The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-29 00:00:00

arrangement to enable the guns to be carried (as
recommended) crosswise on the mules' backs. This,

Lieut. M‘Mahon contends, from his experience ob-
tained in the Transport Service, in which he was

engaged in China and the Crimea, is not in con-
formity with the attested regulations approved by
the service ; as, when the animals are tethered
together in pickets on the march, and the men are
preparing their meals, it is difficult to keep them from
crowding and rubbing against each other. Even
biscuit-bags and other light stores conveyed in that
manner, he stated, have been destroyed. The guns
thus protruding on either side of the animal's back,

he added, must be attended with equal if not more

serious inconvenience, whatever advantages the sys-
tem may otherwise possess. One of the M'Mahon
saddles, fitted to the back of a horse 17 hands high,
was then inspected, and a heavy load was attached.
With a couple of minutes' delay the saddle was ad-
justed to the back of a pony 13 hands high, and the

saddle appeared to be equally applicable and adapted
to both. This was highly satisfactory. The saddle

was then taken to pieces, and it was shown that, if
required to be packed in cases for transport itwould
lie perfectly flat, and consequently a large amount
of space would be gained. Lieutenant M'Mahon
suggested that as the saddlery dspartment in the
Royal Arsenal was unusually engaged, a suffi-

cient number of his saddles should be made
by contract, by which much time would be saved.

Five thousand of the old service saddles and an equa.
amount of harness were ordered to -be packed and
s h
yp pe
se
tde
rwd ou t delay.
the
troops
at Aldershot had a field-day
and sham fight of more than ordinary interest. The
division,
dividedfo
into r
tt
wh eo
;purposesfirst
ouf
ntdheer dt
ha y, was e
com-
mand of Major-Gen. Campbell, C. 8., representing
an caotntesristsedooff 45thRthoeyal
hi aonrsde6Asrthtaßieergyi.meTnthse,
with enemy,
two batteries
ie b
defending force was under Lieut.-Gen. the Hon. Sir
James
Aldershot!Yo Yorke
an
d Scarlett,
consisted
oft
he commandinglst the
and3ddiviinsifoanntrayt
brigades, the cavalry brigade, and several batteries
of horse and field artillery. The enemy was sup-
posed to be marching from Southampton upon the
camp, and to have arrived at Caesar's Camp, where
he had strongly intreuched himself. With the ob-
ject of driving him from this formidable position,
General Scarlett formed up his force in rear of the
Queen's Pavilion, under cover of the hills ; the
cavalry and two batteries of artillery moved alonr,
the Farnborough-road, also under cover and out of
sight of the enemy, and the 3d brigade soon after-
wards debouched upon the Farnham-road, and silently
awaited the development of. the General's plans.
About half-past 11 the enemy opened fire, which,
after a brief interval, was actively responded to, and
the Ist brigade, advancing from its concealment,
scaled the steep face of Caesar's Camp, while the ar-
tillery maintained a terrific cannonade. On reaching
the top of the bill the regiments (54th, 56th, 72d,
and 80th) reformed, while the enemy retired towards
Lawday-house, on Crondall-road. As he retreated
the 3d brigade moved off the Farnborough-road,
ascended Hungry-hill, and, passing into the valley
beyond, the enemy was taken both in front and in
flank, and forced to retire further towards Crondall.
Now was the time for a General to follow up his
success, and General Scarlett marshalled his force
for a decisive blow. Down upon the apparently
devoted enemy came the whole of the artillery and
cavalry. But the forces of the enemy were by no
means disposed to yield. Rapidly they formed
squares, and resisted the cavalry so effectually that
at last Gen. Scarlett's division was obliged to retire,
and the result was a drawn battle. The whole di-
vh,iou then formed up on Bricksbury Plain, and
marched past, the artillery and cavalry in open
column of batteries at a walk, and infantry in open
column of grand divisions in quick time, and in the
following order : —Staff of Cavalry—Major-Gen
E. C. Hodge, C.B. ; Colonel Hammond, Roy
Horse A,rtillery ; Major Bishop and B battery,
brigade, Capt. Watson and C battery; Capt,
Timbrell and D battery.; Capt. Chichester and E
battery ; Colonel Pattie, C. 8., and Ist (King's)
Dragoon Guards; Major Chapman and 4th (Royal
Irish) Dragoon Guards ; Col. Fitzwygram and 15th
(the King's) Hussars ; Col. Elgee and field bat-
teries of the 9th, Brigade Royal Artillery; Capt.
Elton and C battery ; Major Fitzhugh and II bat-
tery ; pione•ers, bands, drums, and pipes of Ist
infantry brigade ; S,taff and Major-Gen. H. Renny ;
Major Peaoo4 And 54th ( \Yea Norfolk) Regiment;