The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-04 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The Duke of Cambridge having approved the
formation of the 35th, 36th, 37th, and 38th com-
panies of Royal Engineers into four depot compa-
nies, the detachments of Royal Engineers at head-
quarters, Chatham, have been transferred to those
companies, and the arrangements connected with
their formation completed. The officers appointed
to the command of the new depot companies are
Capt. J. E. Comes, 35th ; Capt. E. 0. Hewett,
36th ; Capt. W. C. Phillpotts, 37th ; and Capt. L.
C. Barber, 38th. The other necessary transfers
will take place in the course of a few days. By a
general order issued by Col. Chapman, C. 8., Deputy-
Adjt.-Gen., the 38th company is to comprise the
staff, the detachments on special surveying and en-
gineering duties at Kensington, the whole of the
band, buglers, and supernumerary boys. The Wool-
wich detachment of tailors, numbering 50 non-com-
missioned and men, will be transferred to the sth
company at Woolwich. The four depot companies
will, according to present arrangements, be perma-
nently established at Brompton. Lieut. A. R. Mac-
I donnell has been ordered to Chatham, to take the
command of the 37th company until Capt. Phillpotts
joins headquarters.
An exciting rifle contest took place at the garri-
son rifle range, Chatham, on Tuesday afternoon, be-
tween Lieut. A. C. Wallinger and a number of the

sergeants of the Royal Engineers, in order to tes

the merits of the Whitworth over the Lancaster
rifle—with which the Royal Engineers are armed
—when fired at long ranges. The challenge made
by Lieut. Wallinger was in effect that he would,
with his Whitworth rifle, attain a greater number
of points in firing 30 rounds than •any number of
the sergeants, using the Lancaster rifle, could singly
obtain in 35 rounds, the range to be 700 yards. The
challenge was accepted by Sergt.-Major Jones, Co-
lour-Sergt. Douglas, and Sergts. Hill, Wright,
Gartshore, and Hartley, all of whom have under-
gone a course of rifle instruction. After firing his
30 rounds, it was found that Lieut. Wallinger had
scored the comparatively high number of 25 points.
Each of the non-commissioned officers then fired 35
rounds, when Sergt. Hill obtained the greatest num-
ber of points, his return giving 27, or two more than
Lieut. Wallinger, thus carrying off the prize offered
by Lieut. Wallinger, viz., £5. The shooting of the
other sergeants was likewise very good. The con-
test excited some interest, and a number of officers
and others connected with the garrison were present.
On Tuesday morning the 2d battalion of Scots
Fusilier Guards, which has been doing garrison duty
at Windsor Castle since October last, marched from
the Sheet-street barracks, under the command of Col.
Hepburn, and proceeded by the South-Western
Railway for the Tower. On the same day the 3d
battalion of the Grenadier Guards, under the com-
mand of Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, arrived
at Windsor Barracks from the Tower. Yesterday

the Royal Horse Guards, under the command of
Col. Baillie, marched from the Cavalry Barracks at.
Spittal to Regent's Park Barracks, and will be suc-
ceeded by the 2d Life Guards from Knightsbridge.
The forts at Sharnmeade and Coal-house Point,
near the entrance to the river Thames, are now in
course of being dismantled in order that they may
be reconstructed and mounted with an increased
number of guns of heavier calibre. A detachment
of the Royal Artillery, under the command of
Lieut. E. H. Thurlow, has been despatched to the
forts, where the men are now employed in dis-
mounting the present armament. During the re-
construction of the batteries the Lords of the Ad-
miralty have sanctioned the floating batteries,
.tEtna, 16, and Thunderbolt, 16, being moored in
positions contiguous to the sites of the forts for the
defence of the river. It is intended that the two
batteries shall be ultimately mounted with the
Armstrong guns.

r
THE STAFF COLLEGE.
ehe following General Order relative to new
T Mims regarding the examination of officers
itt e:AL,I