MATTERS MILITARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 282, 7 October 1864, Page 7

MATTERS MILITARY.

Tin: 3ni.iT.wiY tis.ux. Vkom ihe date of their arrival in New Zealand up tn ihe present moment, the officers and men of the 3'iiitary Train have had a continued course of hard rough fatiguing work. The lire liking in and training of theirhorses has been no light duty. The constant, travelling from post to post in all weathers and tmder all cireumsirujces. apart from its irksemeiiess is umosi tiying and wearing out service, and one which fails very severely upon thcprivati—as, apart from tlie weal' of his system, there is a constant wear and tear of his elothii.g, which creates a corresponding drain upon his small pay, and in manv eases throws him into debt.

Y\ hatever duties ma}- have (levolved upon tlie oflicers and men of the-Military Train—however trying and fatiguing.—fhey have been performed with the utmost alacrity, and in (he most cheerful manner.

We cannot 100 highly estimate (he services rendered by the Military Train to the General commanding, and we feel sure these services have been duly appreciated and approved by

"Wherever the Military Train has served, honor and praise have ever been awarded to it. Although not many years in existence, this highly useful corps has seen a great deal of actual service, and has engaged in many actions. A brief outline of the history- of the corps may prove interesting to main 7 of our readers. With regard to the duties of (he Military Tra in, we may say that this corps is intended to provide even' description of transport for the army, including that large portion required for commissariat purposes. The establishment now kept .up is but the nucleus of the force requisite for extensive operations, and would be increased very greatly to meet the emergencies of a state of war. The subsistence of both men and horse would devolve upon th<- Commissariat, so that these two corps would, to a great extent., be dependent upon each other for their eiiiciency. The first- mention of a properly organised Transport Corps in the British service was during the Peninsular War. It was then called the " Wagon Train," a portion of it acting as an "Ambulance Division." The corps was disbanded after tlie victoiy of Waterloo, which terminated the campaign, and the officers were placed upon the half-pay list. No mention is made ofanv regular Transport. Corps from that date till the i-l-th February, 1855, when the first man was enlisted for the late Laud Transport Corps. This corps consisted on its formation of twelve divisions, ■ numbered from "A" to " L," but in February, 185(>, was divided into fourteen battalions, consisting each of 500 non-commissioned ollicers and men. The Land Transport Corps served in the Crimea from March ] 85-3 to the termination of the war. In October, 1850, this body was re-organised as a cavalry corps under its present name, Military Train. It consists of six battalions; each battalion consisting of four troops—A. B. C. and D. Each battalion is commanded bv a Field Ofiiccr, and ollicered by four captains, seven subalterns, and six Staff ollicers. The 2nd battalion of the corps served in India during the Mutiny from 1857 to 1859. The Ist battalion served in China during the late expedition from J 851) to ]SO2. Oil the Jst battalion receiving orders for service in China, in 1859, a seventh battalion was formed. During the latter part of 18(3U the number of this battalion was changed, and it became the head-quarters of (he firsL battalion, then serving in China.

The 3rd battalion has served in Canada since 18C.1, but is now ordered home.

The •Ith battalion reckons service in New Zealaiul since November, 1 SlKi.

T1 le honors of the corps arc Taku Forts Pekin, and Lucknow.

The Military Train was first formed by volunteers from the Cavalry, Artillery, and Line regiments.

The established strength of the corps is somewhere about 1,800 non-commissioucd oflicers and men, and 1,000 horses.

Perhaps the best proof we could adduce of the cdiciwucy, discipline, and bravery <jf the Military Train -would be the publication ofcx-

pressed opinions of the General and other ofliccrs under whom tlio Train has served.

The following General Order with reference to the services of (lie Military Train in India is highly complimentary: — " GliN' liltAT. Oli OK U.S. " Head Quarters, JTorfiehl, •'February Bth, ISSS.

" The Colonel Commanding feels assured that I the officers, non-commissioned oflicers and soldiers of the Military Train serving at home, will be gratified to learn that the most satisfactory accounts have been received from Major Uobinson, Commanding 2nd .Battalion of the corps, now serving as cavalry under General Sir Colin Campbell in India. "ISo better proof can be givenof the general ability of the corps than is afforded by the history of this noble little band, since it arrived at Calcutta in September last,, along with the other troops originally destined for the China expedition. ■'As the equipment of wagons &c., required for carrying on the nominal service of the corps in Jnditi was not available, and being in want of cavalry the Commander-in-Chief at once transferred to the Military Train the horses and saddlciy of a mutinous Madras regiment, and in the course of three weeks the second bat talion was in full march, as light cavalry, to join the victorious Havelock at Luclcnow.

" After performing a march of 700 miles, with great credit, t lie battalion arrived in time to form the rear guard of Sir Colin Campbell's army during the memorable three days' operations, by wliich (lie withdrawal of the beleagurcd garrison was elfectcd in a manner which excites the admiration ot' every soldier.

