The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-11 00:00:00

THE ARMS.

A Royal warrant, revising the Royal warrants
of April 8, 1856, and the 14th February, 1857, re-
gulating the numbers, pay, clothing, and allowances
while serving, and pension on discharge from the
School of Musketry at Hythe, has been received at
Chatham. 'The following is the pay to be received
by the non-commissioned officers attached to the
head-quarters at Hythe :—Two serg.-majors are to
receive 4s. Bd. per day each ; two quartermaster-
clerks, 38. each ; two
paymeuder-clerks, 3s.
s6edr.gesa,,o4hs;
twoper doardyeerlayc-hro;
otmwo
hospital sergs., 3s. each ; 16 first-class sergs., 35-
6d. each ; 36 second-class ditto, 3s. each; 36 third-
class, 2s. 2d. each ; two fatigue corporals, ls. Bd. ;
and 36 privates, ls. 4d. There is to be extra pay
for good service—to first-class serg.-major, after
and to the second
three years' service,
ot two
tyheiarrds.
oslearsysi service,
sergeants,of 3d.p earf
tdeary;
of 3d. per day. Their pay, however, is not to ex-
ceed the following rates of daily pay—namely,
serg.-majors, ss. 2d.; quartermaster-sergs., 4s. 6d. ;
first-class sergs. 4s. ; second-class sergs., 3s. 6d.
third-class sergs., 2s. Bd. In addition to the usual
allowance of clothing, they are to be furnished with
one forage cap, one fatigue jacket, and one pair of
trousers.

That portion of the expeditionary battalion of
Royal Marines for service in Mexico selected from
the Plymouth division, about 400 men, was in-
spected on the parade on Friday last by Col.-Com-
mandant Holloway, C. 8., in the presence of Port-
Admiral Sir Houston Stewart and the Commander
of Forces in the West, Major-Gen. Hutchinson.
On Saturday the men embarked on board the Sans-
pareil, Donegal, and Conqueror. The two last-
named ships have received eight Armstrong guns
from the frigate Emerald.
Fifty Royal Marine Artillerymen and 160 in-
fantry, from the Portsmouth division, who left at 8
a.m., arrived by South-Devon Railway at Plymouth
at 10 a.m. on Saturday ; and 88 infantry from
Woolwich at 8 a.m., arrived there at 930 p.m.
They were under orders to embark yes-
terday (Sunday) on board the Donegal and
Conqueror. The number of marines assigned
as passengers to each ship is—Sanspareil,
500 ; Donegal, 150 ; and Conqueror, 150. The
three were prepared to sail yesterday, but, in con-
sequence of prevalence of very heavy weather
from the south-west, they were not likely to start
before to-day.
By direction of the Duke of Cambridge instruc-
tions have been forwarded to Sheerness by Major-
General Eyre, commanding the Chatham district,
directing Col. Nedham, commandant of Sheerness
garrison, to hold in readiness a strong detachment
of the first division of the depot brigade, Royal
Artillery, with a proportionate number of officers,
to proceed on an early date to Shoeburyness, to be
instructed in the use of the Armstrong gun. The
detachment will be relieved by a similar number of
officers and men as soon as it has acquired a thorough
knowledge of the subject, the authorities having de-
termined to have the whole of the officers and men
of the Royal Artillery in the Chatham district
thoroughly instructed in the practice of the 100-
pounder and 40-pounder Armstrong guns.
Large supplies of conical shot, common and seg-
ment shells, with other stores, are daily landed at
the Ordnance camber, Sheerness, under the direc-
tion of Mr. J. Greig, assistant-superintendent of
stores, for the 100-pounder Armstrong guns which
are ordered to be mounted on the sea face of the
fortifications at the entrance of the river Medway.
In consequence of the numerous additions which
have of late been made to the head-quarters of
Royal Artillery at Woolwich by transfers, arrivals
of recruits, &c., on the representation of Col. Ken-
nedy to Col. Bingham, Deputy-Adjutant-General,
instructions have been issued to Major-Gen. Sir R,
Dacres, K.C.8., commandant of Woolwich garri-
son, to hold in readiness detachments of Royal Ar-
tillery under his coomand to proceed to Sheer-
ness and Warley, in order to relieve the over-
crowding, and to increase the strength of the
first and third divisions of the brigade. The re-
movals will be effected as soon as the necessary ac-
commodation can be provided at the stations named.
From the continued influx of men to the Royal
Artillery, the depots are so rapidly augmenting that
before long it will be necessary to form another
subdivision.

