The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-20 00:00:00

SIEGE OPERATIONS AT CHAT.

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CHATHAM, Tu 44.:sesnza_eetfair
The siege operations which have been for a cci "4&eriesk's
able time in preparation at this place, came off to-da
Chatham lines, in the presence of his Royal Highness tUi
Duke of Cambridge, General Commanding-in-Chief.
The whole of the troops who were to take part in the -
operations were paraded at their respective barracks
shortly after 10 o'clock—the provisional battalion being •
under the command of Col. H. Jervis and Lieut.-Cob R.
N. Phillips, the Royal Marines under the command of
Col. A. Phillips, and the Royal Engineers commanded
by Col. H. Sandham, who had the immeiia.te direction
of the various operations of the day, the whole being un-
der the command of Col. H. Eden, commandant of the
garrison.
At 12 o'clock the troops, headed by their bands,
marched to the ground at the rear of Brompton Barracks, •
where they were formed into divisions and parties, for
the purpose of carrying out the movements. The storm-
ing party, which consisted of 120 troops of the line, was
placed under the command of Capt. G. E. L. Walker,
Royal Engineers. This party, provided with their sealing
ladders, took up their position near Prince Henry's
bastion, the operations intended to be carried out com-
prehending an attack on the Redan works and Prince •
Henry's b tstion, including the destruction of theanines,
galleries, and stockades which had been constructed by
the Royal Sappers and Miners. Tne remainder of the
troops took up their positions in the doub e sap, the
single sap, and the great' gallery, protected by covering
parties. Two mortars were placed ;n the batterita, four
guns in lobe second parallel, and one in the lodgment, the
whole ot the guns being manned by the Royal Marines.
Each of the men was furnished with 30 rounds of am-
munition.
The Dake of Cambridge arrived at Strood shortly be-
fore 12, attended by Major Clifton, and accompanied by
General Sir J. F. Burgoyne, G.C.E., InepectoaGeneral
of Fortifications. His royal highness proceeded directly
to the lines, on reaching which a royal salute of 21 guns
was fired from the batteries at Fort Amherst.
After leaving Brompton barracks the duke proceeded
to Prince Henry's bastion, where his royal highness took
up a position commanding a complete view of the whole
operations. A large number of spectators had assembled,
notwithstanding the rain which had fallen all the morn-
ing, but fortunately the weather cleared up at 1 o'clock.
The operations were commenced by a party of sol-
diers belonging to regiments of the line advancing to-
wards the right face of Prince Henry's bastion. These •
troops were provided with a number of sealing-ladders, •
and on their arrival at Prince Henry's bastion a portion
of the advance division commenced scaling the escarp,
against which their ladders were placed, whilst a
similar party were engaged scaling the counterscarp,
the whole being protected by a covering party formed
on the crest of the glacis to the right and left of the
escalading party. in a veiy short time the ditch
sarroundiug the works was crossed by the escalading
party, and on the troops of the line arriving within the
bastion, followed by the covering party, the whole were
re-formed by Captain Walker, after which they re-
crossed the ditch in reverse order, led by the covering
party, which took up its former position on the crest of
the glacis, and was followed by the counterscarp esca-
lading party, who drew their ladders after them from the
ditch, and grounded them at the foot ot the glacis. The
escarp ladder patty afterwards followed, bringing their
scaling ladders across the ditch, and, after ascending the
counterscarp, formed their ladders into second line at the
foot of the glacis, where they were left. This operation
was performed in a highly creditable manner, and ap-
peared to be witnessed with much satisfaction by the
Duke of Cambridge and suite. The troops were after-
wards Moved to the left of the attack, by Capt. Walker,
and posted in the parallels and advanced works and
lodgments, in conjunction with the other troops of the
garrison already distributed in tho <e positions.
Whilst these operation.; were being carried on the
troops of the Royal Sappers and Miners were engaged
in completing the double sap, the great descending gal-
lery, and two sieglesaps, which were being constructed so
as to approach each other in completion of the third pag
retie], under the direction of Msjor C. H. Sedley, Lieut.
R. Bullen, and Ensign H. J. Junes. This portion of the
works having been reconnoitred, a tremendousfire opened