" .Kxposoil to constant alerts t'vom flunk and rear tho men wore incessantly in the saddle, iind often closely engaged with the enemy ; and oil one of these occasions, a service was performed by Lieut. Bodkin and eighteen men ot the Train, which entitled that oliicer and the men following liixn to the highest credit. A picquet of infantry had been driven ill by a sortie from the (own, when Lieut. Bodkin with his little party perceiving what had happened, wheeled to his left and charged the enemy on their Hank with the greatest bravery and success." Another notification referring to the services of tho Military Train in nllovds still stronger proof of the etltcicney of this jine corps. "Fort William. January sth, ISSS. "The Higlit ] loitorablc the Governor General in Council, has much satisfaction in publishing the following report of a successful attack made by it portion of the troops under command of Major General Sir .lames Outrani. G.C.B, on a body of the enemy in the neighbourhood of his cam]). J lis .Lordship in Council concurs ill the commendation given by his .Excellency the Commander-in-Chief to Sir .lames Outrain, ami the ollicers and men under his command on the occasion :— Ji.rh-acf from Division Orders in.--net Ihy JSUtjur-Gem-rul Sir James On/raw. O.C'.JJ. Camp Aiumbugh, ii\lh September, 1557. " 1. 'lhe enemy were now rapidly followed tip across the plain by tho A'ohitilcer Cavalry, Capt. Barron, until they found refuge in a village from which they opened a lire of grape aiul musketry. They were, however, speedily dislodged by tho assistance of two o'.' Capt. Olphert's guns, under command of Capt. tSniithett. and changing their line'of retreat they endeavoured to reach the city by the way of the " Pilkahoosha."

" 5. Tin 1 Military Train, uuderMajor Bobertson. having ljcri 1 despatched to make a ihmk movement, followed them up so rapidly tlmt they dispersed their cavalry and drove tin* guns into a ravine. where they Mere captured. I)IC lending horses, of which (lie traces were cut. only escaping. '• The M ajor-General was pari irularly pleased with tiie very cool ami soldier-like behaviour of the Military Train. Far ahead of the infantry and tn:able to remove the guns, they were menaneed on their front hy a large boily of fresh troops I rem the ciiy, and attacked on thcii* rinht | (lank by the main body of the enemy consisting of about 2.<K)() infantry who had commenced their march previous to our attack, and who, on having their rear assaulted, also changed their route to one in the direction of the city, and .seeing their guns in the possession of so small a force as that under Major Bobertson, made demonstration of an attempt to regain them, but by tlie bold front shown by the Militarv Train, and the gallant advance of their skirmishers, were held at. bay, until the arrival of a part v of theoth l'usilecr.-'. and two D-pounder guns, under (.'apt. Oipherts, complete]}' secured their capture, ami enabled a working party to extricate them from the ravine into which they Lad been drawn." The Train has also served with distinction in China, where portions of the corps received the name of the "Horse Transport Service." and was formed into three battalions. Ist Battalion, under Captain Hornby ; the 2nd under Captain (now Major) Grav, and the .'ird under Captain Goodall. The head quarters of the corps under the command of Major Cooper, landed at Bustard Creek, in the Province ol Pitchelli, iN'orth China, and shortly afterwards proceeded to the Taku Forts. The whole of the Military Train in the Ist and 3rd Battalions, and a portion of the 2nd, received the clasp lor the engagement at Taku. A considerable number of the Train took part in the action at. .Lino and Tung-Jvew. On arriving at Tien-lsin the corps received the thanks ot the General commanding (Sir Bobert for the manner in which the Transport JJcpartmcjit had been conducted by the corps during the march from Taku to tlnit place.

Jjuring tljcii" staj' here a sharp encounter took place between a small party of the Train, under Captain Goodall, and a body of Tartars. The '1 art sirs were soon worsted, ioavinif two of their party (one an otlicer) wounded and prisoners in their hands.

The greater part of the corps took pari in the actions of Chang-ehia-whaun and Pruit-tza-ya. Many of the otlicers now serving i u tm>. 'Ith Battalion, in Jiow Zealand, have seen .sharp service.

The Colonel commanding ilic 4th (Colonel O'Brien), whilst serving with tlic 77th, was 011iu tilt; notions otl Aliuu and XukciTnan and was present at the sicjje of Sebastopol. For his set \ ices m I lie Crimea, Colonel O Jirien received a brevet majority, the medal ami clasps, and sth class of the Medjidic. ."Major Graj- .served with distinction in China. Lieutenant and Adjutant Shaekletou was present at the atl'air of Alclvenziu's farm, Alma. Jnlcerman, .sortie of 211 th October, siege and J'ali of Sevastopol. Modal and three elasps. -Mr. JJ'Arey served at the siege of Sebastopol, . Medal and clasps.—JN'cw Zealand Herald, October :j.