Some Armstrong guns have arrived at Warley
Barracks, in exchange for six-pounder field guns,
formerly in use at the depot when it was in the
hands of the East India Company.
In consequence of the advance of winter an order
has been issued granting one-third more fuel to
each hut, and an additional blanket for each bed,
at the Camp at Colchester.

The command of the men stationed at Languard
Fort, Harwich, will shortly be transferred to Lieut.
Bicknell, of the 38th Regiment, assistant-instructor
of musketry to the 'loth Battalion. Lieut. Bicknell
will also perform the duties of Acting-Adjutant
and Quartermaster.

The works connected with the drainage of the
proposed new cavalry barracks at Colchester will
be completed by the end of the year. The artesian
well, intended to supply water to the barracks, is
to be carried to a depth of 500 feet.

The mixed committee of officers, of which Captain
Howlett, C. 8., was the president, assembled at the
War-office for the purpose of fixing the sites of the
sub-arsenals at the naval stations, have closed their
labours, and submitted their recommendations to
the Government. For the site in Portsmouth they
have chosen the slope of the Mill-dam lying between
the fortifications of Portsmouth and Portsea, con-
tiguous to the Gun-wharf Department, and at a
very short distance from the dockyard. There we
may soon expect to see the foundations of a new
department laid out, and when the Milldam is filled
up, and the railway connected with the gun-wharf,
as is now proposed, the convenience of the spot
chosen for the new works will be proportionately
increased.—Army and Navy Gazette.
It is intended to convert the officers' large mess-
room, recently erected at Fort Pitt Hospital, into a
reading-room for the use of the patients who are
able to leave their wards, as well as for the non-
commissioned officers and men of the Army Hospi-
tal Corps in attendance on the invalid soldiers. The
want of a reading-room at Fort Pitt has long been
experienced, there being on an average from 400 to
500 invalids and others connected with the service
always stationed there. According to the plan pro-

Formerly the Woolwich cadets were mere raw
boys, ranging from 14 to 17 years of age, admitted
to the school by patronage after a very slight test
examination. They are now young men from 18 to
22 years of age, admitted on their merits proved in
open competition, after having submitted to the
Board of Military Education satisTactory testimo-
nials of subordinate habits and general good con-
duct from the .heads of the schools at which they
have been previously educated. It being clear,
therefore, that the materials upon which the gover-
nors of Woolwich Academy have now to work are
materials of preyed and indisputable superiority,
it is not unreasonable to suspect that the ferment
which has recently arisen may have been caused
rather by the mismanagement and neglect of the
governors than by the misconduct of the governed.
And I do hope that this point will be very clearly
ascertained before we hear that a verdict bringing
desolation to the hearts of parents and ruin to the
future prospects of their children has been arrived
at.

I will give my reasons for presuming to make
this appeal. Formerly the rules of Woolwich Aca-
demy, drawn up, as I have stated, for the manage-
ment of mere boys, were, undoubtedly, over strict
and harsh, and the result was that the Academy de-
servedly bore an ill-name among the educational
establishments of England. Hardly any time was
allowed the boys for exercise or games ; they were
confined within very narrow bounds ; they enjoyed
no privacy of any kind, washing all together in
public, sleeping four in a room, changing their linen
but three times a week on fixed days, and going to
bed in the dark in winter. Their fare was not only
plain, but of inferior quality; and they were allowed
to bring back from home but £2 a half-year in
order to eke it out.

