The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-23 00:00:00

The Volunteer Review at Dover.

•
The ground chosen for the scene of the mimic fight
was the open space of Downs to the north and east
of Dover Castle. At the top of the Castle Hill, the
visitor will remember there stands a turnpike at the
junction of the Deal and Guston roads, where they
unite then to wind round the steep green glacis of
the Castle by the Castle-hill road down into the
town. The Deal road turns, by this turnpike,
sharply round to the eastward, across Downs culti-
vated like a garden, but with this favourable feature
for the purposes of the review, that there are no
hedgerows to interfere with the movement of the
troops. At the Castle the space between the Deal
road and the edge of the cliffs is not more than a
quarter of a mile ; but as the coast line trends to the
southward of east, and the road to the northward of
the same cardinal point, the area gradually enlarges,
until, at a distance of a mile and a half from the
Castle, where a cross road runs from Guston to the
edge of the cliff, the distance from the Deal road to
the sea is considerably over a mile. In the triangu-
lar space contained within these boundaries of the
coast line, the Deal road and the cross road to Gus-
ton is a ravine, or rather a steep valley, running
from the Deal road in the direction of the cliffs,
and there is a shallower valley parallel nearer to
the Castle. Down nearly in the lowest part of the
deeper of these valleys is a farm and outbuildings,
called Broad Lees Farm. This farm-house was the
very centre of the force in the first position occupied
before the action began. As the head of the column
passed the saluting base, it proceeded at once to the
' position allotted to it. The plan of manoeuvres sup-
' posed an invading force to have landed under the
guns of their fleet at the favourable position between
Deal and Waliner, and to have advanced, covered
on their left by the fleet along the Deal road and
the intervening land, for the purpose of securing
Dover as a base of communication for their
army. The garrison of Dover, however,
has been sufficiently reinforced to justify them
in sallying forth, under cover of the guns of
the fortress, to give battle to the invading enemy.
The spot chosen for the purpose was along the brow
of the ridge in rear of Broad Lees Farm, the left
crossing the Deal road, and extending in front of
the new Castle Hill fort; the right stretching far
away nearly to the edge of the cliff. The defenders
were strongly posted, with the 4th brigade of field
batteries in line on their left, commanding the Deal
road, and entirely blocking up all access in that
direction. The troops composing the first line of
the defenders, consisting of the 3d division of infan-
try, deployed with skirmishers in front ; the 4th
division of infantry being in reserve, with the whole
force of cavalry and the 3d brigade of field batteries,
near the right wing of the deployed infantry, ready
to be brought into play immediately on any emer-
gency.
The enemy's position was along the opposite ridge
parallel to that of the defenders, and facing towards
Dover, the Ist division, deployed with skirmishers,
covering the front ; the flanks strongly guarded on
the right by the two field batteries of Royal Artil-
lery, and the left by the volunteer field batteries.
In this position the contending forces remained, the
only change being that the deployed line of the de-
fenders advanced down the hill nearly to the Farm
House, while the line of skirmishers came forwar,,
some distance up the opposite slope tomeet the skir-
misfiers. For a few minutes matters continued thus
in grim suspense, the opposing forces watching each
other across .the two lines of skirmishers separated
by not more than 800. yards. At HO p.m. the sig-

