The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-10 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The following important circular memorandum
addressed to the Infantry Regiments was issued
yesterday :

" Horse Guards, May 1.

" The general principles of light infantry move-
ments as well as the movements of a company or
battalion, when acting as light infantry, are laid
down in the ' Field Exercises, and the right appli-
eltion of these movements in the field may be
studied with advantage in various works by authors
of much practical experience ; but, in addition to
these important points, his Royal Highness the
General Commanding-in-Chief deems it essential
that the attention of commanding officers should be
directed to the necessity of constantly exercising the
individual intelligence and judgment of the men
under their command when acting as light infantry.
"The improved range and accuracy of fire of the
arms now in general use render it doubly important
that every soldier should when skirmishing be pre-
pared to take such advantage of ground and cover
as will enable him, with the least exposure of his
own person, to inflict the greatest amount of injury
on his opponents.
" With this view commanding officers are enjoined
to lose no opportunity of profiting by all suitable
ground in the vicinity of their quarters for the in-
struction of young soldiers in this important part of
their duty ; and they should bear in mind that the
character of a regiment, as to its proficiency in light
infantry movements, depends mainly on the indivi-
dual intelligence, skill, and activity displayed by
the men themselves.
" It will be found advantageous, where the ground
admits, to detach one or more companies, with their
supports, to a distance of about 1,000 yards in front
of and facing the battalion drawn up in line, when
they will extend and advance in skirmishing order
towards the battalion, being occasionally halted, in
order that the officers, by examining the back-sight
of the rifles, may ascertain that they have been ad-
justed for the proper distances.
" The officers of the companies in line will point
out to the men of their companies any error that
may h 3 committed by the skirmishers in their ad-
vance, and the advantages to be derived from such
cover as the ground may present, from running
rapidly from point to point, Vic.; the line being in
the position of the enemy, the men will soon learn
what errors, as regards unnecessary exposure, should
be avoided. _

ti~
" Each company, in its turn, should be exercised
as skirmishers, and be occasionally relieved, advanc-
ing and retreating, and the advantage of the new
line of skirmishers being completely concealed in
the latter movement should be pointed ont.
" Officers in command of supports, bearing in
mind the improved range and accuracy of firearms,
should also be careful in the selection of their
ground, as the fire of the enemy's skirmishers is
sure to be directed on any exposed solid body.
Supports and reserves, if not under cover, should
always lie down when halted.
" The attention of the skirmishers should be espe-
cially called to the following points :
" Skirmishers, when under fire, must take advan-
tage of all cover. The men of a file should always
work together ; both men should never be unloaded

at the same time ; they should always, when prac-
ticable, load under cover, before moving to the front
when advancing, and after falling back when re-
tiring.

" Young soldiers (particularly when first opening
fire) are apt to waste their ammunition; its value,
therefore, cannot be toe carefully impressed on their
minds, and they should be made to understand that
the principal advantage of their rifie—viz., accu-
racy of fire, is lost if, in moving from spot to spot,
they do not consider well the distance they are from
the object they are about to fire at, and are not
careful to adjust the back-sight accordingly.
" The files must be careful not to get in front of
each other. When small objects, such as trees or
rocks, afford coyer for a few files only, the men must

not crowd behind them in numbers, as they will be
safer in the open. Here they should load and fire
lying, and move rapidly when the advance or re-
treat renders a change of position necessary, throw-
ing themselves at once on the ground.
" Bugle sounds should be avoided as much as
possible ; the men should be practised at passing
the word,' and made to understand signals.
" The men should be taught that good cover may
be obtained from the slightest rise or fall of ground
--more especially when engaged at long ranges—a
slight furrow, a few stones or small bushes, will
often afford cover in the absence of trees, rocks,
walls, banks, &c.

" Skirmishers should be taught to judge rapidly
for themselves of the nature of the ground on which
they are acting, and or the best mode o! occupying
it. In defending a line of heights, the edge of a
wood, or any ditches, walls, &c., they should follow
the windings of the cover, instead of remaining in
line, taking care to leave no considerable gaps, and
not to collect in groups.
"A line of skirmishers may be exercised with
advantage in passing obstacles, such as ponds, farm
buildings, &c., the men opposite these obstacles
doubling in rear of the files on the right and left ;
but running out to their proper places as soon rs
the obstacles are passed.
" Before quitting one position each file should de-
cide on the next they intend to occupy, which they
should make for in double time; when at close
quarters one man of a file should cover the advance
or retreat of his comrade while running from point
to point, the men protecting each other in turn
while exposed.
" The fire of skirmishers may often be better em-
ployed against the enemy's files on their right and
left than against those in their immediate front,
who are more likely to be completely covered.
" It is impossible for the officers to place each file
of their companies ; the men must be made to un-
derstand that they are responsible for the cover
each file may select.
"They should keep in sight the files on their
right; and left, and, when the ground permits, should
resume the general line of dressing, and their pro-
per distance, making use of their own intelligence,
without waiting for special directions.
" The dressing of a line of skirmishers is a matter
of no importance, as long as the connexion between
files is kept up. In advancing or retiring those
files having cover should remain in their position
until those on their right and left have passed them
by 15 or 20 paces. In advancing, files should run
on to cover, when the general line is within 50
paces of it, holding it as above, The fire of one
protected skirmisher is of more value than that of
five when exposed.
" Whenever opportunities offer, commanding offi-
cers should instruct their men in the mode of mak-
ing rifle pits, and placing sand bags, sods, &c., on
a wall or parapet, to fire through; also in the duties
of covering-parties in sieges, how to keep down the
fire of batteries, the advantages of the different
modes of firing—kneeling, lying, &c.; in short, no
pains should be spared to make each man a

