The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-01 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The Honourable Artillery Company had a grand
field-day yesterday at Alexandra-park, which at-
tracted a large concourse of spectators, not merely
frout the immediate neighbourhood, but from the
northl'rnmost suburbs of the metropolis. 'rho force
c"E"t'l er a battery of hcrso artillery, under the
command (4
.
-Lieut. Jay • a squadron of light cavalry,
under Sergt, uo, a
battalion of infantry, under
Capt. Davis, the '
whole
Blockley. Th being commanded by Capt.
1 o'clock., and
e 7 arrived at the scene of action about
lat
and defending iumeaely divided into an attacking
force.
The enemy, under Capt. and
Adjutant Potts, pro
the hills towards thceeded to occupy the crests of
rations by sending They commenced ope-
connoitering party, but not
]fight cavalry as a re-
the defenders from their et succeeding in 'drawing
they were replacPed°4'bti°ll in the valley be-
neath,pany, thrown out as skir
were speedily repulsed by These, however,
naisileth' Principal cora-
the defers
mately drove them up the hill againi4e"
derous fire,
, who ulti-
selves outflanked, after sustaining ; l'inding them.
attacks
after a
the enemy changed front and reUredn37
pursued
by the defenders. They ralli'ed, 'hotly
short pause, and once more bravely
defending force, but Lieut. Jay's artilierrteked the
up they were once more compelled toevreeYtrrZtmainugd
retire into the grove, hotly contesting
the enemy. At last, however, in the midst Oyf step
egPal°ll
they found-
ing fire from all arms of the defenders,
their ammunition failing, and they were obliged to
put an end to the battle by sending out a flag of
truce. It is hardly necessary to say that the whole
of tl:e movements were performed in the soldierly
way that always characterises the evolutions of the
HOD. Artillery Company. The light cavalry troop

charged in a manner that would havo done credit
to any regiment of regulars, and Captain Jay's
horse artillery went through their parts in a way
well calculated to sustain the reputation, they have
already won by their performances at Brighton,
Wimbledon, Wanstead, and other volunteer fields
of battle. Many of the manoeuvres were of a very
picturesque character. During one of the retreats
a company of infantry in crossing a field suddenly
encountered a troop of cavalry. In an instant
squares were formed and the cavalry were com-
pelled to retreat amid withering volleys from the
kneeling and standing ranks. Another movement
also won an immense amount of applause from the
spectators. The enemy on retiring into the grove
discovered a stack of hurdles. Captain Potts at
ionn ct eh
e orderedform o
fh i
as mf
eenne
et,oanhdaltc,oanrcreaanl
gtelietmh es
e lhvuersdblees-
hind it. They had hardly done so when a troop of

light cavalry came up, and in the twinkling of an
eye the hurdles were down and the cavalry were
received with a sudden volley that in real warfare
would have emptied half their saddles. After the
manoeuvres were over bivouac fires were lighted,
and the men proceeded to cook their dinners, the
light cavalry carrying off the palm for the excel-
lence of their cooking. When dinner was over, the
band of the corps being in attendance, a general
adjournment took place to the Barn, where the
directors of the park had extemporised a platform
out of some table tops, and dancing commenced in
right good earnest. From the diversified nature of
the country Alexandra-park seems admirably
adapted for a Volunteer battle 'ground, and next
season will no doubt form a formidable rival to
Brighton, Wimbledon, and Wanstead, more especi-
ally as it is the intention of the directors to form a
1,000 yards rifle range in the course of the winter.
There were at least 10,000 spectators on the ground,
including a large number of carriages and horse-
men. The corps did not leave the park until nearly
dusk.

