The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-18 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

The Ist Middlesex Artillery paraded in strong
force on Saturday afternoon, at the Wellington
Barracks, for battalion drill and great gun practice,
under Major Stevens, Acting Adjutant. Their
movements and evolutions betoken the attention of
the members themselves and the efficiency of their
officers. Captain Henry Creed, late of her Majesty's
Indian army, is the commandant, and fully inspected
the corps:
The North Middlesex had a commanding officer's
full-dress parade and battalion drill at Albany-
street Barracks on Saturday afternoon, and the
cadet company attached to the regiment also fell
in. The attendance was very numerous and the
evolutions highly satisfactory.
On Saturday the 19th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers
met at their drill ground in Gower-street for batta-
lion drill, after which a meeting was held to con-
sider the propriety of going to the sham fight at
Brighton on Easter Monday. Many reasons were
urged for and against the trip, Col. Bathurst stet
ing that he would leave it to the men to decide.
Each man having been canvassed by the Adjutant,
it was decided by a great majority that the corps
should not go. It is expected that the corps will
get up a sham fight of their own at Richmond,
Major Hughes taking the command of one side, and
Colonel Bathurst of the other.
On Saturday a firing party of the Finsbury (39th
Middlesex) Rifle Volunteers assembled at head
quarters, Coldbath-square,and proceeded to the New
Cattle market for drill practice with blank cart-
ridge, preparatory to the approaching sham fight
at Brighton on Easter Monday, for which about 200
of the 39th have already given in their names to
the adjutant ; the firing on Saturday, both in vol-
leys and file firing, was very creditable to the men,
and the other evolutions were well performed. The
firing party was subsequently joined by another
detachment of the corps, under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Colvill, and at dusk they all
returned, numbering between 200 and 300
men, headed by the brass band of the regiment,
through the principal thoroughfares to headquar-
ters, where they were dismissed. The corps now
numbers nearly 700 effective members, and is con-
stantly receiving recruits. Capt. Berdoe has signi-
fied his intention of giving a handsome set of co-
lours to the regiment. which will be formally pre-
sented to them on Whit Monday, and at the same
time a testimonial from the officers and men, con-
sisting of a gold watch and chain, and a purse of
sovereigns, will be given to the drill-sergeant
(Sergeant-Major Hadrill), in recognition of his
efforts to promote the efficiency of the regiment.
On Thursday evening Capt. Carter, adjutant of
the Royal Monmouthshire Militia, gave a lecture
in the theatre of the United Service Institution, to
a number of volunteers interested in the efficient
equipment of riflemen. A complete set of equip-
ments, similar to those now undergoing a trial at
Hythe for Major-Gen. Hay's report, by direction
of the Commander-in-Chief, was exhibited to the
meeting, and their uses explained by the lecturer.
Lord Northwick occupied the chair. The lecturer
commenced by referring to an article written by
Mr. W. Russell in the Army and Navy Gazette, in
which he highly approved the equipments he (Capt
Carter had introduced into the arrangement of the
accoutrements. The great disadvantages attending
the present system were the inequality of the sus-
pension of the knapsack-pouch, haversack, &c., and
the crossing of the belt over the men's chests, by
which many of them had had the seeds of consump-
tion sown in them and been carried to an early
grave. By his arrangement the pouch would be
fixed behind in an easily accessible position, with-
out raising the flap, and though only of the same
size as those now in use would carry 70 rounds of
ammunition instead of 60. The arrangement for
this is very ingenious, the straps being fastened to
the belt in such a manner that they come from the
middle of the back over the shoulders, and down by
the sides of the arms, and fasten to the belt at the
sides, so that the chest is left entirely free, and the
coat can be unbuttoned without removing the pouch.
The knapsack was not lighter than that at present
in use, but was so constructed that it fitted closely
to the back, and when once fixed would not shift
during a whole day's march. This was accomplished
by two moveable arms at the bottom, which opened
and clasped the wearer round the waist, while straps
from the top came over the shoulder and slipped
over those arms, still leaving the chest free. To one
of these arms the water barrel was suspended, and

