The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-29 00:00:00

Volunteer Field•-day at Croxton-park.

The Ist, or Duke of Manchester's Light Horse Volunteers
and let Hunts Rifles had a grand field-day on Wednesday,
the 21st inst., at Croxton-park, Cambridgeshire, the seat of
Captain G. 0. Newton. There were present the Duke of
Manchester, the Earl of Hardwicke, Lord-Lieutenant of
the county of Cambridge, the Hon. Colonel Duncombe, and
'a large number of spectators belonging to this and the adja-
cent counties, The Duke of Manchester's Light Horse has
recently been augmented by the second troop of the Cam-
bridgeshire Mounted Rifles, and the united troops A, B, C,
now form a powerful and efficient squadron. The proceed-
ings of the day were rendered additionally attractive by the
competition for two prizes of considerable value by the ca-
valry, the infantry having a week previously competed for
a silver cup given by the ladies of the county of Hunting-
don. The Duke of Manchester being anxious to stimulate
individual exertion with regard to drill and general efficiency
in the duties of a dragoon in the field, offered for competition
to all effectives in his regiment a statuette of a Light Horse-
man in silver. In addition to this prize Captain Newton
offered a magnificent silver-mounted sword, to be presented
to the person most skilful in the use of this weapon. The
day was very fine, and long before the time fixed for the
commencement of the proceedings the park was crowded
with visitors. The infantry consisted of detachments from
St. Neot's, St. Ives, Ramsay, and Huntingdon, and were
accompanied by the Exnesbury Volunteer band.
Shortly after 11 o'clock the troops were posted. The First
Light Horse on some open ground in front of a farm-yard,
in close column of squadrons facing the south, with one
half of the First Hunts Rifles on the left, and the other
half, which was destined to act as an opposing force,
disposed in two divisions—the right division occupying
Croxton-park and the churchyard, and the left strongly
posted behind Croxton Hall and some outbuildings
extending in the direction of the churchyard. A
long series of field-day evolutions followed, in which
the Duke of Manchester commanded the attacking force.
The fight ended by a general charge of the cavalry from a
line parallel to the Cambridge high-road, by which the
enemy, tempted to come forward, were driven into the
plantations or captured. At the termination of the sham
fight the troops went through the parade movements, the
cavalry marching past by squadrons and the infantry in
quick time. The cavalry then trotted past by troops, and
the infantry marched past at the double in close column.
After this the cavalry changed the front of the column, and
galloped past, left in front. The whole then wheeled into
line, and advanced in parade order. These proceedings
closed soon after 2 o'clock.

The Volunteers then proceeded to dinner, which was pro-
vided by Captain Newton, who had spared no expense to
render it worthy of the occasion ; Capt. Newton presided,
and after the usual loyal toasts, proposed the " Health of
the Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Cambridge, Lord
Hardwicke," who had attended there that day, at great
personal inconvenience to himself, to show his approval of
the Volunteer movement.

Lord HARDWICKE replied as follows—Captain Newton,
nay Lord Duke, and Gentlemen,—l know that the subject
that is naturally uppermost in the minds of all whom I now
address is that of the Volunteers. This subject has now be-
come so familiar to us that all conversation and speechify-
ing about it is something like an address on the constitution
of England. There is generally so much said about it, and
the same statements are repeated so often that they become
mere flattery—mere verbiage, destitute of meaning. Now,
language such as I am hinting at is not such as should be
used towards Volunteers. I maintain that it is not popular.
My opinion is that when wo do meet together, onr conver-
sation should be of a different character. You are essen-
tially a popular corps. You are embodied of your own
free will. You are brought together by sentiments of
loyalty and affection for the Crown. This is the most
befitting language to use to Volunteers. Such senti-
ments are a great honour to the people, and credit-
able to the individual, because they betoken a desire
for the welfare of the State and for the safety of your do-
mestic institutions. It may perhaps be considered that I
ought to praise this corps of cavalry. That is the very thing
I should not do. If I had an opportunity of expressing my
sentiments, it would not be those of fulsome praise, which
is of no value. What I shall speak to you about is disci-
pline; but [ think I ought to consider who I am before I
venture to talk to soldiers. Though I was brought up to a
military life, and spent as a soldier the best years of my life,
it may still appear presumptuous on my part to give advice
to others. But, gentlemen, though 1 may not be competent
to judge of the movetnents of a cavalry corps or of the evo-
lutions of infantry, I think I have a general knowledge—a
common-sense understanding—of what is required from
both those bodies, and what is necessary to the establishment
good military force. Now, your position is' essentially
difforer4 from that of any other description of troops. You
have no 'unitary power over you—your own good sense
keeps You in order—you are all at liberty to leave the corps
you belong to in 14 days—,you may °Very one of you decline
to come to drill, and you can do just as you please, except
when you are actually in the field. Under these circum-
stances, your own good sense will supply that degree of dis-
cipline which is necessary to keepi the
. organisation of
your corps. (Applause.) It is the duwipsheliphline of the human
mind, the discipline of yourselves,
discipline
asketuss
is far
your
corps; and depend upon it such disci
su-
perior to any other that could possibly be derived • (Chacerrt