THE REVIEW OF THE VOLUNTEERS

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 971, 1 March 1862, Page 3

THE REVIEW OF THE VOLUNTEERS

[From the ' Melbourne Argus,' Feb. 17.] Except during tlie memorable affair of the Werribee last autumn, we have scarce had a good military review of the metropolitan and suburban volunteer corps, worthy the name till Saturday last. On several occasions, especially when the anniversary of the Queen's Birthday has come round, both our regulavs and volunteers have paraded in form, but these displays were not comprehensive enough to be reviews in the received sense of the word. With the prospect of a war, however, which would mightily affect even these antipodean regions, our volunteers have bestirred themselves, and for iear that they should ever be "in peace a charge, in war a weak defence," have done their utmost to show of what they are capable. All this has had its proper consequences. Our readers have been already made aware that the commandcr-in-ehief of our military forces, Major-General Sir Thomas Pratt, has during the past week been parading separately on different days the three branches of our volunteer force, viz., the cavalry, artillery, and riflemen, and such exercises were made to culminate in a grand review of all the volunteers, which took place on the Melbourne Race-course on Saturday. All through Saturday morning the streets of Melbourne were thronged with Volunteers on their way to or from rendezvous, and the effect produced by so many gay regimentals fully proved that the new uniforms are in appearance vastly superior to those hitherto in vogue, and whose ugly colour and weather stains were nearly a scandal. A large portion of the public were also on the qiti vive, and as the afternoon set in the Spencer-street railway station was crowded with intending passengers, whom the Essendon Kailway Company carried to the race-course as fast as they could. The Grand Stand was crowded, and in one of its compartments were seated His Excellency and Lady Barlcly and Lady Pratt. At four p.m. exactly, Major-General Sir Thomas Pratt and stalFenlercd the course, and by this time the troops were drawn up in line facing the Grand Stand. At the extreme right of the line were the the cavalry, 137 strong, and under the command of Lieut-Colonel. Koss ; next to them were placed the V. V. Artillery Regiment, 375 strong, with ton guns, under Lieut-Colonel Anderson ; the Naval Brigade, 147 strong, under Lieut, Payne ; tho Volunteer Engineers, 50 strong, under Captain Hcratchley, IMS. ; and tho Goi'long ltiik's, 105 strong, under Lieut-Colonel Rede. Those throe last-mentioned corps, together with a detachment of the V. V. A. It. with small arms, formed tho First Battalion of Infuntrv, under the command of Liout.-Colonol Kedo. The contro and loft wing were occupied by tho North and South Battalions of Uitlos, the former 605 strong, being commanded by Lieut-Colonel Champ ; and the latter, 531 strong, by Lieut-Colonel Muir. The whole array was, of course, under the command of Colonel Pitt, as brigadier ; the total number of volunteers present, stair included, being 1,955 men —an exceedingly respectable muster.

