The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-11 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

A rumour was current in military circles at
Chatham yesterday that, in consequence of the
menacing news recently received from America, the
Government intend to despatch some additional
troops to augment the forces already in British
North America. The troops at present stationed in
our American dependencies include the Ist battalion
of the Grenadier Guards, the 2d battalion of the
Scots Fusileer Guards, the Ist battalion of the 16th
Regiment, the 4th battalion of the 60th Rifles, the
62d Regiment, the Ist battalion of the Rifle Brigade,
and the 10th battery of Royal Artillery, forming
the garrison of Montreal; the Ist of the 15th Regi-
ment, and the 63d Regiment, at New Brunswick ;
the 3d battalion of the Military Train, the 15th
battery of Royal Artillery, the 4th company of
Royal Engineers, and the 2d battalion of the 16th
Regiment, at Nova Scotia; the 30th Regiment, at
Toronto ; and the 47th Regiment, at Kingston.

The whole available force of the Royal Engineers
at head-quarters, Chatham, have been employed
for some months past at the practising-ground at-
tached to the Royal Engineer establishment,
Brompton, in making the necessary excavations,
forming parallels, driving galleries, and preparing
the batteries and subterranean earthworks in antici-
pation of some siege operations on a most extensive
scale which are to be carried out at the garrison in
the course of a few days, and in which all the avail-
able troops will take part. The whole of the opera-
tions up to the present time have been carried on
under the superintendence of Lieut.-Col. Lovell,
C. 8., the director of field-works, and, in order that no
delay may arise in the completion of the siege works,
the officers and men of the Royal Engineers have
been employed night and day for some time past. All
the batteries are now completed, and these are model
works of their kind. Although no day has been
officially announced for siege operations, it is pro-
bable that they will take place on Friday next, by
by which day the entire works are to be completed,
orders to the effect having been issued to the Royal
Engineer department of Chatham garrison. It had
been anticipated that the Prince of Wales might
have been present on the oceasion, but as his
Royal Highness has proceeded to Scotland it does
not seem now probable that he will visit the gar-
rison to witness the siege operations.
An. order has been received at the camp at Col-
chester permitting soldiers to volunteer into any of
the regiments now stationed in New Zealand—viz.,
the 2d battalion 18th, and the 40th, 57th, and 70th
Regiments. All men who volunteer and are found
fit for actual service will receive the same bounty of
£l. A number of men from the different depots at
Colchester have come forward for service in the
colony. Capt. Jones, of the 97th, has received
orders to join the service companies of that corps,
and Capt. Pocklington, of the 2d battalion sth
Regiment, will join the depot companies. Silver
medals for long service and good conduct have been
presented at the camp to the following non-com-
missioned officers and privates :—Privates Barrngn
and Crookshanks, of the 44th ; Sergeant :Pearson
and Private Lovelock, of the 97th ; and Sergeant
Craig, of the Army Hospital Corps. These medals
are in some instances accompanied by gratuities of
£lO and £5. They were presented by Col. Guy,
C. 8., commandant of the troops in camp.
A circular has been issued from the Horse
Guards stating that his Royal Highness the Field-
Marshal Commanding-in-Chief has been pleased to
direct that the last post shall beat off at 9 30 p.m.
from the Ist of May to the 30th of September, and
at 9 p.m. from the Ist of October to the 30th of
April at all camps and garrisons, unless the rule be
specially altered by the general officer commanding
the district, who is to report his reasons for taking

such a course.
The gentlemen cadets studying at the Royal
Military Academy at Woolwich will close their
half-yearly vacation on Wednesday next, and re-
sume their studies on the following day, Thursday.