The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-17 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The large flying column which left Aldershott for
Woolt uer Forest on the Ist inst., under the command

of Major-Gen. Russell, returned to camp on Friday
the 14th, the command in the meantime—owing to
the temporary leave of Gen. Russell—having been
assumed by Major-Gen. Hodge, C. 8., commanding
the Cavalry Brigade. On Monday last we traced
the proceedings of the column from the time of their
departure from camp to the previous Saturday. We
now resume the narrative. On Sunday the men at-
tended Divine service, and the temporary camping
ground was visited by a large number of strangers.
On Monday the column marched out to Selborne,
about six miles distant. On Tuesday the 24th Regi-
ment and the U battery, Royal Horse Artillery,
quitted the column and returned to quarters at
Aldershott. On Wednesday, at 8 a.m., when the
men were engaged in a variety of pursuits about
the camp, an alarm was suddenly sounded. In an
instant every man returned to his tent, and in seven
minutes all had fully dressed, armed, and formed
up—a celerity highly creditable to the spirit of the
men and the training which they have undergone.
The whole force then marched out several miles in
skirmishing order and executed several movements
with great efficiency. On Friday the column left
Woolmer at about a quarter to 7 in the morn-
ing and arrived in Aldershott at half past 10, the
2d battalion 60th Rifles leading the van at a
hour.
The pace well on to four miles an onr
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3d
Regiment took up position in D,
bineers and 13th
G, and H lines,
North Camp; and the 6th Cara
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Al-
dershot for Sandhurst, as briefly recorded in The
Sun of Monday last. It consistßerdigoafdteheßylosta(lßoya
(Royal)
Dragoons, the B Battery 4th
Artil-
lery, and the 59th, 73d, and 87th Regiments, and
was under the command of Brigadier-General
Bates. The column marched from the North
Camp, at 7 o'clock a.m., in the direction of Farn-
borough, where they crossed the South-Western
Railway-bridge, and advanced along the level road
to Sandhurst. The column halted for a short in-
terval at about midway between Aldershot and
Sandhurst, and arrived at the latter place shortly
before noon. Skirting the Staff and Cadet Col-
leges and passing along a narrow road, the troops
soon found themselves on a large open space at a
considerable elevation above the surrounding coun-
try. Here tents were pitched, the troops taking up
positions in the following order,—the artillery and
cavalry were in the centre facing the north, the 59th
Regiment oa the right, the 73d and 87th Regiments
on the left, the Military Train a little in the rear,
and, also in the rear, and on an eminence command
ing a view of the entire encampment, was the tent
of the General in command. On Sunday the men
formed for church parade, one of the camp chap-
lains officiating. On Monday they turned out for
a field-day, and marched to Blackwater-common,
where a variety of interesting mat. ceuvres were gone
through. An enemy was supposed to be march-
ing on the camp from the direction of Odiham ;
lines of skirmishers were thrown out, supported
by artillery ; and the infantry forming up in
columns of regiments, and deploying into line,
effectually checked the advance of the enemy. The
cavalry then charged to the front and pursued the
recreating foe ; and after a variety of other interest-
ing and well-executed movements the engagement
was terminated by a rattling volley from the artil-
lery and infantry, which completely routed the in
veders and drove them back discomfited and dis-
ordered. In the afternoon of the same day, after
the troops had returned to Sandhurst, the whole of
the encampment was inspected by Lieut.-Gen. Sir
J. L. Pennefather and Staff. On Tuesday morning
the infantry went through the operations of strik-
ing and pitching tents, which they accomplished
with praiseworthy celerity ; and in the afternoon the
infantry sent out outlying pickets, while the cavalry
threw out vedettes, penetrating five or six miles into
the surrounding country. On Wednesday the Royal
Dragoons returned to Aldershott, taking up the
quarters in the East Cavalry Permanent Barracks,
recently erected by the 12th Lancets. On Thurs-
day and Friday active field operations were again
resumed, and the troops are under orders to return
to Aldershot to-day, to encamp on Cove-common.
On Friday the G battery, Royal Horse Artillery,
under the command of Major Newton, and the G
battery, Royal Artillery, under Captain Byrne, lest
Aldershot, the former for. Woolwich and the latter
for Shorncliffe. On Saturday the-76th Regiment,
under Colonel Brewster, removed from the quarters
recently occupied by them in the permanent bar-
racks, to Cove-common, where they are now sta-
tioned under canvass.