Lieut. Trafford, acting adjutant of the Norfolk
Artillery Volunteers, has obtained the permission
of his Royal Highness the General Commanding-
in-Chief to attach himself to the Royal Artillery at
Woolwich for three months for the purpose of in-
struction. The Ist Norfolk Mounted Volunteer
Corps has been attached to the Norwich battalion
for administrative purposes. Capt. Hay Gurney,
late at the head of the 3d company of the Norwich
battalion, has accepted the command of the mounted
corps, and has been succeeded in his former appoint-
ment by Lieut. Croker.
It appears that there will be no lack of prizes for
competition among the Suffolk volunteers during
the ensuing season. In addition to a challenge cup
of the value of £hs, the members of the Ist Sussex
Corps are already offered 11 prizes, of the collec-
tive value of nearly £4O. There are to be three
periods of shooting, and three classes, arranged as
follows :-3d class, who shoot at four ranges of
150, 200, 250, and 300 yards from the shoulder; 2d
class, who shoot at four ranges of 400, 500, 550,
and 600 yards from the knee; and Ist class, who
shoot at four ranges of 650, 700, 800, and 900 yards;
also from the knee. Five shots will be allowed at
each range, or 20 in each class. In the first period
all will commence firing in the third class, and such
as obtain 15 points will fire their second period in
the second class ; and those who obtain 12 points
in the second class will fire their last period in the
first class, all obtaining seven points and upwards
in that class being accounted " marksmen." The
first meeting of the Suffolk County Rifle
Association will be held at Ipswich. The prizes
offered will be shot for on the race-course, and
the longest range will be 1,000 yards.
On Saturday the challenge cup given by the sth
Division 2d Battalion Lancashire Royal Volunteers
was again shot for at Altear (late Higlatown) by

members of the Liverpool corps. The cup has to
be won twice before it can be retained. On the
first occasion it was won by private Fitzpatrick,
64th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, and on the second
occasion by private Cole, 39th Lancashire Rifle
Volunteers. On the present occasion Private R.
Maxwell, sth Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, was the
winner with a score of 10. The ranges to be fired
at were only fixed when the competing squad had
fallen in. They were five rounds at 250 yards and
10 at 800 yards. Bull's eyes were not counted at
the first range, nor centres at the other. A strong
wind prevailed throughout the day. Captain B.
G. Bushby, sth Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, who
has just returned from Hythe with a first-class cer-
tificate as musketry instructor, acted as field officer
and umpire. There were 77 entries.
The 18 Rifle Volunteer, corps which have been
formed in the county of Wilts have just been united
for administrative purposes into two battalions.
During the week Major Fairtlough, Adjutant of
the Cumberland battalion of the Rifle Volunteers,
has been making inspection of some of the corps in
the western division of the county.
On Saturday three prizes, given by Captain Gerge
Mally, 4th Lancashire Artillery Volunteers, were
shot for at New Brighton, near Liverpool, by mem-
bers of No. 1 battery, with carbines. Sergeant
Harrison gained the first prize by a score of 17,
made by five rounds at 100 and 5 at 200 yards.
Gunner Barnet scored 12, and gained the second
prize. Gunners Wardhill and Hartley tied with
scores of 11. The result of a further trial was in
favour of the latter. The weather was very bois-

:erous.

Captain Lepper, Adjutant of the 3d West Riding
of Yorkshire (Bradford) Rifle Volunteers, has re-
turned from Hythe with a first-class certificate, and
the corps is about to commence drill with renewed
energy. A sham fight has been arranged for Tues-
day in Easter-week.
A meeting to promote the success of the Welsh
Rifles was held on Saturday evening at the Free-
masons' Tavern. Mr. Probert presided, and the
meeting was well attended. Among those present
were Mr. Pugh, M.P., Captain Reece, &c. The
chairman in opening the proceedings made an en-
thusiastic speech. He saw no reason why the
Welsh corps should be inferior to the Irish or the
Scotch, and he called on all true-hearted Welsh-
men to show that they fully appreciated the im-
portance of the volunteer movement. (Cheers.)
After a number of speeches had been delivered,
Mr. Pugh, M.P., proposed a resolution pledging
each gentleman present to promote by every means
in his power the success of the Welsh rifles. Mr.
Wood seconded the resolution, which was sup-
ported by Captain Reece, Mr. Williams, Mr.
Griffiths, and Mr. Davis, and carried by acclama-
tion. The ordinary compliment to the chairman
closed the meeting.