Motes on the Easter Encampment—Continued.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 125, 11 April 1893, Page 3

Motes on the Easter Encampment— Continued.

By Blank-Cahtridge. I On Monday the Manchester Rifles were ordered to support two guns on the left of the position, under the command of Major McCredie. As the rear guard of the previous night had been supplied by our corps we were rather, short-handed, but under Lieut. Ki.rton we marched off quite prepared to "do or die." A brisk march brought us all upon the top of the ridge coininandins the Ohariu valley. The guns were placed into position, the Rifles posted behind the crest of the bill, and we all lay down and waited for events. It was a wait with a vengeance. Hour after hour went by until we came to the conclusion that the attacking force had become lost in some of the abundant ravines, or had forgotten all about us— and gone to sleep in the warm noon day sun. At last the signal Run was fired— at 2 o clock when the affair should really have been half over. Then we beard a few sprinkl inff shots on the right, and saw some moving objects which looked like creeping flies from our lofty point of observation. We felt comfortable and joyful, although: we were very hungry, and on the order to commence firing being given it was obeyed with alacrity. Our immediate foes were the Wellington City Guards, under Captain Patterson, a smart officer, ftnd we were proportionately alert. After a smart cannonade from our guns, and brisk rifle fire, Major McCredie gave the order ,for the guns to retire, and the the Manchester Rifles to cover their retreat, and hold the attacking force in check. This we did, and, after the guns were over the ridge, we formed up and retired at the double. Arriving at the foot of the bill the guns were halted, and on looking back we again saw the white jackets of the Guards within easy range. The order was given for the Rifles to extend,, the gun in the rear was loaded, and A brisk fire commenced on the Guards, who did not return a shot, their pouches bein" empty, uf course vbi» was ail i wrong, because " Cease firing " had been sounded, and the action had practically ended, although we knew nothing about that and only obeyed orders; thanking our start that we had been prudent enough to reserve a few cartridges to met any coniiugencv. A few seconds after this incident Colonel Fos came down the bill leading his charger. He said Get into camp as quickly as possible " noticed that the horse was in high fettle, and, when a piece of cartridge paper was blown by the wind towards it, the brute made a vicious blow with one of Us fore feet abd nearly struck the Colonel who, however, marched quietly on. The men all admired his cootneas. Arriving in camp we were all athirst and hungry, but as we found plenty of good food prepared for us, we were soon ready to pack Up and march to the train for the houietrip. We arrived safely at Feilding at about 2 o'clock on Tuesday morning. We had only one casualty — one of the Volunteers having injured his foot slightly on the march. I must not forget to mention that a number of our boys went down to Wellington on Saturday night to see the sights. The shops were all brilliantly lighted, which showed off the wares to great advantage. The streets were crowded with well-dressed people, and the sprinkling of uniforms— red, blue, and kharkee— made the picture a pleasing one. I noticed that many of the men and young women were very tall, veritable sons and daughters of Anak ; wh ile c very - body seemed to have a comfortable well-to'do-look about them. Sobriety and decorum marked the whole. In this connection, however, one old Scotchman who went back in the same carriage with us was not satisfied. It. appears that a few of the men ou going down had been singing, and this shocked the old fellow. He poured oat his sorrow to this effect : " Eh, mon, I was a Volunteer in Edinburgh in 1859. There was nane o'that allowed there. If a man sang in the streets — Volunteer or no Volunteer— he would have been discharged by his master. There's nse deescipline man among ther lads. I mind our Captain was a fine young fellow, very strict. We never made any noise in the streets. He just inarched us down to the Gordon Arms and said *Ca' fr what you like,' aud just left us, and never troubled bis head any more." The old chap's idea seemed to be that a skinful of cheap whiskey meant good discipline, and the fool who gave it was a good officer. In concluding these notes I mast remark that the men fed a great deal better than the officers, the mess of the latter being perhaps the worst ever seen in the colony, bat a few more days would have no doubt improved it. There was no medical attendant aypointed for each day, or if there was he did not turn up. There Wai no hospital tent and appurtenances, so that when casualties occurred, as they always must do where a large body of man is assembled, nothing was ready. Luckily Dr Skennan, who was in command of the Rangitikei Royals, was always on hand, and did all that was required. By the way, Captain Skerman drew at sketch-plan of the country to be defended, which was a marvel of accuracy, and showed that he possed the most useful qualification of a field officer — the ability to draw a sketch -plan of a country With quickness and correctness. Before the Manchester Rifles marched out of camp, Captain Chicken, of the Napier Rifles, addressed them. He said he was highly pleased with the manner in which they had conducted themselves while acting in conjunction with his company, and expressed the. hope that they would at some future time meet in tho field again when the pleasurable acquaintance would be renewed. He then called for three cheers for the Manchester Rifles and Lieutenant Kir ton, which were heartily given. Lieut. Kirton then called for three cheers for the Napies Rifles, Captain Chicken, and Lieutenant Swan, which were also given with spirit. It is these amenities which make life pleasant. t The cook of the Manchester Rifles was a great success. On Friday and Saturday be did his work well, but, on Sunday, when the men saw the magnificent plumduff he bad prepared for them, they were affected almost to tears and called him put and cheered him- until the whole camp was startled. Nothing appeals to $he feelings so much as good cooking. I notice it was reported in the Wellington papers that at the sham fight en gatarday afternoon the Falmerston North Rifles defeated the Manchester Rifles. This was a mistake, because the Napier Stifles and the Manchester Rifles, who were opposed to the Palmerston Corps, had the best of the tussle and completely outgeneralied the fatter. The non-commissioned officers ot the Napier Rifles showed great hospitality to their officers and, both on Saturday and ganday, entertained them and Lieut. Kirton, of the Manchester Rifles, at dinner when all the available delicacies of the' season were duly served up. The cooking and attendance was exceptionally These notes have already extended themselves farther than I intended, and I mast conclude them by saying that no better conducted, more diligent, and attentive body of men than the Manchester Rifles ever went into a camp. Corporal Aitken acted as Sargeant, Volunteers O. Pleasants and Boyd as Corporals, and were of great assistance to the Officer Commanding.