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nal for action was
keep.
and
d
given by a gun from the Castle
boomwet olf thebre heavy
breeze
e
nodded bAsefortehethedeferep,sh
skirmisherssiseralomleyt,hetheeentreofand
oens.oodefenders
the
fusilade commencedopening
ex-
a smart, well-sustained
the poofsiti
:boieloawcetidonrigbhytwesterly
Their example wasfil'e
and left,
wholesom e lengthtime
m e
aTlte smart combat was
restenpodedn dead°, along
dthfeor
skirmishers of the enemy, nothingo
loth,
line. The
promptly
maintained between them. enemy's field
batteries, on this extreme right, took up the war.
like theme, and soon the sharp report
breech-loading Armstrong of the Royal Artillere
of the
intermingled with the rattle of the ;kirmshers.
The field batteries of the defenders on their left
were
speedily unlimbered and brought action, into •
on, and
for a time a deadly duel of artill • (a• y raged to the
north of the Deal road. Perceiving signs of waver-
ing on the part of the enemy the defenders' skir.
rnishers on their left pressed on in advance, firing
as they moved, and making a capital position and.
dressing. The line in their rear conformed
to the
movement, and swept forward in the direction of
the enemy's left. The corps engaged deserve
credit for the excellent way in which they advanced
over the rough ploud land without losing their for.
mation. While this was in progress a movement
took place unnoticed by the enemy which was
destined to have a marked influence on the future
fortunes of the fight. The second brigade of the
fourth division, covered by the advance of the
skirmishers and the line, took ground. to the right
towards the sea, and lay hidden from the enemy
beneath a projecting wing of the ridge on which he
himself as posted. Meanwhile the reserve of the
defenders moved also to the right towards the sea
to support the operation that was in progress. To
cover their change of position from the enemy, the
field artillery pcsted on the left wing of the defenders
opened fire against the deployed line of the enemy.
The skirmishers of the invaders, pressed
by their
opponents, yielded ground slowly, firing as they
went. At the same time the guns of the Castle
opened, and being replied to by the guns of the
enemy's left wing, the artillery fight at either end
the line became general. As gun
after gun followed
each other in rapid succession, the smoke borne
before the strong westerly wind swept in dense
masses over the valley, obscuring fora
time the
position of the attacking forces. As
the fleecy cloud
lifted, the skirmishers of the enemy, on the signal of
a bugle from within their lines, closed to the wings
of battalions, and retired at the double, reforming
as they reached the rear of their advanced line.
Brought thus face to face with an overwhelming
force of their opponents, the skirmishers of the
defence followed the example that had been set
them, and retired at the double to the shelter of
their own line. Shattered by the steady file fire, they
retreated in some disorder, but soon were reformed
as they reached the welcome shelter. Now came
the tug of war between the two lines. Both corn.
menced file firing from the right of companies, and
admirably on both sides was the fusilade maintained.
The example first set on the right of the defenders
was speedily followed all along the lines, and the
action became general. The whole of the heavy
guns on the eastern ramparts of the castle joined in
the battle, which soon waxed fast and furious. At
the same time it became evident that the object of
the defenders was to press the invading army most
severely on his extreme left. For this purpose bat-
teries of field artillery in reserve dashed to the
front, and were brought into action to crush the
exposed brigade on his left. While these were firing
grape from the extreme right of the defenders'
position, their line advanced in echellon of brigades
from the right to close with the enemy. Here the
battle became fierce and obstinate. Three times
the right of the defenders essayed to drive the op-
posing line of the enemy from their post of vantage.
At each fresh attack the enemy's line was strengthened
by fresh battalions and field batteries hurriedly
brought to the front. Before this continually accu-
mulating force the right wing of the defence finally
recoiled, shattered and disheartened. There was
nothing, however, disorderly in their retreat.
Though unable to make head against the withering
fire by which they were assailed, they scorned to
yield the enemy any greater triumph: than to retire
by fours from the right of companies, not covered
even by such poor shelter as a line of skirmishers
would have given. This retreat for a time caused
a lull on the left of the defence ; but the action
knew no cessation on the other extremity of the
line. There the artillery duel raged with redoubled
fury, and was very creditably supported by the in-
fantry on both sides. As the echellon of the defenders
retired the brigades in reserve deployed and ad-
vanced down the hill in splendid style to their sup-
port, wheeling back sections to allow them to retire.
The discomfited but far from disgraced first line
reached the rear, and immediately reformed their
shattered ranks. The reserve, which had now become
the first line of the defence, advanced as if on parade
against the position of the enemy to avenge the de-
feat inflicted on their comrades. They were soon
engaged, and again a tremendous file fire played
along the entire length of the opposing lines. While
this second fight was raging, the quick reports of
heavy artillery out at sea told that the fleet of the
men-
enemy had come into action. The squadron of
of
the
of-war had been hugging the shore in support
enemy's troops, and now, on rounding a littledef
head-
land, came in full view of the brigade of the en-
ders, which had been detached from the main body
to turn the left flank of their forces. Every ship at
once cpcned fire on the advancing brigades, and
their continuous broadsides, replied to promptly by
the sea face of the castle, the citadel, and the Guild-
ford battery, sounded like the continuous pealing
of a heavy thunder storm. The fire of the shipping
failed to stop the advancing brigade of the defen-
ders. Seeing this the fleet turned its attention ex-
clusively to the fortifications, steaming in circles
and delivering a broadside at each turn. The for-
tifications, manned mainly by volunteers, replied
with admirable effect, and the battle by sea and
land raged simultaneously. The reserve line of the
defenders bad been for some time fiercely engaging
the enemy, when the critical movement in the
battle occurred. Undeterred by the fire of the fleet
the detached second brigade of the fourth division
made its way resolutely along the edge of the cliff,
supported by batteries of field artillery. Mounting
the steep hill that concealed them from the enemy,
they deployed, and suddenly appeared overlapping
and partially surrounding his left wing. The sup-
porting field batteries at,once unlimbered and opened.
at the same time that the brigade commenced file
firing. Being already severely pressed in front,
this fresh attempt was too much for the enemy.
Immediate preparations were made for the retreat.
Communication had been effectually cut off with
the fleet, and to stay longer would have been to be
mowed down by an enfilading fire of ar-
tillery and infantry. The engaged line of the in-
vaders, therefore, at once wheeled in column,
moved up their reserves who deployed and en-
glo•ed the victorious defenders, and then retreated
,s
rapidly, but in good order, in oblique echellon of
battalions from their left, in the direction of the
Deal-road. As each battalion retired its place
was supplied by a battalion from the enemy's re-
serve. These being deployed into line they
. as h
advanced, field the defenders in c
heckr fightin
discomfited comrades escaped.
the
eti„) e while t
eio-
my
found
with determined perseverance,
overwhelming force,
that the garrison had such an
ed on their left
both of infantry and artillery, mass ,
that the position was no longer tenable. Throwing
out a line of skirmishers, and posting artillery on
line of retreat, to cover te
aft elevated brow in the
under shelter of its fire formed
movement, they,
column and retired from the left. Their opponents
pressed effectually on in pursuit, but were held in
check by the field batteries of the 3d Middlesex
and of the Royal Artillery, who vied with each
other, holding every tenable position to the last
moment, and retreating at a gallop to a fresh
point.
The course of the enemy was now f oily developed.
It was seen that he meant to change front to the
left, left thrown back, so as to occupy a new posi-
tion parallel to the D
eal-road. The defenders con-
formed to the movement by throwing theit right
forward. Laving reached the cross-road running
from the. Cliff to Guston and crossing the Deal-
road at the Swing Gate Inn the battalions of the

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LA T T INTELLIGENCE.-
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bets to intorin his friends r"7.1 neighbours that the LATEST
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