The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-01 00:00:00

THE ARMY

Yesterday morning, in accordance with an order
to that effect issued the previous evening, the com-
panies of the Royal Engineers and the East India
Sappers and Miners, now at head-quarters, Bromp-
ton Barracks, Chatham, were marched off at an
early hour to the space f ground near the Hut Bar-
racks for the purpose of witnessing the carrying
into effect the sentence of a district court-martial
on a Sapper named George Merilese, of the 34th
company, who was recently tried and found guilty
of having been drunk and absent from barracks,
and also for striking and violently resisting a non-
commissioned officer of the corps, who was in the
execution of his duty. For this crime, which by the
Articles of War is considered of a very serious
character, the accused was adjudged to receive 50
lashes in the presence of the whole corps, the court
not awarding any imprisonment. At the conclusion
of the punishment, which is exceedingly rare in the
corps of Royal Engineers, the prisoner, who bears
a very bad character, was removed to the hospital,
and the troops returned to barracks. On the pre-
vious morning, at the usual early hour, the troops
of the Ist and 2d battalions of the infantry at Chat-
ham Barracks proceeded inside the Spur Battery,
where they were drawn up in the form of a square
to witness the infliction of corporal punishment on
two private soldiers, each of them notoriously re-
probate characters.. One of them, private Thomas
Ward, Ist batttalion 23d Royal Welsh Fusiliers,
had been tried a few days previously for a most
savage and unprovoked attack on Colour-Sergeant
Lawrey, of the same corps, whom he had threatened
to kill. The sergeant had had occasion to report the
prisoner for some breach of military discipline, when
the latter took the opportunity, a day or two after-
w:.rds, to most violently assault him, knocking the
sergeant down, kicking him, and finishing his attack
by jumping him, inflicting such serious injuries
that he has been unwell ever since. The prisoner
bears a very bad character, and it has been ascer-
tained that he was discharged with disgrace from
two other regiments, owing to violent, ungovern-
able conduct; he has been in other regiments. The
court-martial before whom he was tried sentenced
him to receive the maximum number of 50 lashes,
and to be imprisoned for 12 months in Fort Cla-
rence. The other prisoner, Private Charles Smith,
52d Light Infantry, was also tried • for assaulting
two non-commissioned officers who were attempt-
ing to place him under confinement when ordered
to do so, and for attempting to bite off the finger of
a soldier who came to render assistance. He was
sentenced to receive 50 lashes, and further, to be
imprisoned for 56 days. After each prisoner had
received his punishment he was conveyed to the
garrison hospital, and as soon as they are reported
fit to leave that establishment they will undergo
the remaining portion of their sentence in the mili-
tary prison, Rochester.
Yesterday a large party, of convalescent troops,
most of whom were wounded or disabled in India,
were granted their discharge at St. Mary's Invalid
Depot, Chatham, in consequence of their unfitness
for further service, the whole of them having been
previously inspected by a Chelsea Board at St.
Mary's Barracks, Chatham.
The following are the reinforcements that will
embark at Gravesend and Cork for Bombay, on
Oct. 7 :--32 men of the Bth Hussars, from Canter-
bury ; 10 men of the 92d Highlanders, from Scot-
land ; 90 men of the 28th Regt., 25 men of the 33d
(Duke of Wellington's), 40 men of the 89th, and 25
men of the 95th, from Fermoy ; 37 men of the 46th,
12 men of the 57th, from Cork; 14 men of the Ist
batt. 18th Royal Irish, and 12 men of the 96th,
Royal County Down, from Buttevant.
Yesterday morning a general muster of the whole
of the officers and men of the Chatham division of
Royal Marine Light Infantry took place under Col.
R. Rea, second commandant, when the Articles of
War were read to the battalion, which mustered
about 700 strong.
The committee of inspection, presided over by
Admiral Smart, are continuing their labours at
Devonport. dockyard. On *Wednesday they were
occupied from 9in the morning until 5 in the after-
noon. The master shipwright, Mr. Edye ; the assis-
tant-master shipwright, Mr. H. L. Peake ; and the
director of the police, Lieutenant Robt. S. Moore,
have, among others, been examined.
Among the regulations in progress for the sani-
tary improvement of the Royal Artillery soldier, in
Woolwich, is one for which they are universally
grateful, and which is considered one of the greatest
boons hitherto conferred on the garrison—namely,
the erection of a bathing-house, contiguous to the
ordinary ablution room. One of the old cook-
houses, superseded by the introduction of Captain
Grant's kitchen, is being prepared, with eight
spacious baths, as a commencement, to be constantly
supplied with hot and cold water, for the special
use of the private soldiers belonging to the corps.