simultaneously from the whole of the batteries, parallels,
and rifle pits in which the troops were placed. This fire
lasted for some time until the troops were withdrawn
from the lodgment in front of the Redan, previously to
that portion of the works being blown up by a heavy
discharge of 1801bs. of gunpowder.
The destruction of this portion of the works was ef-
fected by means of the voltaic battery, in charge of Capt.
H. Y. D. Scott, Royal Eugineers, and the effect of the
explosion was exceedingly Striking. As soon as it was
considered sale, the lodgment was reoccupied by the
troops, and the right gun, which was not destroyed,
opened fire on the interior of St. Mary's hornwork, the
fire from the troops stationed in the parallels being con-
tinued, and the guns in the battery manned by the
troops belonging to the Royal Marines.
A portion of the Royal Sappers and Miners, under the
command of Lieut. Phillips, having formed a pontoon-
bridge at St. Mary's Creek, the rafts were rowed up
under the right bank of the creek, and across the mouth
of St. Mary's ,hornwork. As soon as this bridge was
constructed, a party of Sappers, under the command of
Capt. F. Brine, and Lieut. A. T. Storer, each provided
t;th bags of gunpowder, and also with bags of sand for
tamping, advanced from the lodgment on the extreme
right of the attack, followed by a party of 100 of the
troops belonging to the provisional battalion, and having
crossed the pontoon•bridge, proceeded along the glacis
in front of the hornwork until they reached the stockade,
which had been ;constructed by the troops belonging to
the Royal Engineers. The Sappers then placed their
bags of powder against the stockade, and retired,
immediately on which the fuse was ignited by Captain
Brine, and the stockade destroyed by means of 12,01b5.
of gunpowder, the huge baulks of timber of which
it was mainly! composed being rent asunder and blown
to a considerable distance into the air. As soon as
the troops und:r the command of Capt. Brine had eva-
cuated the lodgateets, a party of Sappers and Miners, •
under the command of Lieut. E. Mitchell, protected by
Gen. Blanshard's iron niantlets, advanced from the lodg-
ments, and forined on the crest of the glacis, for the pur-
pose of covering a party of Sappers told off to form ano-
ther pontoon bridge with Gen. Blanshard's infantry pon-
toons. This bridge was very rapidly formed across the
wet ditch of the right branch of St. Mary's hornworks,
and an escalading party pushed for ;yard across it, which
operation having been effected two lad lers were estab-
lished against the counterscarp, for the formation of the
bridge, and also two ladders against the escarp, rest-
ing on the head of the bridge. The escalade having bcon
effected the men entering the works immediately let
down the drawbridge Lr tne passage of the troops.
Whilst the above operations were being performed
another escalading party, under the cemmaud of Lieut.
W. C. Anderson and Lieut. G. H. Brooke, moved out
from the right of the lodgment in front of the Redan,
and commenced escalading at that point of the fortifica-
tions where the embrasures of the ramparts crossed each
other. A party of Sappers, provided with crowbars and
axes, now advanced from the head of the pontoon bridge,
followed by the main body at the double, the advanced
party being required to clear away the breach made in •
the stockade, which had been exploded to enable the
troops to pass through. These operations having been
completed, and the troops having reached the insida of
the works, they were formed into contiguous columns,
after which the Royal Marines and the troops belonging
to the provisional battalion wore marched back to their
barracks.
His royal highness then proceeded to St. Mary's Creek,
for the purpose of witnessing the troops of the Royal Sap-
pers and Miners form a pontoon bridge, under the direc-
tion of Major F. C. Hassard, R.E. This was executed
very rapidly, and the bridge having been formed, it was
cut, re-formed, and dismantled, for the purpose of show-
ing the various operations required. A sub-aqueous dis-
charge of 100!be. of gunpowder was afterwards fired by
means of the voltaic battery, under the direction of Capt.
C. E. Cumberland ; the case being attached to several
baulk:: of timber which were sunk in St. Mary's Creek,
and the effects of the explosion were most complete.
The operations. which lasted for nearly 3 hours, having . •
terminated, the Dike of Cambridge expressed his appro-
bation of the whole proceedings, and honoured the offi-
cers of the Royal Engineers by partaking of lunch with
them, alter which his royal highness and suite returned
by railway to London.

