The history of the 1st Batt. Wilts Volunteers, from 1861 to 1885Gibney, R. D. (Robert Dwarris)
History
The history of the 1st Batt. Wilts Volunteers, from 1861 to 1885
Gibney, R. D. (Robert Dwarris)
Great Britain. Army. Wiltshire Regiment. Battalion, 1st -- History
Lieut.-Colonel Everett and Lieut.-Colonel Ward, with their respective
adjutants, met together at Warminster for the purpose of organizing
a camp for both regiments at Devizes, and it was hoped that if this
camp were held during the training time of the county militia and
yeomanry, good would result; but after much correspondence with the
Lord-Lieutenant, the Marquis of Ailesbury, commanding the yeomanry,
and various officers, the scheme had to be abandoned. It was evident
that an encampment of the battalion in its own district, and under
the sole control of the commanding officer, could alone be brought
about, and not improbably would meet all that was required. There was
a meeting of officers commanding battalions in the three counties of
Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Dorsetshire, and the neighbouring counties,
held at Bishopstoke Station, at which meeting it was determined to hold
a volunteer review on a large scale at or near Salisbury, on the 29th
May. The review took place accordingly at the date specified, on the
downs, a very hard three miles' distance from Salisbury. It may have
been satisfactory to some of the performers in it; but as to any real
knowledge of how troops should be handled in absolute warfare there was
none given. The infantry, divided into three brigades, numbered nearly
5000 men, of which this battalion yielded 500; the artillery, 228 men,
with six guns, being two guns per brigade, and 180 sabres; yeomen,
serving in the Wilts and Hants Yeomanry and Mounted Rifles; Colonel
Erskine, Inspector-General of Volunteers, being in command, assisted by
Colonels McMurdo, Bruce, and Colville, assistant inspectors.
After passing in review order, the supposed enemy had to be dislodged;
but as this enemy were short of cavalry, and we, being well off in
that respect, as the returns showed, it was resolved to lend him ours,
so, halting the infantry, these gallant troopers passed through the
openings left between brigades, and in the four-deep formation, to
disappear in the valley where the enemy lay concealed. We re-formed,
unsuspicious of their treachery.
Advancing once again, the battle began; but success was not to be the
portion of the attackers. They retreated, and were followed up in
this retreat and harassed considerably by the cavalry so kindly lent
to them but a short quarter of an hour previously. The firing was
great, the confusion greater, but the damage was unappreciable; the
proportion of cavalry to the retreating infantry, about one horseman
to thirty infantry men, not being overwhelming. Besides, the bravery
of these cavalry in riding within a few feet of the muzzles of groups
of riflemen must have led to heavy casualties. However, all is well
that ends well, and at the termination of the manœuvres the authorities
expressed themselves satisfied with the day's performance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account