The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-21 00:00:00

THE CAMP AT CIIOBHAM COMMON.

At length a favourable change in the weather has
permitted the troops to depart from that state of inglo-
rious rest in which for several days they had most un-
willingly indulged, and to satisfy their military ardour
in the search for laurels on • the bloodless heather of the
plains of Chobham. The four days of repose, damp and
uncomfortable though they have doubtless been, which
the present forces have enjoyed since their arrival, do
not appear to have been lost on them, if we may judge
from the manner in which they went through their evo-
lutions yesterday and the previous day. So far from
their energies having been damped, by the continuous
rain, the showers of Chobham appear only to have invi-
gorated their spirits, and made them, like " giants re-
freshed," ready for the performance of any duty. We
do not pretend to that amount of technical knowledge
in military details which would enable us to form an
accurate critical judgment as to the relative merits of
the present or the former troops, nor would it be fair
to compare the performances yesterday or on the pre-
vious day with the more finished evolutions of the pre-
vious division. The predecessors of the present forces
presented an admirable example of discipline and effi-
ciency, and in the opinion of persons competent to
form an opinion on the subject, the troops now on the
ground are not one whit behind them in any respect.
Certainly, the manner in which the troops went throng h
their movements yesterday was satisfactory in the ex-
treme, and won the applause and admiration of the
spectators as well professional as non-professional. Apart
from the detailed movements yesterday, the whole plan
of the operations was conceived and carried out with
the ability of a master mind, and with an amount of
strategic knowledge equal, if not superior, to anything
which Lord Seaton had yet devised. The enemy were
to be driven from a strong position, partially repulsed,
and, forming under cover of a thickly-wooded planta-
tion, they were to beat back the whole of the attacking
forces.

The 'means by which this feat was accomplished,
we now propose to state. The enemy consisted of a
company of the 23d Fusiliers, forming the left wing ; a
company of the Scots Fusiliers, in white fatigue dress, in
the centre, and a detachment of the Sappers and Miners
on the right. They were formed in a strong position,
on the verge of the common, near the site of the old
encampment. The earlier part of the movements was
confined to attacks of the cavalry, several most beautiful
movements being gone through. The brigade of
Guards having commenced the attack, had fallen back,
when the cavalry formed in two lines—the Blues and
Scots Greys in the first, and the Hussars and Light
Dragoons in the second line—moved forward. The
whole body of cavalry pressed forward in most
beautiful order en echelon of regiments, and, re-
tiring, formed line in rear of the infantry. Colonel
Lockyer's brigade, consisting of the 79th, 88th, and
97th, checked the progress of the advancing enemy, ,
while the cavalry were forming in their rear, and, falling
back, were covered in their retreat by another splendid
movement of cavalry, which advanced en double echelon
of squadrons from the centre. In this movement the
Scots Greys were remarkable for the precision with
which they moved forward, while their scarlet uniforms
and grey horses gave them, not only a military, but an
exceedingly picturesque appearance. The martial and
soldierlike appearance of the Blues was also much ap-
plauded. After this advance, the cavalry retired to
the rear of the infantry, and continued changing
their front, and marching and counter-marching, in
conformity with their movements. At length each
brigade, having formed line, and poured some tremendous
volleys into the enemy, retired and took ground to the
left, for the purpose of attacking the enemy's right, and
of turning their flank, under cover of the plantation
which skirts the edge of the common. The 35th Regi-
ment attempted to penetrate the wood, but the enemy,
extending their right, first obtained possession of the
stronghold, and were enabled to keep the 35th at bay,
who contented themselves with skirting the outside in
single file, firing as they advanced. The brigade of
Guards on the left had in the meantime passed along the
Chobham road, intending to surprise the enemy at the
rear of the wood, while in the centre a demonstration
was made by the Artillery and Bth Hussars, and posses-
sion taken of a small cottage for the purpose of securinc,
the retreat. The Hussars had just emerged from the
boundaries of the wood when they surprised the enemy in
the rear, and, attacking them, created a temporary panic
among them. Speedily rallying, however, the uncon-
querable Fusiliers advanced on the Hussars, who, hav-
ing picketed their horses, were advancing on foot to
meet them, and compelled them to remount after an in-
effectual fire, and protected by the Horse Artillery, to
seek the shelter of the small cottage and garden. While
the enemy were thus successful on their left, the right
and centre emerged from the wood and drove the 35th
before them in most admired disorder, although protected
in their retreat by some of the guns of the Horse Artil-
lery, which were dragged up to the summit of one of the
heights, and brought to bear on the advancing enemy.
On the extreme left of the attacking party, the brigade
of Guards had missed the main body of the enemy, and,
after firing a few shots among the stragglers, fell back.
The whole army was now in full retreat, pursued by the
avenging enemy, and covered by the cavalry. Once or
twice the cavalry showed a disposition to charge on the
advancing foe, but, for prudential reasons, no doubt,
declined the task. Col. Lockyer's brigade formed on
one of the ranges of hills, and after vainly attempting to
resist their fate, continued their retreat. The last move-
ments of the cavalry consisted in retiring by columns of
squadrons from the left, covered by the skirmishers of
each regiment, and supported by two squadrons of the
Blues. At length they passed over the hill as though
doggedly not to yield the palm of victory, and the artil-
lery thundering forth a final salute from the flanks of the
2d light brigade permitted the infantry regiments to form
in column and retire from the field. The enemy col-
lected their three miniature divisions, and, satisfied with
the honours they had achieved, marched quietly back to
their respective camps, where they arrived about three
o'clock, having been on the ground for upwards of four
hours.
The operations of the previous day were confined to
the same spot of ground as those of yesterday, and
were remarkable for several very splendid charges made
by the cavalry. During one portion of the day the
enemy were posted in considerable strength on the sum-
mit of a steep eminence, from which all previous attempts
to dislodge them had been fruitless. The Horse Guards
and the Scots Greys, however, advancing furiously up
the hill, reached the top, and nearly rode down the enemy,
sabreing and dispersing them in every direction, to the
great amusement of the spectators, and the no small
alarm of the enemy, who, by the rapidity of their move-
ments, evidently thought their adversaries were carrying
matters beyond a joke. The really effective manner in
which the whole of the cavalry manoeuvred on this their
first trial, and upon ground still wet from the effects of
the recent heavy rains, and unknown to the men,
was matter of considerable surprise to the field
officers.

During the first few days, the horses, as might be
expected, were somewhat restive in their al fresco
stalls ; they are now, however, perfectly reconciled to
their new state of things, and we are not aware of any
accident which has occurred to the animals from
"staking," or from those other causes which interfered
to some extent with the comforts of the former troopers.
Yesterday a corporal in the Bth Hussars, while mounted
on the field, received a severe kick from one of the
horses in the front rank, which broke his leg, and com-
pelled him to be carried off the field on a litter. This is
the only accident which has yet happened to the troops
at present on the ground.
The Sappers and Miners are, we believe, to be relieved
to-morrow. They have now been in camp for upwards
of eight weeks, and the hard and laborious duties which
they have performed, in all weathers, fairly entitle them
to the same relief as has been accorded to the other por-