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

THE ARMY.

With the exception of a few minor details, the
handsome Memorial Arch which has been some time
in progress at Brompton Barracks, Chatham, to the
memory of those officers, non-commissioned officers,
and men of the Royal Engineers who fell in the
Crimea during the Russian war, is now completed.
The idea of raising a memorial to their brave com-
rades who fell in the struggle with Russia origi-
nated with a few of the officers of the Royal Engi-
neers, and, the Government having consented to ap-
propriate a piece of ground at the end of the parade-
ground of Brompton Barracks for that purpose,
Mr. Digby Wyatt was requested to prepare the
plans for the proposed structure, the idea of an arch,
although not altogether without precedent, being
finally decided upon by the committee of officers of
Engineers engaged in superintending the under-
taking, and a considerable sum having previously
been raised by the officers and men of the corps of
Royal Engineers. The foundation stone of the
structure was laid by his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge on the Ist of March last, and
so rapidly have the works been prosecuted by Messrs.
Mansfield and Son, the builders, that the arch
will be ready for the opening ceremonial to take
place within a very few days. As a description of
the present structure has already appeared in The
Sun, it will only be necessary to state that the arch
as viewed from the parade-ground of Brompton
barracks, where it ies seen to the greatest advantage,
has a most imposing appearance, the site selected
being probably one of the best that could have been
fixed upon. The memorial consists of a lofty cen-
tral arch, with two side-arches of lesser dimensions ;
the whole formed of Portland stone, which for erec-
tions of this kind is exceedingly appropriate. On
the spandrils and piers are beautifully executed
carvings of angels and allegorical figures, together
with carvings of some of the trophies taken during
the Russian war, and open laurel-work ; this part
of the undertaking having been executed by Mr.
Farmer, of Westminster, assisted by some French
artists. Both sides of the arch are covered with
marble slabs, on which are engraved the names of
every officer and man of the Royal Engineers who
lost his life in the Crimea. The following inscrip-
tion is engraved on the architrave :—" The Corps
of Royal Engineers to their Comrades who Fell in
the War with Russia, 1854 5-6." The gates of the
arch are not yet fixed, and these, which will be of
a highly ornamental character, are being cast at the
foundry of Messrs. Porter, South Molton-street,
Oxford-street, the Government giving Russian guns
taken at Sebastopol for that purpose.
On account of the change in the weather yester-
day the whole of the troops in garrison at 'Wool-
wich recommenced their outdoor exercises. The
review-ground on Woolwich-common was occupied
in the morning by the horse brigade of Royal Ar-
tillery, who went through a course of gunnery ex-
ercise, firing blank cartridge, and were inspected
by the general commanding the garrison, Sir
Rich. Dacres, after which the general went through
his first inspection of the Antrim Militia Artillery
who were drawn up in line at 2 o'clock on the bar-
rack-field for that purpose, in command of Major
Verner, in the absence on leave of Colonel
the Viscount Massereene and Ferrard, command-
ing. They subsequently marched past in slow and
quick time and close column, and, having passed a
most satisfactory inspection, they were dismissed to
quarters at 3 o'clock. The gunnery range in Plum-
stead Marshes was taken up by some batteries be-
longing to the depot, who were engaged in ball
firing. The mortar battery was occupied by de-
tachments of the 4th Brigade in firing 13, 10, and
8-inch shells at a flagstaff target on Woolwich-
common, over a range of 800 yards, under the direc-
tion of Colonel Gardiner. The division of Royal
Marines, in command of Colonel Stransham, was
drawn out on Woolwich-common, and underwent a
course of battalion exercise. The Gun-park and
Artillery-parade were filled with recruits under a
course of fuse firing, and every other available spot
throughout the entire garrison was filled with re-
cruits engaged in various grades of exercise and
drill, whose outdoor practice has been for some time
past dispensed with from day to day in consequence
of the bad weather.