Incredible as it may appear, I am now told, on
authority which I give you, and which I think you
will allow to be excellent, that the selfsame rules
are still enforced, without any mitigation or change
among the young men of ftom 18 to 22 years of age
who now fill the academy. They also are compelled
to wash in public, to study in public, to sleep four
in a room, to change their linen only on Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays, to take their exercise in
a very small playground, to go to bed in the dark,
and to content themselves with £2 pocket-money
every six months, exactly as their predecessors of
14 and 16 years of age did before them. Nor is their
food any better than it used to be; yet for such
treatment and such fare they are charged £125 a
year each.

If this be as I have described it, is it astonishing
that they should be dissatisfied; and ought the onus
of the recent emcute to lie with the governors or
the governed?
I have no doubt that we shall be told that
whether the governors or the governed are in fault
the latter ought to have made their complaints
" through the proper channel," and that nothing
can excuse their insubordination in the eye of the
War office. It requires, however, but a very mode-
rate supply of common sense and knowledge of the
world to know that no proper channel exists through
which complaints made by cadets who have just
entered Woolwich against the system which exists
there, and with which all its officials are identified,
would have met with either indulgence or even at-
tention, while the youths who complained would
have been indelibly marked at head-quarters as
agitators and troublesome fellows. Indeed, the
stereotyped reply to all such complaints has hitherto
been, " We are not going to change our system for
you—if you do not like it, you need not remain
here."

The question at present at issue is not a narrow
question of discipline; it is a question which con-
cerns the nation at large. Through Woolwich
alone can admission be now obtained into the scien-
tific branches of our"military service; to prepare a
young man for admission to that school costs much
money; and the picked pupils of our best schools
are alone calculated to compete for such a prize. Is
it not, therefore, all-important that the public
should feel assured that when such excellent mate-
rials have been collected for their service a good
use will be made of them, and that the parents who
have reared their sons for their country's service
should not be allowed to see their hopes wantonly
blighted and their children ruined through the in-
difference or the incompetence of the officials into
whose hands they have been consigned by the War-
office for further training P—l am sir, your obedient
servant P A FATHER.

P.S.—Allow me to subjoin a precis of a day's
work at Woolwich Academy, reminding those who
examine it that it is not drawn up with the view of
" cramming" and forcing dunces, but that it is the
scheme of education deliberately enforced among
young men from 18 to 22 years of age, who have
proved them Selves the best pupils of our best
schools :

Rise at 8 o'clock ; breakfast and inspection till 8 50 ; in
study at 9 till 11 30; clean and prepare for inspection at
11 45; drill till 12 4.5; dinner at 1 p.m.; in study from 2
to 4; parado at 4 15 ; drill till 4 45; in study from 5 till 7 ;
tea at 715 ; leisure until 10 in an enclosure 200 yards by 50.
At 10 cadots aro required to answer namos at rounds com-
pletely dressed, when lights are immediately extinguished,
and they aro left to go to bed in the dark.

