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

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SIEGE OPERATIONS AT

CHATHAM. Toni:l4lVA LI
The siege operations whichhave been for a cotisider-
able time in preparation at this place, came off to-day oa
Chatham lines, in the presence of his Royal Highness the .
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.-Col. R.
N. PhillipS, the Royal Marines under the command of
Col. A. Phillips, and the Royal Engineers commanded
by Col. 3. Sandham, who had the immediate 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 rnoveinente. •Tne storm-
ing party, which consisted of 120 troops of the line, was
placed under the command of Capt. G. E. L. Wllker,
Royal Engineers. This party, provided with their scaling
ladders, took up their position near Prince Henry's
bastion, the operations intended to be carried out corn-
nrehending an attack on the Redan works and Prince
Henry's bastion, including the destruction• of the miner:,
galleries, and stockades which had been constructed by
the Royal Sappers and Miners. Tee remainder of the
troops took up their petitions in the double sap, tb:e
single sap, and the great g.llery, protected by cover'eog,
parties. Two mortars were placed in the batteries,
guns in Sta. second parallel, and one in the lodgmene the
whole ot the guns being manned by the Royal Ms
Each of the men was furnished with 30 rounds of am.
munition. '
The ,Duke of Cambridge arrived at Strood t ihortly be-
fore 12, attended by Major Clifton, and acorn npanied by
General Sir J. F. Burgoyne, G.C.13., InsTeetetor-General
of Fortifications. His royal highness proceeded directly.
to the lines, on reaching which a royal fe elute of 21 guns
was fired from the batteries at Fort AID herst.
After leaving Brompton barracks al a duke proceeded
to Prince Henry's bastion, where his royal highness- took
up a position commauding a cornplet a view of the whole
operations. A large number of spect tors had assembled,
ntithstanding the rain which ha .1 fallen all the morn-
i but fortunately the weather °Jeered up at 1 o'clock.
operations were commeoced 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 scaling-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 very short time 'the ditch
surrounding the works was crossed by the escalading
party, and on the troops of the line arriving Within the
baseion, followed by the covering party, the whole were
re-',ormed by Captain Walker, after which they re-
crossed the ditch inereverse 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 of the glacis: The
escarp ladder-party afterwards followed, bringing Weir
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 es p.
peared to be witnessed with much satisfaction by the
Duke of Cambridge and suite. The troops were akar-
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 ofeehe
garrison already distributes in these positions.
Whilst these operations 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 siugle sops, which were being constracteekso
as to approach each other in cOmpleti of the third pail
ralfel, under the direction of Meier C. H. Sedley,
R. Bullen, and Ensign H. J. Jones. This portion of the -
works having been reconnoitred, a ,renrendous fire Opened
simultaneously from the whole of tlae.batteriee, parallels,
and rifle pits in which the troops were placed. This fire
lasted for some time until, the- troops were withdrawn
from the iodgmordin front of the Redan, previously to
that portion of the works being bldwn" up by a heavy
discharge of 1801bs. of gunpowder.
The destruction of this portion of the woiks was ef-
fected by means of the voltaic battery, in charge of Capt.
H. Y. D. Scott, Royal Engineers, and the effect of the „
explosion was exceedingly striking. AS soon as it was
considered safe, the lodgment was reoccupied by the
troepe, and the, right gun, which. was, not destroyed,
opened &e'en the interior of St. Mary's hornwork, the
fire from the troops stationed.iii the parallels being cork.
tinned, and the guns in the battery manned by the
troops belonging to the IlOyal Marines.
A portion of the Royal Sappers ant Miners, mid( r
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 month
of Et. 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
evith bags of gunpowder; and also-with bags of sand for
tamping, advanced from the lodgment ou the extreme
right ot the attack, followed by a party of 100 of the
troops belonging to the provisional battalion, and having
crossed the puotoon•bridge, proceeded along the glacis
in front of the horn work until they reached the stockade,
which had been ,constructed. by the troop.; belonging 'to
the Royal Engineers. The Sappers then placed their
bags of powder against the stockade, and retired,
immediately on which the fuse was iguiLed by Captain.
Brine, and the stockade destroyed by means of 120 lbs.
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 under the command of Capt. Bride had eva-
coated the lodgneuts, a. party of Sappers and ' Miners,
under the command of Lieut. E. Mitchell, protected by
Gen. Blansbard's iron manttets, advanced from the lodg-
ments, and formed 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. I.llanshard'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 forward across it, which
operation having been effected two ladders were estab-
lished against the counterscarp, for the formation of the
bridge, and also two ladders against the escerp, rest-
ing on the head of the bridge. The escalade having been
effected the men entering the • works immediately Jet
down the drawbridge fcr ttie passage of the troops.
Whilst the above operations were being performed
another escalading party, under the command of Lieut.
W. C. Anderson aed Lieut. G-. H. Brooke, moved-out
from the right of the lodgment in front of the Redan,
and commenced escalading at that pciint 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
cmnpleted, and the troops having reached the inside of
the works, they were formed into contiguous columns,
after which the Royal Marines and the troops belonging
to the provisional battalion were 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 100lbe. 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
baulks of timber which were sunk in St. Mary's Creek,
eiel the effects of the explosion were most complete.
Tho operations, which lasted for nearly 3 hours, having
terminated, the Duke 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, after which his royal highness and suite returned
by railway to London.

