Horse Artillery of Royal Bucks Yeomanry Cavalry-2
guns—Captain T. K. Homes.
Royal Bucks Yeomanry Cavalry—Lieutenant-ColoneA
the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos.

2d South Middlesex Rifles.
Ist Admistrative Battalion Hertfordshire—Cr4tain J.
s.
Gape.

Ist Administrative Battalion Bedforshire—Lieutenant
Colonel Hastings Russell.

Ist Administrative Battalion
orthamptonshire—Lieu.
tenant-Colonel the Duke of Grafton.
Besides the above, t:nere was present a newly-
raised corps of Osliord Light Horse, of promising
appearance. It did not take any part in the pro-
ceedings, but assisted in keeping the ground.
The rer,tew commenced about 2 o'clock, when a
body of the Bucks Yeomanry Cavalry were pushed
out on the part of the defenders to ascertain the
tstrength of their antagonists, who soon presented
such a front, and made such practice from their four
pounder and two 1S pounder guns, that the Yeo-
manry, although supported by the light field-pieces
of the Hon, Artillery Company, were forced to re-
tire. The skirmishers of their body, who had dis-
mounted like the old Dragoons to fight more at
their ease, were the first to retire, and then
the squadrons relieved each other alternately.
Whilst this movement was being executed
the guns of the Hon. Artillery Company made two
spirited dashes at the enemy, rushing up at full gal-
lop to short range, firing, and then retreating again
before the heavy guns could be trained upon them.
CA. Erskine meanwhile led on an advance of his
forces in line covered by skirmishers, shook the de.
fenders out of their originally strong position, and
forced their cavalry to retire for shelter behind the
infantry. The Duke of Manchester's Horse, en the
attacking side, now had matters entirely their own
why, and so warmly did they enter into the spirit
of the fray that whatever was for the time opposed
to them, infantry or cavalry, it seemed as much as
the riders could do to prevent their chargers from
dashing in among them. The South Middlesex and
20th Middlesex, acting together as a battalion,
checked the advance of the cavalry for a time, but
it soon became evident that the defenders must give
way stili farther. Swinging rouni upon the Grand
Stand as a pivot, they accordingly showed front in
a new direction, their right resting upon the Grand
Stand, their left upon the garden wall, and the in-
termediate line extending right across the plateau,
giving the spectators a fine view of the proceedings
which followed. Further tnanceavring, leading to
a further retreat, ensu d, and wh;ie the battalions
were in the act of retiring, and were still en echelon,

the Duke of Manchester's cavalry swept down on
the squares and endeavoured to carry off the artil-
lery. In this attempt he was defeated, and Lord
Ranelagh, continuing the movement from the point
where it had been interrupted, was successful in
making further progress towards the point at which
the defenders from the first intended to make their
final stand. Just at this moment the Buckingham-
shire Yeomanry in close column of troops, with the
Hon. Artillery Company following in the rear,
passed suddenly to the front, deployed on the
centre squadron, and charged the whole line of the
attacking party, which naturally formed squares
to resist the onset. Suddenly the two wings of the
cavalry force wheeled outwards, retired round the
flanksof Lord Ranelagh's force, thereby unmasking
the guns which had followed in their rear, and these
had now an opportunity of playing with destruc.
tive effect upon the hostile infantry still in their
formation of squares. Lord Ranelagh ultimately
placed his line with its right resting on a fort, per-
manently erected within the demesne, in which were
two 9-pounders and four 6-pounders; and, as this
accession of strength was more than sufficient to
redress the inequality of artillery force frcm which
the defenders had previously suffered, the attacking
party were obliged to desist from their operations.
The proceedings closed with a march past on the
part of all the troops, and with a trot and gallop by
the cavalry and artillery. In speaking of the per-
formances of the latter branch separate mention has
not been made of the artillery troop belonging to
the Buckinghamshire Cavalry, because this was
attached to and worked with the Hon. Artillery
Company, and, except at very close quarters, when
it was seen that they adhered to the old artillery
dress with its five rows of buttons, it was nearly im•
possible to distinguish one from the other. It is
right, however, to add that among the surprises
which the provinces have this year prepared for the
metropolis in matters connected with volunteering,
the appearance and efficiency of this corps must be
ranked. It used to be supposed that the flying bat-
teries of the Hon. Artillery Company were unique
of their kind, but the Buckinghamshire Artillery
are by no means unworthy rivals, though lacking
some of the style of the older regiment. The entire
Yeomanry Corps looked to great advantage; the
men were well mounted, and had enjoyed the bene-
fit of several days continuous drill. Of the different
infantry corps it is enough to say that they fully I
sustained the reputation of that service.

The display as a whole was highly successful.
The weather, with the exception of one smart
shower, was :all that could be desired, and as the
assembly left the ground there seemed to be but
one pervading sentiment—that of gratification at
the liberality shown by the Duke of Buckingham
mad at the skill with which the manoeuvres from
first to last were conducted by Colonel McMurdo
and the force under his command.