Pgs. 488-489

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November 2, 2020

¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 THE CAMP, AT

¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 C H O B WJA M. — GENERAL

¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 V I E W.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0 THE CAMP AT CHOBHAM.  (From our own Reporter).

¶ 5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 The high state of discipline that exists in the British army was never more strikingly exemplified than by the brilliant scene which took place on Chobham Common on Tuesday last, when the troops marched on the ground with all “ the pomp and circumstance of war,” and occupied the field. The most ardent and experienced admirers of military spectacle must have had their utmost expectations more than realised by the gorgeous exhibition. The shining cuirasses of the Life Guards, the fluttering pennons of the Lancers, the picturesque costume of the “Black Watch,” or 42nd Highlanders, the dancing plumes of the field officers, the tramp of “ armed hoofs,” the shrill clarion of the cavalry, and “ the ear-piercing fife ” of the infantry, all combined to produce a most enthusiastic and spirit-stirring effect. Nearly 10,000 men, composed of seven regiments of horse, foot, and artillery, arrived almost at the same moment on the ground, crossed each other’s line of march, and defiled to their respective tent quarters without the occurrence of a single incident of confusion or disorder. As it is very probable that the Chobham Campaign will hereafter become an important epoch in history, we shall endeavour to place before our readers both pictorially and literally, a panorama of this most interesting event. The preparatory proceedings incidental to the formation of the Camp, the sinking of wells, the arrangement of the commissariat, and the erection of cavalry stables, have been already detailed in these columns; and we may, therefore, proceed to describe the events of the general bivouac, and such subjects as our Artist has been enabled to illustrate in our present number.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on paragraph 6 0 The almost incessant rain which prevailed during the three days previous to the opening of the campaign had induced a hope that the fountains of the

¶ 7 Leave a comment on paragraph 7 0 sky were for a time exhausted, and that the weather on Tuesday would be more propitious. The morning dawned auspiciously, purpling the heath with splendour, yet the experienced eye might detect the threatening thundercloud, looming in the vast expanse; and as the day wore on the indications of a gathering storm became more manifest and imminent. Still the sight-seers of the metropolis, as well as the troops who, like the great Captain, had a “ duty to perform ” were unawed by the unfavourable portents of the weather, and poured forth their thousands through every avenue of approach to the scene of action.

¶ 8 Leave a comment on paragraph 8 0 The arrangements on the railways leading to the neighbourhood of the encampment, were on a scale commensurate with the requirements of the occasion; and although the South-Western Company had to convey 4000 men and upwards of 100 horses, the utmost accommodation was afforded to the general public, without the slightest accident, confusion, or delay. A large number of distinguished visitors availed themselves of the earliest train, which left the Waterloo station at half-past seven o’clock, and arrived at Chertsey a quarter before nine. Amongst these were Lord Hardinge, the General Commanding in Chief; Lady Agnes Duff, Lord Howe, Lord Mark Kerr, Colonel Westenra, and other personages of distinction, who, immediately after their arrival, formed a breakfast party at the Swan Hotel, where they were met by the Duke de Nemours, accompanied by three French Generals. The arrivals at the Staines station were equally numerous and distinguished. Colonel Cotton, Equerry to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, entertained a breakfast party at Ranken’s Railway Hotel; which also afforded excellent accommodation to the officers of the various regiments arriving from the north. By a curious coincidence, the 13th Light Dragoons, the 17th Lancers, and the 42nd Highlanders, arrived at the corner of Sunbury- I common, adjoining Staines, at the same moment, and the scene at this point

¶ 9 Leave a comment on paragraph 9 0 was remarkably animated and picturesque. The Highland regiment arrived from Weedon, which they left at half-past four o’clock in the morning, by the North and South-Western Junction line, which, although completed for some months past, was only opened for the first time on Tuesday. This line affords facilities for passengers from all the eastern part of the metropolis, including Blackwall and Greenwich; as well as from the extensive district around Hackney and Camden-town, to reach the encampment, by way of Staines, in forty minutes. The number of coaches and omnibuses kept in constant readiness on the arrival of the trains at the Staines and Chertsey stations afforded immediate conveyance to the Camp at the very moderate fare of eighteenpence and a shilling respectively. These reasonable charges, with the vigilance exercised over their servants by Mr. Rowland, at Chertsey, and Mr. Rankin, at Staines, were productive of general satisfaction on Tuesday and during the week; and a knowledge of this fact may not be altogether unuseful to the numerous visitors during the encampment.