THE CAVE IN RATHLIN ISLAND.—Tradition
records that on one occasion the islanders fled for refuge to
the larger of these caves when there was a threatened inva-
sion of Danish pirates, who formerly infested these coasts.
Their hiding-place was however discovered, and an inhu-
man practice, often resorted to in those times, was adopted,
of burning a quantity of straw or fern at the entrance of
the cave, till the smoke with which it was soon filled suffo-
cated the wretched inmates, whose bones are said still to
remain beneath a heap or mound at the furthest end of the
cave, where they had congregated together in the agonies
of death. This story bears a strong resemblance to that told
of the celebrated cave of Eigg, in Skye ; and as both are
founded on tradition, each may have an equal claim to
truth. But it appears from a passage in Coxe's History of
Ireland (vol. i. p. 73), that this was a practice frequently
adopted; for in the reign of Edward 1., A.D. 1274, "the
islanders and Scots made an incursion into Ireland, burning
several towns and villages, killing every one they could
get, and carrying off vast booty. Soon after, Richard de
Burgo and Sir Eustace le Poer entered the islands, and
burnt the cottages, slew all they met, and smoked out those
that bid themselves in caves, after the manner of smoking
a fox out of his earth."—Once a Week.
THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE REGULAR ARMY.--
It is this consideration of the cheapness and extent of the
Volunteer project which has inspired many members of the
regular army with a degree of jealousy, and caused them
to apprehend that as soon as the invasion-panic has
subsided, and questions of taxation assume importance
again, the efficiency of the Volunteers, and the implicitness
of the reliance which may be placed upon them, will
be assigned as a reason for reducing the regular army or
dealing with it less liberally. That, however, would be a
fatal mistake; and greatly as a diminution of the popular
burdens is to be desired, we would by no means
purchase
the boon at such a price. The country cannot do with a
regiment less of regulars, or afford to neglect her army
proper in the smallest particular. The volunteers
would be a wall of sand about our isles if they
stoodalone, or lost confidence in the nucleus of dis•
cipl.
and
strategy which the regular army constitutes.
To impair the latter to the extent of a single regiment
would be to inflict irreparable injury upon the former. The
two bodies are in. some important senses interdependent, and
in none antagoulgic,—Publin University Xagazinc,

" The naval expedition, which in magnitude and
in the celerity with which it has been created and
equipped exceeds any enterprise that has ever been
undertaken by this Government, now lies at anchor
in Hampton Roads, and only waits for fair breezes
to carry it to its destination. Probably, as I write
it is already under way, unless, indeed, there
should chance to be truth in the rumour, published
this morning in the Tribune, that treachery has
been discovered in the staff of the commander.
Whatever may have been the misfortunes and short-
comings of the United States in the field, it is en-
titled to the greatest praise for the rapidity with
which it has raised and equipped this expedition.
When it is remembered that it is but a few days
more than six months since the nation was stunned
by the booming of the batteries that opened upon
Fort Sumter,—that at that time the army and navy
of the country were alike scattered over the globe
with scarcely a regiment or a ship at command,—
that nearly one-half of each service was demoralized,
and the officers known to be loyal to their country,
to the flag which they had sworn to defend, and to
their own honour, were purposely placed at distant
posts,—that the Treasury was bankrupt,—that
every bureau at Washington was filled with traitors
and spies,—and that the Cabinet officers had but
just taken the reins in hand, and were unused to
the duties of administration,—the results that have
been attained seem all the more wonderful and credi-
table. For several months past the several navy-
yards still in possession of the Government have
been worked to their utmost capacities, building
gunboats, fitting transports, and equipping vessels,
of war. The result of these separate labours, when
combined, is seen in this expedition, detailed ac-
counts of which may be found in most of the New
York papers of this week. From them I condense
the following brief statement of the number and
class of of the vessels engaged, and of the number
of the troops :—The naval part of the expedition
is commanded by Captain Dupont, the flag officer
of the Naval Coast Division extending from Hat-
teras Inlet to the Keys in Florida. From the fact
that he is selected for the command it is assumed
by some reasoners that the expedition is in-
tended for operation upon that part of the
Atlantic coast. This part of the expedition con-
sists of 27 men-of war, with the Wabash (50 gun
frigate) as the flagship. Of the remaining 26
vessels 16 are gunboats, carrying each one 11-inch
Dahlgren gun, one Parrott rifled gun, and two 24-
pounder howitzers, and the remainder are frigates
or sloops of war, carrying from 16 to 50 guns. The
entire armament of the fleet is'about 400 guns. The
transport fleet, which is to be conveyed by the
naval branch of the expedition, consists of 24 ocean
steamships of various tonnage, ranging from 3,400
American measurement to 450 tons. There are
also seven steam ferryboats and four sailing vessels,
—the Great Republic, 3,356 tons; the Ocean Ex-
press, 1,697 tons ; the Golden Eagle, 1,128 tons ;
and the Zenas Coffin, 338 tons. All these transport
vessels are armed, and carry in addition to the
troops immense quantities of provisions, ordnance,
and quartermasters' stores, bricks, frame houses,
shovels, picks, sandbags, horses, boats for landing
guns and men, timber, and ever other article likely
to be required for a campaign. The troops compos-
ing the expedition are to be commanded by General
Sherman, one of the most experienced officers in the
army of the United States, and affiliated politically
with the Republican party. He is a Rhode Islander
by birth, left West Point with the class of 1836,
and since then has been almost constantly in active
service in the Artillery. His brigadiers are Gen.
Viele, of New York, General Stevens, of Oregon,
and General Wright, of Connecticut, all West
Point men. The troops under his command will
probably number about 20,000 men, mostly from
New England and New York.

