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THE ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT EASTERN AT NEW YORK.
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THE VOLUNTEERS' SHAM FIGHT.
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future may bring forth , arc crippling the commerce and depopulating- the maritime provinces of the empire . The experience acquired by the head of the Naval Department , writes the Archduke , appealing- to himself , during his voyages to the four quarters of the globe , enables him to show indubitably that Austria ' s salvation depends upon her possessing , within the shortest space- of time possible , an effective naval force . The ships . she owns at present are merely an expensive luxury , useless for any practical purpose . The Government must at once decide upon forming 1 a powerful fleet , or of disposing of the few ships she now has to the highest bidder .
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OUT Saturday evening , the 14 th of July , the Sham ]? ight of the Volunteers came oil" in the grounds of Camden-park , near the Southborough station . The noise of battle echoed through the green slopes and woods amid which the soldier poet , Ben Jonson , may have discussed the " disciplines of the Koman wars" with the antiquary Camden , for the latter was the owner of the park and mansion , and the former his friend and frequent visitor . The defending division included the following corps and companies , tinder the command of Colonel Hides : —1 st and 2 d Battalions—Major Close , City Brigade ( rendezvous at 3-30 , London-bridge ) . 3 d Battalion—Captain M'Leod , Engineers ; Hon . Captain Bruce , Six Feet G-uards ( 3 , Pimlico ) ; Major Scott , 1 st Kent Rifles ( 3-30 , Lewisham ) ;
line broke , and retired to their last position , their left on Camden-house and their right towards Chislehurst-common , at which point of the action hostilities terminated . It was a smart engagement of rather more than an liour . As the sun sank behind the hills , the flashes of the rifles , that were pale in its beams , deepened in the twilight , and darted out from the lines , red and angry . The firing , while it lasted , was heavy , and was made as varied . as possible ; there was the continued , fire from the whole line , from right to left , volleys by companies , and volleys from the line again . Some of them were given with great preeisioni as if fired by one pull of the trigger ;'' others left a straggling spatter of shots in arrear of the time . But as the first field-day on which the several corps had been out for such practice together , the proficiency shown was very creditable to all . We doubt if any regiments of the line , so soon after their first drill , would have acquitted themselves so well . The Volunteers were again favoured by beautiful weather .
Captain Lamborde , 33 d Kent Rifles ( 4 , coutnborough-road fetation / . The attacking force , commanded by Lord Ranelagh , was much supei-ior in point of numbers . It included the following corps : — 1 st Brigade , Lord Radstock . —1 st Battalion ^—Major Compton , West Middlesex K . ifle 3 ( 3-30 , Pimlico ) ; Captain M'Innes , 3 d Middlesex Rifles ; Captain / Wilkinson , 14 th . Middlesex Rifles ( 3 " 3 ' 0 , Londonbrige ); 29 th North Midland Rifles , Captain Ross ( 3 ' 30 , London- ; bridge ) ; - 2 d Battalion , Major Beresford—Captain Hughes , 19 th Middlesex Rifles ; Captain Houghtori , 20 tb Middlesex Rifles ; Captain Buxton , Truman ' s Brewery Rifles ( 3 * 30 , London-bridge ) ; Major Beresfordy 7 th Surrey Rifles ( 3 , London-bridge ) ; Captain J 5 mans , 4 th Surrey Rifles ; Captain Yeatman , 9 th Surrey Rifles ; Captain llastiei 8 tli Surrey Rifles ( 4 , Southborough-road station ) . 2 d Brigade , Colonel Thorold . —1 st Battalion , M'Pherson—Major M'Pherson South
Middlesex Rifles ( 3 * 30 , Pimlico ) ; South Middlesex , Lieutenant Crossman , Sth Kent Rifles ; and 2 d Battalion , Major Farnell— -Captain Harris , 13 th Kent Rifles ; 18 th , Keiit Rifles- ; Captain Parker , J . lst Kent Rifles ; Lieutenant Rogers , 25 th . Kent Rifles ; Captain Montgomerie , 2-lth Kent Rifles ; Lieutenant Carter , 4 th Kent Rifles ; Captain Dyke , 16 th Kent Rifles ; Lieutenant ; Drury , 3 d Kent Rifles ( 4 , Sbuthborongh-Toad _ Stati 6 n ) - 3 d-JBattalion , Lord Bury- —Hon . Colonel Lindsay , St . George ' s Rifles ; General Dowling , Paddington Rifles ( 3 Pimlico ) ; Captain M'Gregqr , Scottish Rifles ( 2 , Londonbridn-6 ) ; Lord Bury , Civil Service Rifles ; Captain Phillips ,-Artists ' Rifles ( 3 , Phnlico ); Captain Taylor , Barnet Rifles ( 3-30 , Londonofficewhih