SALE OF THE STO WE ESTATES.

We recently referred to the sale of some of the Stowe
estate property, surrounding this town, by Messrs. Harri-
son and Skin, and as we are now in possession of full parti-
culars, we give the bona fide biddinge and reserves. The
first lot was the Boycott estate, of 735 a. 2r. 19p., with a
rental of 1,0121. 17s. 3d. ; bona fide biddinga up to 20,5001.;
reserve, 27.5001. Lot 2, the Sackville estate, 311 a. Or. 23p. ;
rental, 753/. ; five bona fide bidders present, and the lot
I went up to 22,5001.; bought in at 24,0001. Lot 3, More.
ton Lodge, cottages, and land, 56a. 2r. 30p.; rental, 1851.
15s. ; biddings up to 4,000/. ; reserve, 4,9001. Lot 4,102 a.
3r. Lip. of land, farm-house, &c., and cottages, at Maids-
moreton ; the company was extremely fiat, and for this
no offer was made. Lot 5,20 a. 3r. 39p. of capital meadow
land in Buckingham, at a rental of 90/. ; no bidding. Lot
6, two dwelling-houses on the Market-hill, with la. 3r.
26p., at a rental of 57/. ; highest bidding,
950/. ; reserve,
1,4001. Lot 7, three houses Well-street,
and 2r. 37p. of
in
laud, at a rental of 321. Db. ; bought in at 3501. ; sold at
600/. Lot 8, four houses in Church-street, at a rentalt
9of
751. 108.; highest bidding, 8501.; reserve, 1,4501. iso
a house in Castle-street ; rental, 401.; offered,
in 5001. ; re-
serve, 8501. Lot 10, eight freehold housesChurch-
street, at a rental of 881. ; no bidding. Lot 11, two
in free-
hold houses Castle-street ; rental, 501. 103.; no bidding.
Lot 12, a capital house,
&c., in West-street, and the Lon-
don and County Bank, with 2a. 2r. 23p. of land; rental,
1001. (formeily the wetl-known " Cobham ; bid
dings
advanced up to 1,950/. ; reserve, 2,1501. Lot 13,
two houses in West-street, at a rental of 651. ; passed.
Lit 14, two ditto ditto, at a rental of 381.;no bidding
Lot 15,
t, -o capital houses and butcher's shop in West-
street; 1.2001. offered ; reserve, 1,150/. Lot 16, a farm at
Tingowic:L- and Preston, a small ditto at Preston, and s, ve-
nal cottages and closes, containing 164 a. 3r. 16p., at a ren-
tal, of 2,4.1. 155. ; no offer whatever. Lot 17, a farm at
Westcott, in the parish of Waddesdon, 70a. Ir. sp. ;' ren-
and
tal, I.
o 11s.;d
the biddings went up from 1,5001. to 2,200/.,
reserr at 2,350/. Lot 18, a farm at Ludgershall,
noir Bicester, containing 154 A. 2r. 32p., at a rental of
1,91. • this lot was put in at 4,0001., and was eventually
sold for 5,7,0/. Lot 19, 11a. 3r. 25p. of meadow land at
Brill, at a rental of 311. ; 7001. offered ; reserve, 9001.
This closed the sale. The above estates, 47.3., comprise
about 1,640 acres. prolueieg a total rental of 3,5001. per
num:lL-Bucks Herald.

SALE OF AUTOGRAPHS, &C.—Yesterday a vale of auto-
graph.let tete and other interesting documents took place
at the Auction rooms of-Messrs. ;Sotheby and Wilkinson,_
Wellington-Atreet, Stand, iitnong the property being
several interesting letters from Lord Nelson to Lady
Hamilton ; a sonnet in the autograph of Tasso ; the sig•
ratcre of the martyrs, Hooper r.rd Bradford,