The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-14
REMOVAL.


...nnrspAY MORNING, MARCH u, 1855
. REMOVAL.
Trr DISPATCH office is removed rom It's
,.,s location on Governor street, to the corn
- If Main and 18th streets.
Tur BRITISH ARmY.-It has never neen
onr ;ntention to do injustice to TINS gs''ah'
nr.rch Of the British service, and we there.
fore readily avail ourselves OF facts lately
communicated to US by an intelligent ana
oo,,r,aous English gentleman, and give them
the most conspicuous place in our co'u"ns'
Wa know of no manner in when we can
more sipnally exhibit our high appreciation
of tho d;yniaed and courteous manner in
.,h;cb we have been addressed by this gen.
,lem.n. than to give the utmost publicity to
the facts which he communicates.
Our English friend disclaims all intention
to paIliate the miserable blunders and mis-
management Of Lord Raglan and his timber
headed commissariat officers, who, by the
bye, want old Picton among them again
1t is said Of this glorious old officer, that, on
arriving with his division at certain place,
and not finding any rations for his troops, he
sent for the Commissarist General, and told
him to have them on the ground by certain
hour, failing to do which he would sling him
up to tree. The Commssiariat, whose rank
was equal to that of Picton, thought himself
very much insulted, and went straight to
Wellington and made his complaint. The
Duke, with an earnest look, asked him if Pic
ton really did threaten him to that extent.
ayes! yes! your Grace! he did! he didr'
"Well, them" said the Duke, "if he did, go
and set about your business in good haste,
for Picton is q man of his word
Now for the system of promotion. Our
friend informs us that it is only in the caval.
~ and infantry that commissions are pur
chased. The candidate, after lodging his
money for his commission, has to pass an ex
animation, and show that he possesses 9
knowledge of, at least, English composition
the French language, and either the German
or Latin, first three books of Euclid, Plane
Trigonometry, course Of Algebra. Elementa
ry Fortifcations, military surveying and
sketching, etc. After this, he has to pass
other examinations to the rank of captain
when he may be said to have run the
gauntlet.
1t Is but right to say that this system has
only been in operation about eight years. II
was introduced by Fox Maule, now Lord
Panmure, when Secretary ut War; and the
effect has been that many of the 'vulgar
rich" have been refused commissions for the
want of the proper qualifications. A mum Der
of the officers of these two branches of the
service graduate at Sandhurst Military Col
lege, where first rate military education is
impaired, and the cadets are instructed in
the Mathematics, pure and mixed, Classics,
fertilization, field works, forthcoming, esca-
lading, sapping and mining, and indeed in
all that constitutes good military educa-
ton. In this college are also classes for COM
missioned officers, who, by application, can
procure twelve months leave to study there.
We also learn that there is not regiment
OF cavalry or infantry but has among its of.
fcers two, at least, who have risen from the
ranks. 1t is true that, owing to the baneful
system of purchasing, this class do not often
rise to higher rank than that of captain ;
there are some exceptions, among which we
may reckon that of the late Brigadier Gener-
al Cureton, who rose from the ranks, distin-
guished himself as commander of the cavalry
under Hardinge, in his hard fought battles in
India, and died in the highly distinguished
and lucrative position of Adjutant General
OF the forces in India. Cureton was dash
ing soldier, brought up as clerk he ex-
changed as was his wont to say, a four-legged
stool for four-legged horse, and he and poor
old Sale were shot and died on one field. 1t
was meet for two such soldiers thus to die
An officer who served with them on that
bloody field says that on their deaths being
made known, one general burst of grief was
manifested by the troops, Queens and COM
pany's, in large rolling tears.
Now for the Artillery and Engineers. Al
the officers for these two branches of the
service, graduate at the Woolwich Military
Academy, which is supported by the Govern
ment for this especial purpose. The cadet
enters at a very early age-&t about 70 years
Ak6r-oA40
pass through is very extensive much more
80 than that at Sandhurst There are two ex
aninations yearly, and it is the senior class.
composed of young men of about ls years
old, that is brought forward for examination:
and if any are found wanting, they are put
back till the succeeding examination, when.
if they cannot pass, expulsion takes place
There are about forty commissions annually
given-thirty-6ve of which 20 to the Art;i.
lery, and FIVE to the Engineers-and ow;no
to the best scholars being selected for tbas
corps, much rivalry exists among the cadets
to obtain this honor.
\ There is no purchasing in these eerns-.u
seniority system-and no way of obta;n;no
commission in them, but shroueb the ..;s
Academy. Those for the Engineer, af,er
they have graduated and obtained their COW
missions. have to proceed to Bromnt t
where they 60 through course of C;r;i %
gineering. Architecture, Field Works p. .
Hoissance, &c. This takes them ahon. .''
years.