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

ehßrged in a manner tint would have 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 manceuvres were of a very
piclurtEque character. During one of the retreats
a ceinpany 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
kneclini, 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
once ordered his men to halt, arrange the hurdles
in the form of a fence, and conceal themselves be-
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 tho 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
I dusk.

The members of the 4th Tower Hamlet 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. H. 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 off 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 600 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 and the present pro-
gramme completed, though other competitions are
expected before the year is 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 effectives 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
larger 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 action 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-
ing force consisting of the 33d Middlesex (Totten-
ham), Captain Hill, and detachments from the Post-
office and Admiralty companies of the 21st Middle-
sex (Civil Service), commanded by Captain Du Piat
Taylor. The whole of the manoeuvres were under
the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Wilkinson, to
whom Captain Baylis of the 36th Middlesex (Pad-
dington) and Sergeant F. E. Baines of the Barnet
Corps acted as aides-de-camp, 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 line 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 moved 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
iu 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 fleck of the line of defence. The
possession of the wood was hotly contested, and gave
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 down on the attacking
skirmishers, until, by their forming 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 were 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 were again 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
movement, the right wing, which had hitherto been
concealed, soddenly showed itself, and commenced a
vigorous attack on the left flank of the defenders,
who 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 declared.present
with
great precision.
then
d
formed line and advanced Allthe
n reviewcorps order
They subsequently marched past
in open and n
quarter distance column, and, having
executed several useful battalion movements, were
formed into
three sides of a square and addressed
Wilkinson, who complimented
by Lieut.-Colonel
the troops highly, and thanked those corps who had_
lent their aid in the proceedings of the day. He
t athenlit
yinovf the Bar
all the volunteers to accept the hospi-
net Corps, by whom preparations
on behalf of the invited corps, and
on a liberal scale had been made. Captain Du Plat
Taylor replied
called for three cheers for Col. Wilkinson and for
the Barnet corps. After much complimentary cheer-
ing on all sides, the volunteers piled arms,
and camp
fires having been lighted, proceeded to discuss the
viAwA served out by men told off for the purpose.

The performances of the ban 3. of the Civil Ser-
vicecare of the day. All passed elf without a single
and Enfield Corpq added greatly to the plea-
accident, and to the entire satisfaction of every one
who had taken part in the proceedings.
The annual inspection of the whole of the four
corps of Kent Volunteer Artillery belonging to the
10th Administrative Brigade, stationed in the
Chatham district, under the command of Lieu-
tenant- Colonel Gladdi3h, has been brought to a most
satisfactory conclusion. By direction of the Field
Marshal Commanding in-Chief, Lieutenant-Colonel
Talbot, commanding the Ist division of the Depot
Brigade, Royal Artillery, was selected to report to
his Royal Highness on the state and efficiency of
each corps, which the inspecting officer found to be
in a most satisfactory condition, not only as regards
the knowledge possessed by officers and men in the
theoretical branches of the science of artillery, but
also in the practical duties with which a volunteer
artilleryman is supposed to be conversant, relating
to the mounting and dismounting of heavy guns,
and the shiftings so necessary to be thoroughly un-
derstood in the transportation of iron ordnance.
'rho four corps comprise the Ist (Gravesend), con-
sisting of two batteries, under the command of
Cap-
tain G. E. Sharland ; the 4th (Sheerness), consist-
ing of one battery, under the command of Captain
J. E. Beveridge; and the 13th (Sheerness), consist-
ing of two batteries, commanded by Captain J. H.
Harper. The annual allowance ofgarrison gun and
exercise ammunition, consisting of 100 rounds of
shot, 25 rounds of common shell, and 30 rounds of
blank to each of the six batteries, has been already
expended, which bespeak a zeal in the attainment
of a sound practical knowledge in the use of heavy
guns not to be overlooked. The practice has been
divided between two sorts of guns—viz., 63-
pounders of 950 wt., and. 32-pounders of 58owt-)
smooth bores, and has been carried out at
the entrance of the river Medway, where an excel-
lent range to seaward is obtainable. The precision
in the art of gunnery attained by each corps Was
found to be most satisfactory. In every instance
the guns were admirably laid, the elevation accu-
rately calculated, the deflection of the shot veil'
slight, while the cutting and fixing of the fuzes in
firing the common shells was characterised by great
accuracy. It is not yet known whether the Govern-
ment intends to exercise Artillery Volunteers in the
use and management of rifled ordnance, but it is de-
sirable that their instruction should not be confined
to the old smooth-bore cannon, which are being
rapidly supplanted by Armstrong rifled guns,
On Monday the members of the Ipswich Corps
and the Watton Battery of Artillery were enter-
tained by Mr. J. C. Cobbold, M.P., in his picturesque
grounds at Holy Wells. The fete attracted a very
large attendance. Various evolutions having been
performed, dinner was set out on a liberal scale in a
large tent in the grounds below the mansion. The
chair was occupied by Mr. Cobbold, who was sup'
ported by Lord Ranelagh, M.P., Captain
M.P., Lieut.-Col. Schreiber, the Mayor of Ipswich
(Mr. G. C. E. Bacon), Captain Kerrick, Adjutant
2d Suffolk Administrative Battalion, &e. prin-
cipal speaker of the evening was Lord Itanell3gh'
whose name was associated with the toast "The
Volunteers." The noble lord said he had been Jervis,
looked
.
upon during the progress of the review as a kind of
bogie,,, hut having watched the troops closely, he
must express his gratification at the manner in which
the various movements had been per formed. The only
thing of which he could complain was that the troops
did not give the "British cheer" when they
charged.
It was a proud thing to be an Englishman, for Eng-
land was, after all, the land of freedom. Americans
might boast of theirs, but we were fifty times freer in
the birth
England than they ever were. He was at
of the Volunteer movement, he had followed it up,
and he should never forsake it, for he
tended to the advantage of the country in more ways
than one. believed it

