The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-11 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

For Account.
Orleans
Northern 1220
Lyons and Mediterranean 9lO
Southern 5BO
Western —
Eastern
Sardinian —
Austrian
Lombard 405
North of Spain llO
Saragosfa
Roman. —

GRAND .RETTIEIV IN TVINDSOR PARK,

Yesterday the Volunteers, in their Whit-Monday
exercises, broke entirely neW ground. By permis-
sion of her Majesty, obtained by General Seymour,
C. 8., Deputy-Ranger, they were enabled to assem-
ble and hold a field day in Windsor Great Park—a
privilege which was enhanced by the presence and
co-operation of ono of the regiments of Household
Cavalry. Nine metropolitan corps took part in the
proceedings—viz., the North-East London, Bth
Tower Hamlets, Hon. Artillery Company, the Vic-
tories, West Middlesex, North Middlesex, South
Middlesex, St. George's, and Civil Service Corps.
Of most of these there was hardly as good a muster
as could have been wished, or as there doubtless
will be when, after hearing their comrades' report,
opportunity is again afforded for a review upon the
same site. But in Windsor itself and its vicinity the
event excited the strongest interest. The Berkshire
battalion came in force from Reading, receiving on
its arrival fresh local contingents. The Harrow
companies travelled down by the Great Western
line ; and a full troop of the South Bucks Yeomanry
added their lances and picturesque costume to the
force under arms. Most of -the shops were closed
during the afternoon ; and in the Park itself so large
a number of spectators assembled that General Sey-
mour, in addressing the officers after the field day
had concluded, alluded to the fact that the manoeu-
vres had been somewhat restricted on that account.
For the purposes of a military procession—for such
in effect was the march from the railway stations to
the review ground—few grander avenues can be
found than the Long Walk, and the spectators pro-
bably enjoyed this promenade, to the music of re-
gimental bands, as thoroughly as any other portion
of the day's proceedings,
The troops, consisting of somewhat over 2,000
Volunteers and 350 cavalry, were divided into an
attacking and defending force, to the former a
preponderance of cavalry, and to the latter a great
superiority of infantry, being assigned. The four
guns of the Hon. Artillery Company paired off, two
on either side. Major-General Seymour commanded
in chief, and his Staff included Lieutenant-Colonel
the Hon. W. Colville, acting as Assistant Adjutant-
General ; Lieutenant-Colonel Trefusis, Scots Fusi-
leer Guards ; CaptainW. F. Seymour, brigade major;
Captain Wynne Finch, Scots Fusileer Guards ;
Captain Hugh Seymour, Grenadier Guards ; and
Colonel Richardson-Gardner, North-East Lon-
don Volunteer Rifles. The attacking force
was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Marshal],
2d Life Guards, the infantry movements being
directed by Lord Ranelagh. On the side of the de-
fenders there were two brigades, led respectively by
Lieutenant-Colonel Loyd Lindsay, V.C., and
Lieutenant-Colonel Charles H. Lindsay. At first
the opposing ranks were so well hidden by trees and
undulations of the ground that nothing was to be
seen beyond a line of cavalry pickets pacing to and
fro parallel to the Long Walk. To these, consist-
ling of the Bucks Yeomanry and Light Horse of
the Hon. Artillery Company, there soon advanced
a line of skirmishers, composed of the South Mid-
dlesex, Victorias, and Harrow corps ; but they had
barely issued beyond the line of trees, when from
the Long Walk battalion after battalion of the de-
fending infantry came to meet them, and the
Yeomanry and Light Horse thus supported made
repeated charges, which had the effect of driving
in the right of the attacking force. These now
called up their cavalry in turn, at first in moderate
numbers, but as the pressure increased the entire
regiment of Life Guards rode over the crest of
the hill and swept down into the level ground.
It is said, and possibly with truth, that breech-
loaders will change the whole character of modern
warfare, and that cavalry—heavy cavalry especially
—is as much out of date now as three-deckers in
the navy. But it seems difficult to believe that
anything which can produce a powerful moral
effect can ever be out of date, and to the charge of
a regiment like this there is only one epithet which
can be applied, and that is " crushing." Light
cavalry may exhibit more impulse, more dash ; but
in the onset of the Life Guards there is a sense of
irresistible force—a thoroughness which it does one's
heart good to see. Colonel Marshall is entitled, not
only to praise for the splendid condition in which he
brought his regiment into the field, but to the
special acknowledgments of Volunteers for the sym-
pathy and goodwill towards their movement which
he showed in placing his men side by side with
themselves. It is an unfortunate accompaniment of
cavalry charges over ground frequented by rabbits
that falls are almost unavoidable, and yesterday
formed no exception to the rule. In one of the
earlier movements ta o Life Guardsmen were un-
horsed, but escaped without injury, being able to
rejoin their troop where the riderless horses had
taken up their accustomed positions. A charge
later in the day was attended with more serious falls.
Two or three horses fell in a cluster, and one actu-
ally rolled over his rider, but, thanks to his cuirass,
the man escaped comparatively unhurt. The other
fall was more alarming. When the.horse regained
his feet and started off one foot of his rider was still
in the stirrup, and in view of his comrades and all
the spectators the soldier was dragged along for fully
200 yards. Persons rode or ran from all directions to
catch the horse, but before this could be done the
Guardsman, by accident or dexterity, had wrenched
his leg out of the boot, leaving this still in the
stirrup, and so freeing himself from the danger.
When assistance reached him it was found that