The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-29 00:00:00

THE CAMP AT aIIOBHAM COMMON.

Lxperientia docet, and perhaps after yesterday the
public will not be so ready to rush off to Chobham upon
the faith of parties promising them all sorts of evolutions
on certain days. Thousands visited the camp, and all
the roads leading to it were as crowded with carriages
and pedestrians as upon any day since it has been formed,
always excepting that of the Queen's visit. It is need-
less to say that the whole of the force were in as quies-
cent a state as even the Peace Congress could have de-
sired. And in spite of the anxiety which the assemblage
manifested to witness the least evolution, the authorities
in the camp seemed inexorable, and not a man stirred
beyond the lines, except to saunter about the heath. It
was confidently expected that the pontoon practice
would have been commenced yesterday at Virginia
Water, and at that place also a very considerable atten-
dance of ladies and gentlemen were present, though, un-
like the parties upon the common, the majority of these
visitors were of the higher ranks, and included many
members of the beau ntor de. Of course they were like-
wise disappointed about the arrival of the troops, though
the inspecaon of the pontoon-bridge, which has been
thrown across the water, repaid them in some degree for
the long journey, which would otherwise have been un-
der taken in vain.
It is now some two weeks since 140 men of the Sap-

pers and Miners pitched their tents near Virginia
Water, and commenced mal-ing preparations for throw-
ing over the pontoon-bridge. Had all the materials
been upon the spot it would have been accomplished in
20 minutes at the m ost ; but the delay was caused by
the whole of the complicated apparatus being in store
at Chatham, from whence it ha i to be forwarded in de-
tail. AR the visitor enters the grounds of Virginia
Water from the Wheatsbeaf, the bridge is about 100
yards down a kind of inlet, which stretches from the
main body of water on the right hand side.
The first impression which it makes, as you see it in
the distance lying like a pathway of timber over a series
of apparently ugly boats, is unfavourable ; and one can-
not help oinking that it is but a rough and clumsy
contrivance after all, and one which reflects little credit
upon the inventive faculties of the officers of the Royal
Engineers. But this opirion is only momentary, and
soon gives way before a more minute inspection, when
the admirable fitness of the means employed to bring
about a certain end strike even the most casual observer.
It is impossible to imagine any mechanical contrivance
more suited to its purpose, or one which could be made
when fixed to combine in a higher degree the essentials
of unyielding strength, great lightness, and perfect
flexibility.
As, for the future, most of the evolutions of the troops
will be confined to pontoon operations, we shall, in order
to make future descriptions intelligible to our non-mili-
tary readers, endeavour to convey some idea of what a
pontoon is, and how a pontoon-bridge is formed in a few
minutes, so as to enable the largest armies in Europe to
cross some of its widest and most rapid streams. A pon-
toon is a hollow cylinder, about 20 feet long and nine in
circumference—lined, in most instances, with a thin
casing of wood, about an inch thick, and covered care-
fully upon the outside with sheet-copper, the edges of
which are firmly rivetted together. In comparison with
its size its weight is a mere trifle, and therefore, as a
matter of course, its powers of buoyancy are very great.
On its outer surface there are a number Of rings and
bars set in the copper for the purpose of allowing the
rafts to be lashed to it, while upon either end of the
apno
dn tsomo na itselfll str e
aamr e a
ns terhoon
were, fore and aft, in the centre of rapid rivers. Two of
tt oo
mw ho iocrh
it,cables
as i t
rgs amreetaatltarichgeds,
these pontoons having been placed at the required dis-
tance, a timber raft, about 12 feet broad and 12 feet
long, made of strong planks, is placed upon it, and firmly
secured in its position, so as to form a little bridge, of the
length we have mentioned, and rising by the buoyancy of
the pontoons about three feet from the surface of the
water. When a general is about to effect the passage
of a river by means of these pontoons the Sappers and
Miners, who always have charge of them, form a number
of these rafts in the manner we have indicated. and when
the materials are at hand in the course of about seven
minutes. Six privates of the Sappers and Miners, and
one corporal in charge, to steer, is appointed to every
raft, which is fitted at each outermost side with three
rowlocks. When these preparations arc completed, the
first raft, supported at both ends by a pontoon, is pushed
out into the river, where the men in charge of it, from
long practice, manage and direct its course with the ease
of a little wherry. The proper situation having been
reached, the stream anchors are instantly thrown out,
and the first raft is firmly secured by stakes and ropes
to the shore of the river. By the time this has been
effected the next raft has been anchored in its place, and
the crew (if we may use the expression) of the first raft
instantly proceed to bolt the plankings of the first and
second rafts together ; the men upon the second being
similarly employed in securing their raft to the third,
and so on. In this manner a perfect bridge is formed
with a rapidity that is almost beyond belief. Some idea
may be given of the marvellous celerity of this work,
when we state that a pontoon bridge, capable of trans-
porting acrosa an army of 100,000 men, with all their
heavy baggage and artillery, could be thrown across the
Thames at Greenwich in the space of about half an hour ;
that at Virginia Water, which is 360 feet in length and
about 12 in width, can be carried across in something
less than 20 minutes, and pulled to pieces and packed
upon the waggons in the course of 30 minutes more.
To prevent the fire of an enemy's cannon from taking
much effect, each of the metal pontoons are subdivided
inside into seven distinct water-tight compartments, so
that should they be struck and two of each of the com-
partments staved in (a very likely mishap when the p:., -
sage of a river is disputed), it barely makes the difference
of an inch and a half in the rise of the pontoon from the
water. The bridge used at Virginia Water is composed
of the pontoons of Blanchard and Paisley, but the differ-
ence between the two is merely nominal—those of Blan-
chard being cone shaped at the terminations, and those
of Pasley round. It is arranged in what is called the
"intermediate" order, that is, for the passage of the
general baggage of an army, with artillery and calvary.
When thus disposed (and it is rarely used otherwise)
each pontoon is moored 8 feet 4 inches apart. In open
order, for the passage of infantry only, they are placed
12 feet apart ; while in close order, for the transporta-
tion of the very heaviest descriptions of baggage, they
are moored at intervals of about one foot, or some-
times 18 inches. But this latter mode is so seldom
used as to render the very term " close order" for
pontoons nearly obsolete in military or engineering
tactics. As we have said, the bridge at Virginia
Water is formed in intermediate order ; but even this,
owing to the strong timber supports, eight in num-
ber, which are secured under the planking of each raft,
is sufficient to bear the weight of a heavy breaching
train of artillery, or even of 68-pounder guns ; 15 rafts,
each having two pontoons, are used in this bridge, the
whole of which has been carried across under the super-
intendence of Colonel Jones and Captain Ross of the
Royal Engineers. Upon the southern bank of the lake
a deep road has been cut for about 50 feet in the turf,
leading to the bridge, as it was found to have too steep
an incline to permit of artillery being brought down it.
Beyond this trifling alteration, the beautiful velvet ap-
pearance of the grass around is uninjured. Yesterday
evening General Lord Seaton rode over from the camp
to inspect the bridge, with which we believe he expressed
the highest satisfaction.
The troops at Chobham will parade to-day at ten
o'clock, and we believe will immediately afterwards march
to Virginia Water, there to commence the pontoon exer-
cise. Fifteen rounds of ammunition per man were served
out yesterday evening for this purpose.
A party of the Life Guards were also sent out for the
purpose of inspecting the roads, and reporting upon the
best way to be pursued for the passage of the forces from
Chobham to Virginia Water.
The exercise was to commence, we believe, at Virginia
Water at eleven.