Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-05-21 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

MILITARY. —The B Battery, 16th Brigade, R.A., consisting of five officers, 101 men, 77 horses, and six 16-pounder guns, under the command of Major Hazelby, arrived in Bridports at half-past three o'clock on Friday afternoon, having marched from Honiton. a distance of 21 miles, the same day. A large number of persons assembled in the streets of the town to witness the entry of the military, as the sight of soldiers is quite a novelty for the people of Bridport. The men, horses, and guns were covered with dust, and the faces of the former were much tanned by the exposure to tlie fierce sun of the four OT five days during which they had been on the march, they having left Devonport on Monday morning. The guns and ammunition waggons were placed on the north side of East-street between the Bull Hotel and thti Market House, and during the evening they were the objects of much curiosity to many, but the near approach of the public was effectually prevented by a guard being mounted during the time they remained there. Those who had the cleaning of the horses (all greys) and the guns had an arduous task, but an hour or two after their arrival the guns were polished and looked quite brilliant, and no doubt the horses had received an equal amount of attention. The town was very lively during the evening from the presence of the soldiers; but on Saturday morning the muste,r took place at eight o'clock, and at half-past the battery left for Dorchester, en route to Portsmouth. Two or three unfortunate individuals had to walk from Honiton the previous day in consequence of their bad behaviour, and about the same number this morning were condemned to a similar punishment, one of whom was in a very queer state, evidently suffering from the effects of too copious libations. We hear that on reaching the White Bull inn, in the East Road, that it was found necessary to take him into the yard, and by the use of the "one-armed landlord" endeavour to bring him to his senses by a free use of cold water no doubt by the time he had walked to Dorchester, after this treatment, he had somewhat come to himself. An accident occurred just before the battery left the town, and while mustering in front of the Bull Hotel: one of the men was engaged in putting in a horse, when the latter kicked him violently in the bowels, and the poor fellow seemed to be much injured. He was immediately attended by the doctor, and ultimately he was placed on One of the ammunition waggons; but the poor fellow died on Sunday at the Dorchester Artillery Barracks where he was taken on arriving there. We have heard that qne of the officers present with the battery was doing duty in India at the outbreak of the mutiny there some few years ago, and that on that occasion he was bound to a tree by the rebels and saw his wife murdered before his eyes; that he had two loaded pistols concealed about him, with one of which he shot the murderer of his wife, and with the other subsequently severed the rope with which he was bound, and made his escape. Whether this be true or not we cannot say, hut merely give the story as it was related by one of the soldiers to an eager group of listeners who were making merry with the military friends in one of the hostelries of the town.