" Everything necessary for the success of an expe•
dition of this magnitude appears to have been pro-
vided. There are boats enough to land a division
at a time. There are army wagons, horses, and
other means of transportation quite sufficient for
the force ; the Great Republic alone is said to have
650 horses on board. There are carpenters, masons,
and labourers in abundance, picked from the North-
ern cities. There are coal, corn, hay, carts, gun-
carriages, extra camp supplies, everything which
foresight and military knowledge could suggest; so
that, if the expedition fails, it will not be for the
want of care on the part of those who have had the
charge of getting it up. The following general
order of the commander may be interesting :

(General Order, No. 19.)

Head-quarters E. C., steamer Atlantic, Oct. 25.

1. This command will sail for its destination in a very
few days, under convoy of a naval squadron, commanded
by Commodore Dupont. The transports will move in three
columns, and in rear of the main body of the squadron.
The transports belonging to the Ist Brigade will compose
the right column, those of the 2d Brigade and 3d Rhode
Island Regiment the centre, and those of the 3d Brigade
and the battalion of Volunteer Engineers the third column.
Each vessel will retain its order in column, and the
columns will move in parallel lines, equidistant, regulating
from the right. The sail vessels and other transports in-
adequate to the task of sailing with the fleet will be towed
by such steamers as the chief quartermaster may desig-
nate. Commander Dupont, in co-operation with the land
forces, has kindly made such an arrangement of his fleet as
will secure the transports from unnecessary diffusion, and
all senior officers on transports and masters of vessels will
enter into the spirit of and conform to these arrangements,
a copy of which will be duly given.
2. The General Commanding announces to the Expedi-
tionary Corps that it is intended to make a descent on the
enemy's coast, and probably under circumstances which will
demand the utmost vigilance, coolness, and intrepidity on
the part of every officer and man under his command. In
consideration of the justness and holiness of our cause, of
the ardent patriotism which has prompted the virtuous and
industrious citizens of our land to fly to their country's
standard in the moment of her peril, he most confidently
believes that be will be effectually and efficiently supported
in his efforts to overthrow a zealous, active, and wily foe,
whose cause is unholy and principles untenable.
3. On the approach of the transports to the place of dis-
embarkation each brigade commander will anchor his
transports as near each other as practicable, and will at the
proper time superintend the disembarkation of his brigade
The surf-boats, with other means of disembarkation on
hand, are believed to be capable of landing at once from
3,000 to 4,000 men. The surf-boats are of different sizes.
Two of the largest may take the officers and men of,a com-
panyofloiOnli)reonp,
proportion.
The tho next size a company of 40 men,
and so on
other means of transportation may take the remain-
der of a brigade, with probably ono or two sections of field
artillery.
4. The disembarkation will be made in three lines ; the
first line will be the brigade of General Wright, flanked by
two sections of Hamilton's light battery, and accompanied
by the squad of regular Sappers and Miners, and two com-
panies of Sewill's Volunteer Engineers, with a sufficient
supply of intrenching tools and sandbags. The second line
will be the brigade of General Stevens, and, if necessary,
accompanied by a section of Hamilton's battery and two
field pieces, to be manned by a company of the 3d Rhode
Island Regiment. The reserve will be composed of Gen.
Viele's Brigade, the remaining portion of Sewill's Volunteer
Engineers, and the 3d Rhode Island Regiment, and will be
disposed of according to circumstances.
5. The boats of not only each company, but each regi-
ment and brigade, will land abreast, as far as practicable,
and in the order of battle. The utmost effort will be made
to effect the landing in that order. Should it be found im-
practicable to land immediately from the lighters, then the
surf-boats, when emptied, will immediately proceed to the
rapid landing of the men from the lighters, and as soon as
the whole line is landed all the boats will return and bring
forward in like manner the troops of the second line, and so
with the reserve:
6. The general officers and commanders of battalions,
Etc., will be furnished in time with the plan of descent and
the particular order of battle. It is probable thattsltieelfizirssht
line will have to conquer the ground on which toner
oy
_-
itself. If not seriously opposed, the first line,
to
drive
bacekr.
!coming immediate difficulties, will continue

