The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-28 00:00:00

THE CAMP AT CHOBITAM COMMON.

The first great movement of the camp took place yes.
terday. The whole division, consisting of the Cavalry
Brigade, the Royal Artillery, the Brigade of Guards,
and the regiments of the line, paraded in front of their
respective quarters at nine o'clock, and immediately
afterwards marched off, at a given signal from the Lieu-
tenant-General, to Chobham-ridges, an elevated tract of
moor-land running across the county of Surrey, about
four miles distant from the encampment.
With so much secrecy was the order for marching
observed, that the whole encampment was clear of troops
(with the exception of those necessarily remaining on
duty) before the serjeants and corporals on relief guard
at head-quarters were aware of the intended departure
of their comrades.

The spot destined for the rendezvous of the troops
is admirably adapted for the purpose. A gently un-
dulating plain, of some 130 acres in extent, is entered
by three several routes, all stretching towards the
camp and terminated by a high ridge of hills, known
as Chobham-ridges, the one of the greatest elevation
being familiarly called in the neighbourhood "High
Curley." Towards this point, as soon as the order for
marching was given, the several brigades moved. The
Generals having pressed into their service some stout
country boors to pilot the route through the ints icate by-
ways of the neighbourhood, there was little difficulty in
ascertaining the correct road. The several brigades took,
as far as possible, different routes. The Lieutenant-
General and his staff, with the Royal Artillery, the
17th Lancers, the Carabineers, and the Rifles, pro-
ceeded by the Bagshot road as far as the village of
Windlesham, and then turned off on to the moor-land,
which they entered about the same time with the
other regiments of cavalry, who had taken the
road by Burrow-hill and Hook-green. The brigade of
Guards marched by Chobhatn-place, and gained their
destined position about 11 o'clock. The regiments
of the line followed in their wake, and the movements
of all the troops were so arranged that those few spec-
tators who, having had previous intimation of the
Lieutenant-General's intentions, had reached " High
Curley" before the military, were gratified by the spec-
tacle of an army of 8,000 men all entering by different
routes upon one open plain at the same moment, and
directly in face of an opposing force.
Lord Seaton's idea on this occasion was to make
" High Curley" the point of attack. The supposed
enemy by whom the hill was invested was composed of
a company of the Royal Sappers, some farriers, a few
Guards, and a troop of Carabineers.
The signal for attack having been sounded, the Rifle
Brigade threw out skirmishers, and the brigade of "'-
Guards advanced in columns of companies. They were
met by a sharp fire from the supposed enemy, pd., after
ascending the hilt iiiew hundred yards, halted while the
batteries of the Foot Artillery opened upon the left
flank of the imaginary foe. Sheltered by the guns, the
Guards pressed onwards, and succeeded in making an
entry into the enemy's position. At the same moment
a splendid charge of cavalry was made on the right
flank of the supposed foe. The manner in which this
evolution was effected excited great admiration. The
overbearing force of the Household Brigade and the
dashing smartness of the Light Dragoons were shown to
remarkable advantage. The chargehavingbeen made, the
troops retired under shelter of the guns of the Horse Artil-
lery, which now in turn opened upon the enemy. The
main body of the army now advanced upon the heights,
first firing by companies and then charging in line. The
enemy was now supposed to be repulsed, and the posi-
tion they had occupied was taken by the besieging
troops.
The next movement, and perhaps the most interesting
to the spectator, was the retirement of the investing
army. The cavalry, after clearing the ground of strag-
glers, fOrmed in position upon the right of the be-
sieging army and retired. The Horse Artillery now
again came into action, and kept up a smart fire while
the troops retreated. At this juncture the two regi-
ments of Highlanders formed in line and took up a
position in the rear, to cover the retreat of the
infantry in advance, who retired on right of com-
panies. The Highlanders then threw their left sections
of companies back, in order to allow the retiring troops
to march through their lines. They then formed line in
succession, and retired, the whole division being covered
by rifle skirmishers, and flanked by the fire of the artil-
lery on the right. This movement was beautifully exe-
cuted. The precision of the troops and the readiness
with which they answered to the bugle call was really
something wonderful. The evolutions lasted nearly three
hours, and at their close each regiment formed up in
sections of fours, and marched homewards to the camp,
the routes being varied, so that no brigade returned by
the road it had arrived.
In consequence of the early hour at which the troops
left the camp, they were accompanied by very few per-
sons. The straggling hamlets of the district sent forth
a few wondering peasants, but, comparatively speaking,
the number of spectators at the review was very incon-
siderable. This fact, together with the wild and lonely
character of the spot, gave to the operations an air of
reality which has not attended any of the previous
mili-
tary exhibitions in connection with the camp.
Among the noblemen and gentlemen present we re-
marked the Earl of Cardigan, who is a constant at-
tendant at the camp, the Earl of Listowel, Mr.
Robarts, &c.
The troops returned to the camp about half-past
three o'clock, and before four the detachments were
discussing with keen appetite the ordinary 'rations of a
soldier's dinner.
It is understood. there will be no great display at the
camp to-day. The Wellington encampment, at Vir-
ginia-water, where the pontoon-train is to be brought
into use, will not be in readiness for nearly a week.
To-morrow, it is said, her Majesty will again visit the
camp, accompanied by a great military authority—his
Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia. Rumour points
to the scone of yesterday's operations (Chobliam-ridges)
as the locality which will be occupied by the troops on
this occasion.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge will, it
said, shortly resign the command of the brigade of
cavalry. His Royal Highness will be succeeded by
Major-General Jackson, an officer of high distinction.

CRICKET.

KENT v. ENGLAND.

This great annual contest was commenced at Lords'
yesterday, when, notwithstanding the unpropitious wea-
ther, there was a large attendance of spectators.
England, having won the toss, wont to the wicket in
the first instance, commencing with Mr. Nicholson and
Dean. The total of this innings was 113. This was not
a very large number, and some of the betting men who
had been backing England began to consider, therefore,
whether it. might not be wise to get off a little. We did
not, however, hear, of any counter-bets being made.
But we were told at the close of the day that some of
those who wero heaviest upon England felt themselves
somewhat more comfortable as to the state of their books
when they had compared the respective scores of the con-
tending parties. Kent in due time went to the wicket,
and, what with their difficulty in playing the slow bowl-
ing, and the running out, their total, when " time" was
called, with one wicket to go down only, was but 82.
the total score at this period stood as follows :

F:rst Inr,ngs

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