The major-general having been received with the customary honours, rode up and down the ranks, accompanied by his own and the volunteer staff's, and finally took up his portion just opposite the Grand Stand, and close to the flagstaff which.bore tho national standard. Upon this the troops broke into column, and marched in solemn order past the union-jack. The men looked exceedingly well. The riflemen were, of course, sumbrc enciigh, but the regularity and precision of their march were a sight to see. The red coats of the Engineers were very handsome, and threw the more elaborate and gilded trappings of some of the cavalry corps quite into the shade. Even the deep sables of the Geelong Rifles looked better than was their wont, while the blue and scarlet of the artillery gave a spice of variety to the tout ensemble, Early in the afternoon, some four or five dozen boys in uniform were to be seen on the ground, but they took no part in the military exercises. The bands of the different companies played frequently and remarkably well. So soon as the " marching past" was over, the various columns formed into three compact bodies, facing Newmarket, and the artillery opened fire upon an imaginary enemy. The firing whs followed by many bugle calls, and much hurrying hither and thither of aide-de-camps. The. cavalry galloped a short distance (the mounted rifles in very bad order, and the others with tolerable unanimity of movement,) then wheeled, and finally took up a position on the right. The naval brigade covered as the military phrase goes—by the Ist battalion of infantry, advanced upon the enemy in skirmishing order, ; keeping up what might be supposed a Imrrassing fire. The recall was soon sounded, the skirmishers halted, deployed into line, and retired through the ranks of the riflemen, who by this time had formed into lines of contiguous columns. The north and south battalions then commenced file-firing, and poured volleys of musketry into the enemy, the artillery, meanwhile, keeping up a furious cannonade. It was fortunate tor the spectators that at this moment the wind blew the smoke aside, so that none of the man«euvres were lost to sight. They soon became exceedingly interesting. Firing ceased for a while, the riflemen advanced in direct . echelon of companies from the right. They next formed into company squares, and, as the cavalry companies charged across their front, prepared to receive them, forming and reforming into columns with.surprising quickness, keeping up a continuous fire of musketry the whole Jtime. Meanwhile the artillery were not idle. So soon as the first order to cease firing was given they lay on the ground to rest, but an aide-de-camp galloping past, set them all in motion, and in a moment they had changed their guns from front to left, and opened fire. The troops next deployed into line, and a sustained fire was kept up with admirable steadiness for several minutes. The firing over, the whole brigade formed into a line of contiguous columns, and advancing in review order presented arms to the major-general. The review was now in fact over; the; officers were called to the front and complimented by the commander-in-cliief, who briefly addressed them. Arms were then piled, and, after a short period devoted to refreshments, the various corps set forth homewards. Some went by rail, but others more zealous and athletic, marched into town. It was dark when most of them arrived, and not titt nearly nine p.m. were the sounds of martial music in the streets altogether hushed. As to the mass of spectators, they readied home after a few repetitions of a scene which is very common at every Victorian holiday time—viz., that of rushing a railway train vi et arm is. To be sure, this does not last long; but the spectacle of a few hundred men, unable to wait for the carriage doors to be uulocked, and careless of all but themselves, scrambling through carriage windows, leaving women and children" to do the best they could, is not a creditable one. Passing in review the circumstances of the day, it may be saifi that our riflemen, artillerymen, and engineers have, in a remarkable degree, evinced their proficiency in many points of military discipline. Quite so much praise can scarcely be given to the cavalry, but in their behalf it must be remembered how much their movements depend upon their horses' training, and how imperfect such training, as respects volunteer corps, is sure to be. The afternoon was a fine one, and everybody appeared to enjoy themselves greatly. No accident of any consequence occurred throughout the day, so far as we have heard, nor did anything happen to damp the general pleasure. The following is a return of the volunteers present :—

I O a « ofc; S o I "3 I — 1st Eoyal V. V. Cavalry Mounted Rifles '. V. V. Light Dragoon Eoyal V. V. Artillery Regiment Naval Brigade Volunteer .Engineers NORTH BATTALIOX. Peutridge Eilles Carlton Eiilcs West Melbourne Rifles East Collingwood Rifles Collingwood Eilles North Melbourne Eilles Williamstwn Eilles Fitzroy Eilles ._ I 7 1 1 29 6 11 5 32 8 3 63 23 26 314 133 45 81 24 32 375 147 50 2 2 2 2 2 2 o 1 6 6 5 6 8 4 3 4 95 92 p-7 51! 87 57 56 38 103 100 64 64 97 63 61 43 SOUTH BATTALION. 1st St. Kilda Eifles ... Pralmui and South Yarra Eilles Emerald Hill Eilles Melbourne (Proper) Eilles • Brighton Eilles •2nd St. Kilda Eilles Hawthorn and Kew Eilles Richmond Eilles Geelonjj V. E. Regiment Staff o i) 1 2 1 1 2 2 5 4 6 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 i) 1 70 til 72 65 50 40 51 70 91 78 CS 78 72 56 44 58 77 105 5 — I ' Grand total 1955