¶ 10 Leave a comment on paragraph 10 0 It is almost impossible to convey an adequate idea of the exciting scenes that presented themselves along the various lines of route, especially towards noon, when the roads leading to the Common were thronged with troops glittering in military array, and enjoying a temporary rest after the fatigue of the morning’s march. Thousands of spectators, comprehending every class of the community—the gaping rustic, the spruce citizen, the dashing noble, and the tried veteran of many a well-fought field, animated by his old military recollections, all struggled—whether on foot, on horseback, or in equipages—to be present at the great achievement of the day, the pitching the tents. The 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabineers), under the command of Colonel Jones, marched, during the morning, from Kingston-on-Thames, and were the first to occupy the road from Chertsey to Chobham Common. Near mid-way between these points they halted, and, having dismounted, drew up on each side of the road, and allowed the Royal Artillery from Woolwich, and the Royal Horse Artillery from Brighton, which had been billeted at Wandsworth, Putney, and Walton, on

¶ 11 Leave a comment on paragraph 11 0 the previous night, to pass on. The former consisted of two six-pounder field batteries, under the command of Captains Campbell and Lefroy, and the latter under the command of Captain Wood. The other troops of artillery arrived on the common by a different route. Captain Blackwood Price’s nine- pounder field battery, from Thorncliffe, reached the encampment at ten o’clock, having marched from Letherhead. The 95th Regiment, which suffered so severely in China, marched after the Artillery from the Chertsey station, and also passed the Carabineers on the road. This regiment came by railway from Chatham, which they left at four o’clock in the morning. The prevalence of the “brogue” amongst the men seemed to indicate that the 95th has been recently recruiting in Ireland; and, as they passed merrily along, they indulged in the fun characteristic of their country. The Lancers and Rifle Brigade entered on the Common by the road from Chobham and Guildford; and most of the other regiments by the Egham, Staines, Bagshot, and Windlesham roads.

¶ 12 Leave a comment on paragraph 12 0 The Royal Horse Artillery and field batteries are under the command of

¶ 13 Leave a comment on paragraph 13 0 Lieut.-Col. Bloomfield. The Artillery Camp, of which our Artist has given an accompanying Sketch, is stationed on high ground, adjoining the crossroads leading from Windsor to Chobham. The Rifle Brigade, 2nd battalion, from Canterbury, under the command of Lieut. Colonel J. A. Lawrence, forms  the extreme left of the line; and near to them are encamped 100 men of the  23rd Regiment of Foot, who arrived on Monday, from the Isle of Wight, for the purpose of keeping the ground during reviews and evolutions of the  troops.

¶ 14 Leave a comment on paragraph 14 0 The first regiment on the field was the 38th from Portsmouth, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Sir J. Campbell; followed immediately afterwards by the 50th, from Preston, Lieut.-Colonel H. E. de Burgh Sidley. Next to these came the 93rd Highlanders, from Portsmouth, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Rothe. The regiments here enumerated, with the exception of the 50th, form the 1st Infantry Brigade, uuder the command of Sir De Lacy Evans. The 50th, with the 95th from Chatham, Lieut.-Colonel Smith; and the 42nd Highlanders, Lieut.-Colonel Duncan Cameron, and which are encamped

¶ 15 Leave a comment on paragraph 15 0 near each other, compose the 2nd Infantry Brigade, under the command of Major-General Fane.