The members of the 4th Tower Ilamlet Rifles re-
sumed on Monday their prize firing, and persisted,
though the weather was most unfavourable. In
the first, three contests—one for a rifle, presented by
Mr. Deakin ; the second for a silver watch and
chain, given by Mr. J. Jackson; and the third for
a silver challenge medal. Sergeant Baines, who at
the last meeting won two first prizes, made the
highest scores, and was followed by Corporal
Sweitzer, who takes the place of the Sergeant as
the winner of one prize, for two first prizes are not
allowed to be carried cff by any member. The
honorary members' prize, a gold medal, was gained
by Mr. Mumford. A rifle, presented by Captain
Hall, was shot for by the effective members at 400,
500, and 000 yards, and, after a severe contest, won
by the same officer with 28 marks. A handsome
cup, given by Mr. J. Harman, was next shot for at
200, 250, and 300 yards, and won by Privates Wal-
ker with 27 marks, and three money prizes were
won by Privates Hill and Boys and Sergt. Watson.
A silver cup, presented by Capt. Hutchinson to the
sth Company, was won by Corporal Ellis with
32 marks at 10,',200, and 400 yards. Yesterday
the shooting was continued uud the present pro-
gramme completed, though other competitions are
expected before the year i over. A gold watch,
presented by Mr. Jeremiah Long, the representative
of the district at the Metropolitan Board of Works,
with a gold Albert chain added by Mrs, Long, was
competed for at 300, 500, and 700 yards, and won
by Sergeant Baines with 31 marks. A silver cup,
presented by Mr. G. Hicks, was won by Captain
Hall with 36 marks at 400, 500, and 600 yards.
Among the prizes not shot for was a sack of flour,
presented to the married electives by an inhabitant.
A 'sham fight on a small scale, but so well ar-
ranged as to afford to all who took part in it a
lurger amount of instruction than can be gleaned
from more extensive and less manageable displays,
took place on Saturday at Hadley, near Barnet. It
will be pleasurably remembered by all who partici-
pated in it for these reasons, as well as from the
lovely scenery in which the colon took place and
the hospitality shown by the 12th Middlesex. The
defending force consisted of the Barnet and Enfield
Volunteers, the Cadet company of the 12th (Barnet)
Middlesex, and the Hatfield and Hadley troop of
the Herts Yeomanry Cavalry, and was under the
command of Major Wilbraham Taylor ; the attack.
leg force consisting of the 33d Middlesex (Totten
ham), Captain MIL and detachments from the Post-
e/Wee and Admiralty companies of the 21st Middle-
Pe% (Civil Service), commanded by Captain Du Plat
Taylor. The who'e of the mar ceavres were under
the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Wilkinson, to
whom Captain Ba'lis of the 36th Middlesex (Pad-
dington) and Sergeant F. E. Baines of the Barnet
Corps acted as aides-decamp, To the admirable
plats of the ground and printed descriptions pre-
pared by the latter gentleman and forwarded
to the various corps engaged, the success of the
day's proceedings must be largely attributed. The
defending force was drawn up in lino on the crest
of a hill sloping rapidly down to the wood, through
which the enemy advancing from the Barnet Station
of the Great Northern Railway ruoved to the attack.
The defenders advanced pickets, and skirmishers
were thrown forward to the extreme edge of the
wood in their front, supported by a company posted
in a sandbag lunette, placed halfway up the slope
between the wood and the main body. The attack-
ing force, on arriving at the outskirts of the wood,
threw forward a line of skirmishers to feel for the
enemy, scouts having reported them to be in force
in several parts of the wood, the main body at the
same time being disposed in three divisions, the left
and centre intended for a direct attack on the posi-
tion of the defenders, while the right wing marched
to the outer edge of the wood, and, concealed from
observation behind an intervening hillock, was
ordered to create a favourable diversion by attempt-
ing to turn the left flank of the line of defence. The
Possession of the wood was hotly contested, and gave
I.occasion for the display of considerable tact and
judgment on the part both of the attacking and
defending skirmishers, the latter executing several
well-planned surprises, while the former, by care-
fully keeping up communication through the whole
line of the advance, prevented these from being as
serious in their consequences as they otherwise might
have been. The defenders' skirmishers were at
length driven from the wood and retired across the
space in rear of the lunette, their retreat covered by
the cavalry, which charged dove on the attacking
skirmishers, until, by their form; ng rallying squares,
it was compelled to withdraw, The left and centre of
the attacking force now emerged into the open, de-
ployed into line, and advanced at the double to storm
the lunette and attack the centre and right wing of
the defenders. They w ere received, however, by such
tremendous file and -volley firing alone the whole
line of the defences, that they were compelled to re-
tire and reform before they could renew the attack.
They again advanced in direct echelon of wings,
and
ell were age en charged by the cavalry, whom they
repelled by forming close columns of sections, and
by opening a well sustained fire from the threatened
faces of the squares. On resuming their forward
movereent, the right wing, which had hitherto been
concealed, soddenly showed itself, and commenced a
vigorous attack on the left flank of the defenders,
evho were taken by surprise. While they were
making dispositions to meet this attack, the left and
centre of the enemy advanced at the double, cap-
tured the lunette, and compelled the whole line of
their opponents to retire. The two forces were
now drawn up in opposing
lines, and after a consi-
derable amount of volley firing and file firing from
both flanks of companies an armistice was under-
stood to be deciared. All the corps present then
formed line and advanced in review order with
great precision. They subsequently marched past
in open and quarter distance column, and, having
executed several useful battalion movements, were
formed into three sides of a square and addressed
who Complimented
theby tLreiehupts.-hCioglholnye,l Wilkinson,
and thanked those corps who had
lent their aid in the proceedings of the day. He
then invited all the volunteers to recept the hospi-
tality of the Barnet Corps, by whom preparations
o_n liberal scale had been made. Captain Dn Plat
Taylor replied on behalf of the invited corps, and
called for three cheers for Col. Wilkinson and for
the Barnet Coring on
all
sideps, After much complimentary cheer-
fires having se, the volunteers piled arms, and camp
viAnds, ser-eb"' on lighted, proceeded to discuss the
ut bY Men told off for the purpose.