One version says :—" The objects expected to be
realised from the great naval expedition are to carry
the war into the cotton States which are chiefly re-
sponsible for the rebellion, and by doing so to pro-
duce the disorganisation and dispersion of the im-
mense rebel army now collected in Virginia. To
secure winter quarters for our troops, and harbours
of refuge for our naval and mercantile marine. To
open one or more Southern ports to commerce, and
thus satisfy all demands, and obviate all difficulties
about the supply of cotton."
Mr. Memminger, the Secretary of the Confede-
rate Treasury, has issued a circular, dated Rich-
mond, 17th October, relative to the produce loan.
and the appeal of the cotton planters for relief.
Mr. Memminger, in the name of the Cabinet, de-
clines to grant any relief, either by the purchase of
the cotton-crop or an advance upon its hypothe-
cated value. Ho declares that the South, being
now engaged in a gigantic war, needs money, and
no planters' notes or produce, and explains that
what the Government requires is a loan from the
planters, secured by Treasury notes, which now
form the currency of the Confederate States. He
advises the planters to apply to the banks for relief,
and recommends them to apply themselves in future
to the cultivation of grain and other products ra-
ther than to that of cotton.

Brigadier-General Kelly attacked Romney,
Western Virginia, on the night of the 25th of
October, after a march from New Creek, and com-
pletely routed the Confederates, taking some pri-
soners, three pieces of artillery, and all their wag-
gons and camp equipage. The Confederates retreated
towards Winchester.
The Neu; York Times of the 29th ult. says :
"There is nothing new to report in the condition of
affairs in the vicinity of Washington. General Fremont
reached Bolivar, 30 miles above Springfield, on the 26th
(evening), and is now without doubt in the occupation of
Springfield. He was to leave the next morning, with Gen.
Siegel's division, to make a forced march to that place. The
remainder of his army is also hurrying rapidly forward.
General M'Kinstry, on the 25th, was only two miles north
of Warsaw. General Pope was already below the Osage,
and General Hunter was in advance of him. Late advices
from Price's army render it probable that he is endeavour-
ing to reach Arkansas in obedience to instructions from
General Johnston, who, it is understood, has been appointed
commander of the rebel force in Missouri."

Two skirmishes are reported to have taken place
in Kentucky, in both of which the Federal troops
were successful. A scouting party of the Illinois
28th encountered a party of Confederate cavalry
and infantry on the 26th, 30 miles below Cairo, and
routed them. The second affair also took place on
the 26th between three companies of the Illinois
9th and a company of Confederate cavalry, 48 miles
up Ihe Cumberland River from Paducah. The Con-
federates were completely routed, with the loss of
13 killed, 24 prisoners, 52 horses, and all their camp
equipage.