¶ 16 Leave a comment on paragraph 16 0 These form the left wing of the encampment, and occupy an inclined plane between the Bagshot and Chobham roads. The right wing is formed by the cavalry, under the command of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. It is composed of the 1st Life Guards, from Windsor, commanded by Colonel John Hall; the 13th Light Dragoons, from Hounslow, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Charles E. Doherty, C.B.; the 17th Light Dra- goons (Lancers), from Brighton, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Laurenson; and the 6th Dragoon Guards, from, Canterbury, commanded, as already stated, by Lieut.-Colonel Jones. These regiments, with their canvas stables, occupy a commanding position on the crown of the hill adjoining Egham. The central ground of the encampment is occupied by the Guards, consisting of three battalions—viz., the First Battalion of the Coldstreams, from St. John’s-wood; the Scotch Fusilier Guards, from Windsor; and the First Battalion of Grenadier Guards, from Winchester—all under the command of Colonel Bentinck. The Royal Sappers and Miners, commanded by Lieut.- Colonel Vicars, are in the same line with the Foot Guards, and occupy the central ground between them and the cavalry. On a hill, between the artillery and the cavalry, but somewhat nearer to the latter, are the marquees and tents of Field-Marshal his Royal Highness Prince Albert, General Lord Hardinge (Commanding-in-chief), Lieutenant-General Lord Raglan (Master- General of the Ordnance), Lieutenant-General Lord Seaton (commanding the troops in camp), Major-General his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge (commanding the cavalry in camp); and the tents of the entire staff, including the commanding officer of Royal Engineers, Lieut.-Colonel Vicars. This spot has been called, no doubt from its attractive situation, and the high military rank of its occupants, “ the Magnet.” One tent is exclusively devoted to serve as a post-office, and it is arranged that there shall

¶ 17 Leave a comment on paragraph 17 0 be three mails on each week day, and two on Sunday. The receiving and making-up of letters has been confided to Corporal Litton, of the Sappers and Miners. Within the space of half an hour the whole force were in occupation of their respective positions, which was announced precisely at twelve o’clock by the firing of a gun. The infantry regiments were first mustered in companies, and inspected by their respective officers. After the usual roll-call, the requisite number of men was detached to pitch the tents, and almost instantaneously, as if by the wand of a magician, the whole scene changed. No power of description can convey an idea of this sudden transmutation of a rugged and barren heath into a beautiful and  picturesque city of canvas habitations. At this moment, Lord Seaton, with a brilliant staff, galloped up to Staple-hill, from which he reconnoitred, with evident satisfaction, the theatre of mimic war. The alacrity with which the 42nd Highlanders erected their tents, occupying a period of only seven minutes, was the subject of general admiration. Amongst the civilians accompanying the staff, we observed the Marquis of Granby, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and several other personages of note. A drenching shower, descending at this moment, compelled a number of ladies to test the gallantry of the gentlemen of the camp, by seeking shelter in a large marquee on the top of Staple-hill. Lord Seaton and his staff then rode off to meet Lord Hardinge and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who, with the other Generals in command, were inspecting the various regiments on the other side of the line. Amongst the noblemen and gentlemen, civil and  military, that accompanied his Royal Highness, we noticed the following:—  His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, Lord Cardigan (in  mufti), Marquis of Worcester, Earl de Grey, Lord Charles Wellesley, the  Hon. James Macdonald, Colonel Wood, Major-General Anson, Colonel Chal- loner, Hon. G. L. Damer, &c. When the pitching of the tents had been com- pleted, videttes and sentries were placed to mark the boundaries of each

¶ 18 Leave a comment on paragraph 18 0 CAMP KITCHEN.

¶ 19 Leave a comment on paragraph 19 0 ARTILLERY CAMP.

¶ 20 Leave a comment on paragraph 20 0 DIVINE SERVICE ON THE COMMON.