The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-19 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The annexed return, showing the comparative
proficiency of 'shooting of the several corps and
battalions stationed in the United Kingdom and
North America, that hare practised so as to esta-
blish a " figure of merit" in the yearly course •f
rifle instruction for 1860-61, has been issued from
head-quarters, accompanied by a general order
issued by command by Sir A. Horsford, K.C.8.,
Deputy-Adjutant-General, which is subjoined:—

" Horse:Guards, S.W., Jan. 3.
" The General Commanding-in-Chief has desired the
annexed table, showing the figure of merit' of the several
corps in the United Kingdom and in North America, which
have completed the course of musketry drill and practice for
the year 1860, to be published in the General Order of the
army, with a view of stimulating to increased exertion all
who are desirous of seeing their battalions hold a high posi-
tion in the order of precedence as regards proficiency in
shooting.
" Although highly satisfied with the general result of the
last year's instruction, as shown by the returns that have
been received, yet his Royal Highness would like to see
every regiment make a figure of 40 at the least—a point
which he is convinced can be obtained if the training of the
men is carefully conducted.

"In many instances the platoon and skirmishing' prac-
tices are not what they ought to be.
"This can only arise, in the one case, from the imper-
fect way in which the platoon exercise is taught, and the
hurried manner in which it is executed on parade occa-
sions ; and, in tho other, from inadequate knowledge of the
details of skirmishing drill, combined with want of skill in
individual firing.

" The General Commanding-in-Chief desires the atten-
tion of general officers to these essential'points of the sol-
dier's training, and again refers them to the General Order
of the 7th of May last, inculcating the necessity of frequent
position drill." •

-.; Per centago of
•Ft• E' 4-.
o
ti 4 a ..:,, a .tj,3:.{;
..,
~., '.l.' t .I%° :5,E1 4,
E - Corps. 5.r.-.4
~,..., 2 Q--z ct. .„
=.- . ~.
,
'7.--,. P-, -ij.. Fr: mom e, g.,
- ... *ES
0
1 47th regiment .. .- .. 48.24 47 99 3
2 Scots Fusilier Guards,2dbattalion 45'61 34 85 91
3 Grenadier Guards, 3d battalion.. 4516 52 93 6
4 11th Foot, Ist battalion .. .. 45'38 31 76 5
5 Grenadier Guards, 2d battalion .. 45.33 42 70 91
6 30th regiment .. .. ~ 4483 44 89 3
7 Scots Fusilier Guards, Ist battal. 44'64 38 97 12
8 Coldstream Guards, 2d battalion 44'06 42 1 9
9 13th Depot Battalion .. .. 43'43 11 95 8
10 Grenadier Guards, Ist battalion 42.97 36 91 9
11 Coldstream Guards, Ist battalion 4291 27 76 10
12 36th regiment .. • • 42'62 37 91 2
13 55th regiment .. • • :: I 42.39 36 82 3
14 3d Depot Battalion . • .. 4228 38 85 20
15 76th regiment .. • • ..1 42'14 30 93 5
16 32d regiment .. • • .. I 4214 30 88 3
17 20th Foot, 2d battalion .. .. 41.89 32 87 4
18 49th regiment .. . - .. 4117 27 82 3
19 15th Foot, Ist battalion .. 41'24 34 83 3
20 sSth regiment .. .. .. 41,02 25 71 3
21 26th regiment .. .. .. 40.83 33 85 1
22 96th regiment .. .. .. 4015 35 88 2
23 17th Foot, 2d battalion .. .. 1044 24- 63 21
24 19th Foot, 2d battalion .. .. 40.21 28 93 6
25 21st Foot, 2d battalion .. .. 4016 24 74 8
26 11th Foot, 2d battalion .. .. 40'11 31 84 7}
27 16th Foot, Ist battalion .. .. 39.90 27 67 4
28 6th Depot Battalion .. .. 39.82 22 76 12
29 GOth Rifles, 4th battalion .. 39.7.4 16 80 2
30 45th regiment .. • • .. 3010 28 75 5
31 Stirling Militia .. • - .. 3912 34 82 3
32 18th Depot Battalion .. .. 38.89 21 84 10
33 4th Depot Battalion . • .. 3819 21 84 16 a
34 41st regiment .. .. .. 3816 37 77 4
35 10th Depot Battalion .. .. 38•36 22 62 25
36 Royal Engineers .. .. .. 38.24 30 76 9 b
37 2d Cheshire Militia .. .. 3810 15 85 4 C
38 Ist Depot Battalion .. .. 37.61 24 67 18
39 Rifle Brigade, let battalion .. 37.01 15 74 2/
40 Fermanagh Militia .. .. 36.96 22 66 15
41 14th Foot, 2d battalion .. .. 36.89 24 70 3
42 18th Foot, 2d battalion .. .. 36.83 20 67 21
43 20th Depot Battalion .. .. 36'15 20 81 8
..
41 22d 11 .. 3611 20 69 21
45 2d .. .. 3591 26 86 18
46 23d •• .. .. 3519 40 63 16
..
47 11th 11 .. 35•60 27 75 .0
48 7th .. .. 35.24 21 88 12
,
49 9th
.. 35'22 25 68 15
•, ..
50 21st •• ..
.. 3517 20 82 4
51 Bth .. 34.95 14 61 17
52 16th Foot, '..
2d battalion .. .. 34'66 2+ 71 4
53 12th Depot Battalion .. .. 34.42 16 73 11
54 16th .. .. 34.31 31 82 10
55 17th Foot, Ist battalion .. .. 3411 5/ 61 3
56 West York Rifle Militia .. 34.08 29 84 7
57 Ist Stafford Militia .. .. 31 06 22 89 8
58 15th Depot Battalion .. .. 33.85 26 63 14
59 62d regiment .. .. .. 3378 9 80 5
60 sth Depot Battalion .. .. 33.35 17 71 19
61 78th regiment .. .. .. 33.07 19 77 3
62 17th Depot Battalion .. .. 32.99 17 77 8
63 10th Foot, Ist battalion .. .. 32.90 19 54 2
64 North Lincoln Militia .. .. 3216 20 90 11.1 d
65 Royal Sussex Militia .. .. 32'65 16 74 6
66 29th regiment .. .. .. 3219 8 65 2
67 Bedford Militia .. .. .. 31.88 11 73 2
68 14th Depot Battalion .. .. 3174 11 73 15 e
69 25th Foot, 2d battalion .. .. 31.66 19 85 8
70 19th Depot Battalion .. .. 3113 14 77 15
71 63d regiment .. .. .. 28.82 5 77 5
72 Cavalry Depot, Canterbury .. 28/2 5 77 13 f
73 Royal Canadian Rifles .. .. 28'07 7 37 3
74 84th reghnent • • • • .. 26•,7 20 88 5
75 Royal liewf oundland Companies.. 2697 5 64 7