The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-27 00:00:00

GRAND REVIEW 01 YORKSHIRE
VOLUNTEERS AT YORK.

On Sept. 28, 1860, and the 25th ofthe correspond-
ing month in the present year, volunteer reviews
have taken place on Knavesmire, near York. The
contrast between the two spectacles affords an ad-
ditional proof of what the spirit and energy of
Englishmen—and especially of Yorkshiremen—can
accomplish under combined effort. The review
which took place on Wednesday has for some time
been the greatest and most interesting occasion
which has been looked forward to in the North of
England, and its result will remain indelibly
stamped upon the memory of the vast concourse of
people who assembled to witness the spectacle. In
12 months an immense deal has been done for the
movement in the county. Last year Knavesmire
was in such a dreadful condition from the preceding
rainy weather that all manoeuvres had to be left out
of the programme, and the troops were kept so long
standing in the mud and water that numbers caught
cold, and in more than one instance fatal results
followed. The good people of York, however, deter-
mined to remedy this serious drawback to any fu-
ture reviews, set energetically to work to prepare
against any damp contingency. Several thousand
pounds were raised, and Knavesmire—a piece of
ground unequalled in England for a military dis-
play—has been so thoroughly drained, and other-
wise fitted for these reviews, that nodiscomfort neeti
any more be apprehended from the same causes as
last September. Then, again, the equipment of the
men generally is better, their dress more uniform,
the pAysique positively gives evidence of an im-
provement, and their efficiency altogether will bear
a contrast with that of the corresponding period of
last year; and, so far as numbers are concerned, it
is well known that they have increased all over the
country. Since this period 12 months, however,
the Volunteers have lost a most valuable friend,
and the country laments the loss of a Minister in
Lord Herbert of Lea ; and since that time also the
Volunteers have received in the most liberal man-
ner aid from the Government, who have at last
recognised their efficiency as a well-organised
military force. But the latter gain can hardly
counterbalance the loss sustained in the man to
whom they have been indebted so much. Under the
above auspices and drawbacks, therefore, the present
Ireview has taken place.

Knavesmire, the scene of action, must be well
known to all from its turf celebrity. It is a vast plain,
surrounded irregularly by gently sloping hills, giv-
ing to it the appearance of a huge grassy amphi•
theatre. In every position where a sight of the pro-
ceedings could be obtained vast numbers Of specta-
tors posted themselves, More than 30,000 persons,
it was calculated, were present on Knavesmire at the
last review, but nearly that number was en this oc-
casion brought to the city by train. York being
the nucleus of a railway system, ramifying its
branches throughout the whole north of England,
an immense number of carriages was called into
requisition to convey this vast mass of spectators to
the scene and back again. Most of the trains de-
posited their passengers at Holgate-bridge, where
extensive sidings had been prepared ; and this place
being contiguous to Knavesmire, a great deal of
time was saved and much personal comfort secured
by the arrangement. To preserve order, and also
to relieve in some degree the anxiety of numerous
light-fingered individuals as to their ability to take
away with them, as a memento of the review, any-
thing heavier than they could carry, a numerous
body of policemen were stationed on the review
ground, under the superintendence of Colonel Cobbe,
of the West Riding Constabulary. They also for the
time had charge of numerous refreshment tents
placed upon the slope of the hill nearest the higt
road, where the commanding officers of the different
battalions and corps had made ample provision for
their tired and hungry men. The other arrange-
ments, so far as the publip are concerned, consisted
in the Racing Stewards' Round-house being set
apart for the Lords-Lieutenant, the state-room and
balcony for the aristocracy, while the enclosure in
front of the stand, the roof of the sternly and other
comfortable and convenient places were reserved for
1 the public on payment of a moderate fee.

