The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-16 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT,

The Devon County Volunteer Association, which
has been formed through the instrumentality of
Earl Fortescue, the Lord-Lieutenant of Devonshire,
and other noblemen and gentlemen, has announced
its intention of offering prizes of £lOO and down-
wards to be competed for in a short time, at some
eligible place in the county, by Volunteers con-
nected with the various corps in Devonshire and
elsewhere. A large muster of Volunteers and a
spirited competition are anticipated.
On Friday the 12th company of Somerset Rifle
Volunteers met at 'their parade-ground, Wivelis-
combe, and, headed by the band of the 3d Somer-
set Rifles, and accompanied by a large crowd,
marched to a field near the town, when Captain
Hancock, the captain of the corps, put them
through several evolutions, which were performed
in a highly creditable manner. After this the
ladies of the neighbourhood presented the company
with a set of musical instruments. The shops were
closed and business entirely suspended during the
afternoon. In the evening Capt. and Mrs. Hancock
gave a ball and supper to the Volunteers and their
friends, at which about 250 persons were present.
An inspection of the North Staffordshire batta-
lion of Rifle Volunteers—eight companies being
present—took place in Trentham-park on Tuesday
last, in presence of thousands of spectators from the
Staffordshire ,Potteries and Newcastle and adjoin-
ing places. The inspection was conducted by Col.
Buller, the colonel of the regiment, assisted by
Captain Buchanan, the adjutant. Each company
was accompanied by its band. As this is only
the second time the companies have been brought
together for battalion drill, the way in Which
they executed the various manoeuvres was highly
creditable to them, and frequently elicited ex-
pressions of admiration from the spectators. At
the close of the inspection the colonel, in addressing
the officers and men, said he had been quite taken
by surprise with respect both to the numbers pre-
sent and the efficiency to which they had attained,
and he should have the pleasing task of forwarding
to the Lord-Lieutenant of the county a flattering
report of their efficiency. The North Staffordshire
battalions of Rifles are a very fine body of men,
nearly of uniform height, and they looked remark-
able well on parade.
The 3d Battalion of the Sussex Rifle Volunteers,
comprising the following corps-Ist (Brighton),
2d (Cuckfield), 4th (Lewes), 7th (East Grinstead),
and 16th (Battle)—met, under the command of
Lieut.-Col. R. Moorsom, at Brantridge, near Bal-
comlee, the seat of Capt. Meek, the Commandant of
the '2d Sussex Corps. The battalion mustered very
strong, and at the conclusion of the drill the com-
manding officer expressed his approbation of the
way the men and officers had gone through their
evolutions. Each man had had 10 rounds of blank
ammunition served out to him, and the volley and
file firing, considering the short time the then have
had arms, was very good.
The 13th Kent Artillery Volunteer Corps (Sheer-
ness Dockyard), under the command of Captain
Robinson, Commandant of the corps, marched, for
the first time under arms, several miles up the island
on Monday, preceded by their band. The corps pre-
sented a very soldierlike appearance. They are
rnakicg excellent great-gun practice both with shot
and shells.
The Portsmouth Civil Service Volunteer Corps,
under the command of Mr. Sturdee, Assistant-
Master Shipwright of Portsmouth Dockyard, com-
menced their drill, under the instruction of Capt.
Rogan, R A., and Staff, in the dockyard, on Tues-
day evening. This corps, which is of quite recent
formation, already musters 256 effective members,
besides 30 Volunteers for the band.
The Volunteers of Hull, both Artillery and Rifles.
have been for the past few weeks actively pursuing
their drill, for:the purpose of being enabled to put in
a creditable appearance at the review at Hull on
Monday, the 27th inst., before Lord Wenlock, on
the occasion of the great demonstration then to take
place in connexion with the ceremony of the Mayor
of Hull (Mr. Pearson) giving to the town 27 acres
of land for a people's park. The Rifle Volunteers
of Hull now comprise five companies, with an ave-
rage of 70 men to each company. The whole of the
companies, with the exception of the last-formed