These corps attended by permission of the War- , cwas of course grafted on application , but no company could have taken part in the operations without that permission . General Eyra , commanding at Chatham , was deputed by the Duke of Cambridge to act as inspecting officer on the occasion , the Inspector of Volunteers , Colonel M'Murdo , being absent oh duty . Of the ^ volunteers , unattached , who attended in uniform , many were engaged in keeping the ground . A portable telegraph was laid across both hill and y , " from the head-quarters tent near the reserved seats , to the attacking position . At seven o ' clock the action commenced . The company of Engineers of the City Brigade , under Captain M'Leod , conspicuous by their red uniform , appeared on the right of the defended position , and , advancing , lined the hedge of the wood , through which the t and
enemy was approaching . The Engineers opened firo on hem , it was returned from the wood . A light , dropping fire continued for a few moments , then the Engineers fell back in skirmishing order on the open field , loading and firing rapidly . They were followed up by the enemy ' s skinnisliors , who were also soon on the clear ground . When they had nearly driven their opponents to tho stream in the centre of the vale , the main body of the attack suddenly issued from the wood , formed in lino , advanced , and , fired a volloy . The skirmishers of tho defence crossed the stream rapidly , and tho attacking line pressed forward , keeping up a quick fire . As the wood from which they had issued horo makes a bond , the ground was not wide enough for tho whole line . In tho contre , it was four deep . This first appearance and advance- of the attacking forco was one of the best portions of the spectacle ,
particularly the dash out of tho Wood which had concealed thoir forward movomont by its " leafy screen . " On tho other side , while tho skirmishers wore retreating , the main body of the defence had been forming on tho level to tho right of tho limo-kilns , thoir front defended by the little stream . Pressed still more sharply by tho advance of the attacking line , tho dofonce mado a stand in tho cover of tho limo-kilns . Tho firing was heavy on both sides , volloy following volloy in quick sucoession ; but tho position soon became untenable . Part of tho attacking lino crossed tho stream , and took its bravo dofondors on tho right flank ; assailed on two sidos by suporior numbers , nothing could bo done but retire . Tho dofonce drow out of tho cover and tho chalk pits , and foi-mod on tho slope of tho hill , the summit of which waa crowdod by tho
spectators . They wore followed up by tho loft wing of tho attack , rj glifr wing keeping in tho . valloy , iatt . liuo-with tho .. stream , gradually closing on its retiring foe , and keeping up a heavy firo on his front and flank . Tho dofonco again retired \ ip the hill , and formed in position along tho Blopo . Tho attack , which had hitherto boon tnado in line , wns now mado in two columns ; but in this form was ropulaod , by tho longor lino of firo concontrnted on its mnssos ,. Tho columns stonpod , turned , and doscondod tho hill at tho doublo , partially disordered . It looked bo much Uko real running away that some of tho uninstruoted spectators hissotl dioapprobation ; but wore themselves discomfited by tho burst of laughter that told thorn tho true state of tho oase . Tho columns wore formed ngain very quickly , and roturnod to tho charge , this time successfully , for repulse- ia not always dofoat . Tho defending
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O Thursday , June the 28 th , the Great Eastern arrived out . Every half-hoiir announcements came chronicling the movements of the great ship , and soon the town was in a tremor of excitement . About ten o ' clock the consignees of the vessel , with a few guests , left for the lower bay on a small steamboat , and soon a little fleet was gliding swiftly down the harbour to extend the long looked-for stranger a welcome . For once , time , tide , and weather favoui'ed the Great Eastern . She had given full testimony of her superiority to the vicessitudes of wind and wave , and the ocean god gracefully bowed iii recognition of her
authority . The day was one of those sunny June days which Englishmen hardly know unless they have been in the States during this loveliest month of all the twelve . A telegram from Sandy Hook , at halfpast two , announced that she was weighing anchor , and at once all housetops , piers , and wharves were swarming with an unaccustomed population . Merchants left their coudting-rooms and rushed from 'Change en ifiasse , schoolboys perched themselves on wharves and in the rigging of vessels , and all waited for the coming of this " tenth wonder of the world . " Soon she hove in sight away down at " the Narrows . " Cannon booming from the shipping- down the . bay were echoed from the decks of the Great Eastern , and rolled their united