, The military arrangements were skilfully drawn
up, and were ably carried out by Major Harman,
Inspector-General of Volunteers for the North of
England. The saluting point was exactly opposite
the stand, and the alignment stretched from left to
right as far as the eye of the spectator could conve-
niently distinguish. By the time fixed for the
various battalions taking their positions, half-past
2 o'clock, nearly the wh.ele had arrived, and they
posted themselves in three brigade. The first, that
on the extreme right of the line, was under the
command of Lieut.-Col. Thompson, and consisted of
a splendid body of artillery from Burlington, Filey,
Whitby, Scarborough, Leeds, York, and Sheffield.
The remainder of the brigade was composed of two
regiments of engineers from Sheffield and Leeds.
The latter class of volunteers attracted a large share
of attention, alike by their superior and magnificent
unforms and their true soldierlike aspect. There
were about 850 volunteers in this brigade. The
second brigade was commanded by Col. Smyth,
M.P., the major attached being Major Van Strau-
benzee, In this division were the five picturesquely
uniformed corps comprising the Ist West York
Volunteers, and made up from York, Harrogate,
Knaresborough, Ripon, and Tadcaster. The adjoin-
ing battalion comprised many volunteers from
Wakefield, Goole, Dewsbury, Birstal, and Selby.
The third battalion in this brigade consisted of East
Riding corps from Howden, Bridlington, Beverley,
Driffield, Market Weighton, and Hedon. As may
be expected from the men composing companies
raised in an extensive agricultural district, this body
of troops presented an imposing appearance. The
fourth battalion, or Ist North Riding, under the
command of Earl Cathcart, consisted of the Swale-
dale, Leyburn, Forcett, Stratforth, Bedale, Stokes-
ley, Masham, Catterick, Richmond, Skelton, and
i Northallerton corps. The fifth battalion was from
! Melton, Hoyingham,Scarborough,Helmsley,Thirsk,
Pickering, Lythe, and Bromplon ; and the sixth
and remaining battalion in the brigade was com-
posed of men from the West Riding corps, such as
Skipton, Pontefract, Rotherham, Guiseley, Keigh-
ley, Barnsley, and Bingley. The total strength
of this battalion was about 2,350 men. The
third brigade was commanded by Colonel Wade,
C.B, In this division was a splendid battalion from
Sheffield, in dark, serviceable uniforms. Similarly
dressed also was a fine selection of about 300 " good
men and true" from Halifax, Huddersfield, and
Holmfirth. Leeds occupied a prominent position,
having the honour of being the most numerous corps
on the ground—in round numbers, 450 men. Hull
and Bradford were formed on the left of the line,
the former under the command of Lieut.-Col. Pease,
and the latter under Lieut.-Col. Lister. The strength
of this brigade was 2,670. Thus the total field
strength may be pretty accurately estimated at
5,285 Volunteers.
The three brigades were formed, in the first in-
stance, into three contiguous columns at quarter
distance, and were then deployed into line previous
to receiving the reviewing officer, Col. M‘Murdo.
When that gallant officer arrived on the ground
they received him with the usual salute previous to
his inspecting the lines. This routine business being
accomplished satisfactorily, the real proceedings of
the review commenced by the troops forming open
column, right in front, preparatory to marching
cr bly
past. The latter test of the volunteers' efficiency
was edita
accomplished in quick time, and
the brigades then prepared for the more difficult
o n the
advanced
in di
business of a review. Closin,, to uarter•distance
leadingreectomeephao'nloiet:O
columnw ar d sftclhi z troops i
ioannsdaffr:voe
amr s-
the left.
'Phis was a pretty movement,ta
rendered additionally attractive from the fact that
the manoeuvre was covered by a cloud of skir-
miihers thrown out from the right, and who kept
.a sharp fusilade during the time occupied in the
formation. An imaginary attack was now repelled
by the brigades, in company squares, with fixed
bayonets and firing. The enemy, it is supposed, being
repulsed, column was reformed, and transformed into
an attacking force by the third brigade deployed
in to line. The attack of the latter was supported by
the first and second brigades in line of contiguous
columns. The enemy having now become dislodged,
from their position, it became necessary for the at-