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

'IHE ARMY.

A notification has been received at Chatham gar-
rison from the War Department to the effect that
the Secretary for War has caneellsd all circulars
and orders at present in force respecting the rules
of payment to be made by the War-office to civil
surgeons who at foreign stations are specially placed
in charge of troops or military invalids embarked
in vessels, other than contract mail packets, or ves-
sels required either by Act of Parliament, or under
the terms of the agreement with the Admiralty, to
carry qualified surgeons. An amended scale of rates
has been fixed to apply in all future cases, and the
Secretary of State desires that it may be understood
that a civil surgeon thus employed will have no
claim to be provided with a passage back to the sta •
tion at which he took over the medical charge of the
troops, nor to any sum beyond, the prescribed scale
for remuneration.

By direction of Field-Merbbal the Duke of Cam-
bridge a battery of Royal Artillery, with its guns,
is to be considered equiYfAlent to a regiment with its
colours, and is in all casks to be saluted accordingly.
In consequence of Vle Chatham division of Royal
Marines Light Infan cry being between 304 and 400
men below its proper establishment, orders have
been received from, the Marine•office, directing Capt.
C. L. T. Usher to, proceed from headquarters with a
recruiting party to the eastern counties, for the pur-
pose of raising the required number of men.
By direction of his Royal Highness the Duke of
Cambridge e. general order to the army, signed by
the Adjut.-Glen., has been promulgated, specifying
the terms and conditions under which grants of
land may 'be obtained by officers of the army in the
settlement of British Columbia. In future all field
officera of 25 years' service will be granted 600
acres. of land; field officers of 20 years' service, 500
acres; and field officers of 15 years' service, as well
as captains of 20 years' service, 400 acres ; captains
of "15 years' service and subalterns of 20 years' ser-
vice will be granted 300 acres; and subalterns of
seven years' service 200 acres.

Lieut.-Col. C. TI. Blunt, C,8., has joined the
head-quarters of the ltt division of the 11:pot Bri-
gade Royal Artillery, and has been posted to No. 4
battery.

The Royal Artillery brigades, officers and men,
were yesterday mustered on parade at Woolwich in
great coats, for the purpose of undergoing the Ge-
nerers half-yearly inspection.

Orders have been received by Col. Kennedy,
C. 8., commandant of the Military Train at the
camp, Woolwich, to hold in readiness the 4th bat-
talion, in command of Lieut.-Col. O'Brien, to em-
bark for New Zealand. The battalion consists of
260 of all ranks. They are expected to sail from
Gravesend in about 20 days hence. The 55th Regi-
ment of Foot are likewise stated to be under orders
for New Zealand.
The 12th Surrey or Kingston consolidated bat-
talion of Rifle Volunteers, in command of the Hon.
Valor Cochran, consisting of 203 non-commissioned
officers and privates, yesterday visited the Royal
Arsenal and dockyard at Woolwich, accompanied
by their own band. Special permission was obtained
by Col. 31‘31urdo from the War-office and the
Board of Admiralty, and every facility was afforded
1)37 the authorities for viewing the department dur-
ing the working hours.

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
from the immediate neighbourhood,
suburbs
of ghehbourhood, but from the
northernmostmetropolis. The force
consisted of a batter
t
y of horse artillery, under the
command of Lient.3 -
under Sergt. Coz ; ' of infantry, under
''a7 ; a squadron of light cavalry,
Capt. Davis, the battalion
whole being commanded by Capt.
.
Blockley. They arrived
1 o'clock, and immediatelyattacking
the scene of action about
and defending force.
Adjutant Potts, proceeded The tenelt,Y, under Capt. and
f
(11.vided into,an
the crests o
the hills towards the south.° occupy
ope-
rations by sending out their lighthey commenced
cavalry as a re-
connoitering party, but not succeedingin dra-sing
the defenders from their positiontinethe
be-
neath, they were replaced by N'al.iey
pany, thrown out as skirmishers. IZeine AP3I cow-
were speedily repulsed by the defend, e, however,
them.
selves drove them up the hill again. i‘il:',a.w.l2o niti-
selves outflanked, after sustaining % murderers
the enemy changed front and retired, hotly
In re,
by the defenders. They rallied, however,
aftertrse pursued
short pose, rind once more bravely attacked the
defending force, hut Lieut. Jay's artillery taming
up they were once more compelled to retreat and
retire into the grove, hotly contesting every step of
the enemy. At last, however, in the midet of a gall-
ing fire from all arms of the defenders, they found
their ammunition failing, and they were obliged to
pat an end to the battle by seliding out a flag of
truce. It is hardly necessary to say that the whole
of the movements were performed in the soldierly
way that always characterises the evolutions of the
Hon, Artillery Company, The light cavalry troop

charged in a manner that 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 ~,lunteer 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
once ordered his men to halt, arrange the hurdles
itt 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 we're 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, end 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 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, whu 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 ('apt. Hutchinson to the
sth Company, was won by Corporal Ellis with
32 marks at 1 .:0, 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 tho 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 334 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 Plat
Taylor. The who'e 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
plans 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 taoved 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, oa 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 parte 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
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' skirmisleers 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 fortnir,g rallying squares,
it was compelled to withdraw. The left and centre of
the attacking force now emerpavi into the open, de-
ployed into line, and advances at the double to storm
the lunette and attack the tentre and right wing of
the defenders. They were 'ee.ceived, however, by such
firing alone the whole
tremendous file and voioay
line of the defences thret they were compelled to re-
tire and reform before they could renew the attack.
They again advan'eed in direct echelon of wings,
and were again c/sa.rged by the cavalry, whom they
repelled by forrssing close columns of sections, and
by opening a yell sustained fire from the threatened
faces of the squares. On resuming their forward
movement, the right wing, v hich had hitherto been
concealed,' suddenly showed itself, and commenced a
vigoror,a attack on the left flank of the defenders,
who .eeere taken by surprise. While they were
mal'eing dispositions to meet this attack, the left and
o'sntre of the enemy advanced at the double, cap.
Lured the lunette, and compelled the whole line of
their opponents to retire. 'l'ho two forces were
now drawn up in opposing lines, and after a consi-
derable amount of vellty firing and file firing from
flanks of companies an armistice was under-
eciared. All the corps present then
forme
d and advanced in a
under-
stood to be
d review order with
great preeiSi"• They subsequently marched past
battalion moverneute, were
of a square and addressed
formed into three side.s
(„0",
who complimented
by Lieut.-Colonel
jenz open
dandquarter distance column, and, having
several useful
the troops highly, and
of the day. He
lent their aid in the proceedings
thanked those corps who had
then invited all the volunteers to eecept the hospi-
tality of the Barnet Corps, by whom preparations
on a liberal scale had been made.
Captain Du, Plat
nd for
Taylor replied on behalf of the invited corps, and
called for three cheers for Col. Wilkinsoninson
After couch eomplini
entary cheer-
ing on all sides, the volunteers piled arms, and camp
the Barnet corps.
fires having been lighted, proceeded to discuss the
) viands, served out by men told off for the purpose.