thundering over the smooth waters of the harbour to the waiting thousands at the city . These pounds came nearer and nearer as the liuge proportions of the vessel became more apparent . Steam-tugs shot out from many of -the warves as she approached , apparently with the express design of exhibiting their own diminutive size by bringing themselves into contrast with the towering hulk of-the stranger . Yet there was no cheering . The brazen-tliroated cannon only spoke , for it seemed as if the multitude was fairly overawad by the spectacle of grandeur and power which was exhibited to them . They could express their wonder in no better way than by their ' silence , impossible to resist thq temptation of repeating . , The broad waters of the bay glistening under the slanting rays of the sun * and sparkling with the foam of a thousand keels ; the shipping at hu
tho wharves and the piers alive with hundreds pf man beings , all intent upon tho movements of this crowning achievement of human skill ; and tho vessel herself , treading the water with a conscious majesty—what moro brilliant testimony to the success of their labours could the lamented Brunei or Stephenson have desired ? To those on on board the Great Eastern much of the grandeur of the scene was lost . They could see that their bulwarks were bombarded by all eyes , - ^ Tt ^ rey ~ lastirh 3 ^ ght-o ^ along Without apparent effort , and this was the central wonder of the whole . Tho diminutive size of the largest eraft which clustered around tho Great Eastern was , of ceurse the chief standard by which the multitude gained a realising sensb of her vast size ; but after this , the most impressive sight , as regarded the dimensions of tho had been
vessel , was the loneliness of her great decks . A few guests added to tho number of her passengers in tho lower bay , btit all of them wore clustered in tho bow ^ and her decks seemed to bo entirely deserted . So little life was there apparent about the great ship , that it was not hard to mako oneself bolievo that sho was " a thing of life herself . As she came abreast of tho city , her progress was so accolerated that it waa found necessary to disconnect the paddle-wheels , and use the propolier alono , lest she should bo carried above her berth by tho impetus which sho had acquired ; but in consequence of this , she lost so muc h headway that sho did not answer readil y to her helm , and the tide carried her up some distance beyond her pier . Soon , however , steam-tugs came to her assistance , nnd brought her around . to her resting-place . Crowds' woro there to receive hor , and they hnvo not diminished sinco . All day Saturday , Sunday , and Monday , they canw ht the
and wont in an unceasing tide , and during the moonligovomngs , y havo wondered until long aftor midnifiht . at thq vast sizo yet graceful appoaranco of this strango visitor . Tho steam-boats which ply around tho harbour have already begun to ronp a rich ¦ harvest from tho curiosity of tho multitude . They make excursions around her , charging flix cents , for tho trip , and thus far they go loaded down . But some of tho Great Eastern ' s ill-luok follows her still . Tho very day alter she enmo to her moorings , a steam-tug which was botweon hor and her wharf enmo noar doing hor serious injury . A brisk gulo which sprang up on the quarter of tho great shi p drovo hor puddlo-whecl against ; this small craft , and crushed it slightly- At first tho damago done was . Btotad . tttAQfl . 0 . doWb . utJfcQia-tl ^ Then , tho next night , ono of hor sailors foil from hor in aomo unaccountable way , and was drownod . Soon oftor this uccidont , nnother of tho crow became drunk and foil through tho nndcllq-whcol , fracturing it
his skull , so that ho diod . instantly . Suvpral ot tho crow , » Ham , havo already deserted , so that tho names of those who linvo boon killeU cannot bo ascertained . Almost as soon as ttho was mado fust to hoi wharf , gangs of men woro not to work cleaning lier . tlookH , and oru *|» ing upthobaro spots with paint , « o that sl . o might bo pr epared for t h « roceptio" of visitors as ^ poodily as poMibla . < ^ vort . soments » n tho papers flxod tho 3 rd of July for opening day , and named 1 ol . wj ^ ho pneo of admisBion-ehildron lmlf-prico ? but tho direotora will have to
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July 21 r i 860 . ] The Saturday Analyst and Leader . 671 >
The Arrival Of The Great Eastern At New York.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT EASTERN AT NEW YORK .
The Volunteers' Sham Fight.
THE VOLUNTEERS' SHAM FIGHT .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 21, 1860, page 675, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2357/page/11/
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