thorough and efficient light infantry soldier.
" Another important point to which the General
Commanding-in-Chief would take the opportunity
of directing the attention of commanding officers
both of regiments and brigades is the practice of
time march—i.e., they should direct companies or
wings, or battalions, to occupy a distant position to
hich several roads lead, some of greater length
and easier to march over than others. The heads

of these columns should arrive simultaneously in
position, and the time of departure be regulated
accordingly.
" Small bodies of troops may accomplish longer
marches even over bad roads than deeper columns
can accomplish over better roads. Practice will
soon enable officers to ascertain those points, and to
calculate almost to a certainty the time required
under every circumstance.
" By command,
"J. Y. SCARLETT, Adjutant-General."
The 10th regiment at Devonport are under orders
to leave June Ist for Aldershott. Their quarters

will, it is said, be occupied by the Fifeshire Militia
Artillery, now in Plymouth Citadel. The 55th re-
giment, which was at Plymouth 14 years since, is,
it is reported, under orders to go there now.
A series of experiments was yesterday completed
at Chatham, undertaken for the purpose of testing
a valuable improvement effected in revolving and
repeating firearms, by means of which the inven-
t')r, Sergeant G. Sturrock, attached to the staff of
the Royal Engineer establishment at Chatham, has
succeeded in doubling the number of shots fired
from a revolver, making it, in fact, a revolver of 14
or 16 consecutive shots, without any necessity for
reloading. In order to avoid the delay, and often
hazardous inconvenieece, of reloading, it has hitherto
been the custom for each repeating pistol or rifle
to be provided with a second cylinder, and on the
charges of the first cylinder being fired a partial
dismounting of the weapon has to be performed to
allow of the second loaded cylinder being substi-
tuted. In the present invention this inconvenience
is obviated by the rifle or revolving pistol being
made double-barrelled, and placing two series of
chambers, one for each barrel, in the cylinder.
Either of the series of chambers is discharged in
the ordinary manner, the bullets from each passing
through the appropriate barrel. By a simple change
of the hammer, which is effected in an instant, the
other series of chambers may then be fired in like
manner, the bullets passing through the other bar-
rel. The chief peculiarity of this invention is that
it can be applied to every system of repeating fire-
arms now in use by officers and others engaged on
foreign service; and, although double the number
of shots may be fired, not the slightest change or
modification of the working machinery of the
lock or trigger is necessary. To make the same
machinery act with an arm giving the power of 14
or 16 consecutive shots only requires an alteration
in the number of teeth of the " ratchet." By this
invention Sergeant Sturrock has succeeded in pro-
ducing a Colt, Daw, Adams, or Deane double-
barrelled revolver, capable of delivering 16 conse-
cutive shots, without any necessity for reloading,
while the pistol or rill() is neither larger nor heavier
than those of large bore at present made, and it
possesses the advantage of being more powerful
and the weight better distribited for insuring ac-
curacy and range. The new weapon, although
double-barrelled, has but one cylinder, one trigger,
and one lock and hammer. During the experiments
the invention has been tested and examined by
several of the highest of the military authorities, as
well as a number of the most experienced persons
engaged in the manufacture of revolvers and rifles,
all of whom' pronounce it to be an exceedingly
valuable weapon, and one which will add consider-
ably to the efficiency of that description of firearms
in the hands of cavalry and other troops. The in-
vention has been patented.
Intelligence has been received at Chatham that
the whole of the companies of the Royal Engineers
who were quartered in India had left ; the 4th
Company, having embarked for England, may
shortly be expected at Brompton Barracks; and
the 11th and 21st Companies embarked for the
Mauritius, where it is expected they have arrived.
The only Engineer troop now in India are those
belonging to the India corps. Owing to the com-
panies at head-quarters, Chatham, having been
augmented up to nearly their required strength,
orders have been issued for recruiting to be dis-
continued, and several of the recruiting parties for
the Royal Engineers have been directed to join at
Brompton Barracks.
The Royal Horse Brigade of Artillery, in com-
mand of Col. Lake, C. 8., together with a squadron
of the 10th Hussars, in command of Lieut.-Col.
Parlhy, stationed at Woolwich, were yesterday
mustered on the review-ground, for the inspection
of Major-General Sir Richard Dacres, K.C.8.,
Commandant of the Garrison. The General's
inspection is stated to be preparatory to a review of
the whole of the troops in garrison, which will take
place on the 24th, in celebration of the anniversary
of her Majesty's birthday.
Capt. Elliot, coast brigade of Royal Artillery,
late of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich,
has been appointed Adjutant to the Regiment of
Mid-Lothian Coast Artillery Volunteers, to which
he will bo gazetted forthwith.
The East Norfolk Militia, which has been assem-
bled during the last three weeks at Great Yarmouth
for the usual periodical training and exercise, has
been again disembodied,