SALE OF TilE STOWE ESTATES.

We recently referred tci the sale of some of the StoWe
estate property, surrounding this town, by Messrs. Harri-
son and Son, and as we are now in possession of full parti-
culars, we give the bona fide biddings and reserves. The
firstslot was the Boycotb estate, of 735 a. 2r. 19p:, with a
rental of 1,012/. 17s. 3d. ; bona :f,de bidding up to 20,5001.;
reserve, 27,5001. Lot 2, the Sackville estate, 311 a. Or. 23p. ;
rental, 7531.; five bona fide bidders present, and•the jot
went up to 22,5001.; bought in at 24,000/. Lot 3, More-
ton Lodge, cottages, and land, 56a. 2r. 30p.; rental, 1851.
15s. ; biddings up to 4,000/. ; reserve, 4,9001. Lot 4,101 a.
3r. 13p. of laud, farm-house, &c., and cottages, at Maids-
moreton ; the company was extremely flat, and fur this
no offer was made. Lot 5,20 a. 3r. 39p. of capital meadow
land in Buckingham, at a rental of 901. ; 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 in Well-street, and 2r. 37p. of
land, at a rental. of 321. I.os. ; bought in at 350/. ; sold at
6001. Lot 8, four houses in Church-street, at a rental of
500' 9,
a house in Castle-street ; rental, 40/. ; offered, • ; re-
-751. 10s, ; highest bidding, 8101.; reserve, 1,450/. Lot
eight freehold houses in Church-
no b
rental, 501. 10 b" •
serve, 850/. Lot 10,
Lot 11, two free-
in Wes -street, and the Lon-
street, at a rental of 88/:s;:c.,
hold houses iu Castle-street , ren s. ; no bidding.
Lane, with 2a. 2r. 23p. of land ; rental,
dLoont
andl2 , accoanpni
County
7al
. ..d up to 1,950/. ; 2 150/
100/. (formerly the well-known Cobham Arms") ; bid -
dings adranc,reserve, . , • Lot, 13,
two houses in West-street, at a rental of 651.; passefir,
Lot 14, two ditto ditto, at a rental of 34-Aff.
LotJs, two capital houses and buther's shop in West--
street; 1,2001. offered; reserve, 1,450 i Lot 16; a farm at
I.'ingewick and Preston, a sum] 1.,f0t0 at 'Preston; and st ye-
rat coV.ages and closes, coritaigpg 161 a. 3r. 16p., at a ren-
tal of 276/. 15s. ; no offer,vithatever. Lot 17, a farm at
-Westeott. in the parish ok•Waddesdon, 70a. lr. sp. ; ren-
tal, 76/.114.; the hiddine went up from 1,5001. to 2,2001.,
and reserved at 2,3501. Lot 18, a farm at Ludgert.hall,
ne Bicester, containing 151-a. 2r. 32p., at a rental of
I'll/. ; this lot. was put in at 4,0001., and.etvis eventually
sold for 5,7;..0/. Lot 19, 111. 3r. 25p. of meadow land at
Brill, at a fantal of 311. ; 700% offerod ; reserve, 9001.
This closed the sale. The above
,estates, &0.,- comprise
about 1,640 acres, producing a total rental of 3,500'. per
annum.--Buck3

SALE or AuroortArus, &c.--Yesterday a sale of auto.
graph tettsis and oihtr hitt resting documents took place
at the auction rooms of Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson,
Wellington-street,
,=Strand, among the property being
seveial interesting letters from Lord Nelson to Lady
Hamilton ; a sonnet in the autograph of Tasso ; the Big
laiture of he rualtyrt, Hooper and Bradford ko.