The annual meeting of the sth Hants
teers for the competition for prizes commenced on
on the shore
Monday at their practice range of
mile Volute
Langston harbour, near Portsmouth. For a prize
value £lO 10s., the gift of Major Ford,
were allowed at each of two ranges-_2OO and 500
five shots
yards; Private M'Cheane was the winner, with 25
points. A money prize of £5 5e., given by Sir J.
Elphinstone, M.P., was won by Private Wink worth.
The shooting was continued on TuesdaY• A prize
of £5 53., the gift of Sir F. 'f. Baring, M.P., was
won by Ensign Eveleigh. A field-glass,
the gift
of Captain Rake, by Burrows, of ;Malvern' was won
by Private Winkworth, who made 21
marks in his
seven shots at 600 yards.
For a cup, value £5 53.,
given by the Rev. J. Knopp chaplain to the
corps, seven shots at 500 yards were
to be fired ;
Sergt. Chestle, Lieut, Grant and private ile'Cheane
tied the winner, but in shooting- off, Sergt. Chestle
won the first prize, and Lieut. Grant the second.
.A
ladies' prize, value £lO, was wen by
Sergt. Caplin,
12th Hants, with 38 marks. Of a prize of £5 55.,
the gift of Ensign Davis r
(seven shots at 300 yards),
Private Winkworth was the
winner with 20 marks.
On Monday a grand display of the
Volunteers of
the counties of Anglesey and Carnarvon was made at
Holyhead, and a friendly engagement took place be-
tween them and the seamen and marines of her Ma-
jesty's ship Majestic, 80 guns, supported by the can-
non of their ship. An immense concourse of people
assembled from all parts of the northern counties, and
on the grand stand were attionm others the Bishops
of Oxford and Bangor, Cal
Pen-
nant, M.P., Sir R. W. 80. the 'ion. E. G. I).
ikeley, M.P., &c, The
force consisted of a brigade of artillery and another
of infantry, the whole commanded by Major the
Hon. W. 0. Stanley, M.P.The companies forming
the artillery brigade
Where the Ist and 2d Anglesey
(Holyhead), the 3d (Beaumaris), and the
Carnarvon company. The infantry brigade consisted
of the Bangor and Carnarvon
Rifles, and two Anglesey
com-
panies from the Peerhyn quarries. Special trains
conveyed the troops
to Holyhead by 12 o'clock, and
from the railway station they marched to the market
halt, appropriately decorated for the occasion, where
a substantial repast had been
provided by Mrs. Stan-
ley. The dispositions
for action were then made as
follows:--On the railway a 4 gun battery was posted,
with its face towards the sea; half-way up the hill
another 2 gun battery, directly behind the other;
and on the road two field
pced, so as to meet any
ieces, worked by the Ist
placed, Anglesey Corps, Were
attempt at turning the other batteries by a funkmovement. Between the road and the two-gun
battery the infantry brigade was massed. Shortly
after 3 o'clock the
gaps of the Majestic, which lay
some half mile from the beach, gave the signal of
battle, and 807C11 boats, fully equipped, darted ra-
pidly towards shore. A brisk cannonade was kept
up between the ship and the batteries, till it was
seen that the attacking party would make their first
attempt at landing near the creek on the left flank.
A flying battery of Capt. Rigby's 2d Anglesey Ar-
tillery was hurried along the railway upon trucks
drawn by a steam engine, and arrived in time to
open fire on the marines landing from the boats.
The marines, however, compelled the 2d Anglesey
to hurry off at express speed, and commenced a
movement for possessing themselves of the road
running up from the creek. They were met by
the Ist Anglesey, who worked their two field
pieces in creditable style, but ultimately the marines
succeeded in gaining the crest of the hill, driving
the artillery before them. The blue-jackets of the
Majestic, having supported the landing of the
Marines, passed in their boats to the right flank of
the four-gun battery, and effected a landing on a
spot partially covered by a knoll of rising ground.
Here they formed, and, led by Captain Inglefield,
ran on to the battery, pistols and cutlasses in hand.
but were driven back twice by the heavy fire poured
upon them. Meanwhile the Marines on the crest
of the hill advanced towards the two-gun battery
under a heavy tire from the rifles posted behind
the walls on each side of the advance, and com-
pelled the 2d Anglesey Artillery, in charge of
the battery, to retire. The two guns being now
worked by the enemy made the position of the
four-gun battery below untenable, so that, on the
third attack of the seamen, the artillery broke and
fled. A lull of half an hour succeeded, during
which the Volunteers rallied, and a plan
of attack was formed. The field pieces, supported
by the Rifles, advanced on the two- gun battery,
and re-took it from the Marines, who retired in
good order towards the four-gun battery, closely
followed by thy Lilies, whose filo•tring was Tory