The modern grand military features of the Race Hill have been the sham fights of the Volunteers, and known as the Battle of Ovingdean, Easter Monday, April 1st, 1861, under Lord Ranelagh; and the Battle of White Hawk Down, Easter Monday, April 21st, 1862, under Lord Clyde; both great successes, and affording proofs of the valuable services and admirable efficiency of this noble auxiliary of England’s military power. The force present on the first occasion numbered between 7,000 and 8,000 men, thus brigaded:—
Artillery Brigade.—Colonel Estridge, commanding. 1st Battalion Brighton Artillery, 4th Cinque Ports, 2nd Hants, and 2nd Sussex.
First Brigade Rifle Volunteers.—Lieutenant Colonel Faunce, commanding; Captain Deedes, Brigade Major. 1st Battalion—Colonel M’Leod, 1st Middlesex Engineers; 32nd Middlesex (Guards). 2nd Battalion—Major Atherley, 2nd South Middlesex. 3rd Battalion—Capt. Ives, 11th Middlesex, (St. George’s), 36th Middlesex (Paddington).
Second Brigade.—Lord Radstock, commanding; Captain Chitty, Brigade Major. 1st Battalion—9th West Middlesex, 2nd Middlesex (A.B.) 2nd Battalion—Colonel Money, 6th Tower Hamlets; 4th Tower Hamlets; 7th Middlesex (Islington). 3rd Battalion—Colonel Colville, 39th Middlesex (Finsbury); Kent Rifles, (Captain Jackson), 4th, 13th, 17th, 21st, and 34th.
Third Brigade.—Colonel Moorsom, commanding; Major Panton, Brigade Major. 1st Battalion—3rd Sussex (Administrative Battalion). 2nd Battalion—1st Cinque Ports. 3rd Battalion—2nd Sussex (Administrative Battalion).
Fourth Brigade.—Colonel Vallancey, commanding; Major Deedes, Brigade Major. 1st Battalion—Colonel Couran, 1st Hants (Administrative Battalion), Winchester; 3rd Hants (Administrative Battalion); 6th Hants. 2nd Battalion—Major Roupell, 19th Surrey (Lambeth); 10th Surrey (Bermondsey). 3rd Battalion—Sir H. Fletcher, 2nd Surrey (Administrative Battalion); 20th Surrey (Norwood).
Reserve.—3rd City of London; Brighton Cadets; 11th Tower Hamlets.
The troops were formed in battalions on the Level, from whence they marched by way of Marine Parade, and by the County Hospital to the summit of the hill on the right of the Race Course, along which, past the Grand Stand, they marched in review, before Major General Sir James Scarlett and his staff.
Upon the crown of this hill, during the wars with Napoleon, stood a signal-house and telegraph semaphore communicating along the coast with similar stations at Seaford and Shoreham, and forming a link in the important chain of signals which was in use between Portsmouth and Dover. There is very little doubt, that about that locality at a much earlier date than sporting records hand down to us, racing of some description took place, the Town Book having the following entry:—
Memorandum, that on ye 7th of November, 1713, Henry May, Esq., paid us a half-penny acknowledgmt for carrying the Corpes of his father Sr Richard May, deceased, through the Laine, commonly called the Hilly Laine, from the place were formerly stood a Race post, to the town of Brighthelmston, it being noe high or Common Road, we Say red the Same for sufferance, Per us
Richard Masters,
Simon Wisden.
John Gold.
The payment was doubtless exacted under the erroneous notion that the unobstructed conveyance of a corpse gave the public a right to the way or road along which the body was borne; and it is the generally received opinion that the right of road by the footpath or bridle-way from Blatchington, by way of Watts’s Laundry to the road on Church Hill, was obtained by a corpse having been conveyed from Blatchington for burial in the church-yard of St. Nicholas, Brighton.
The several corps engaged in the Review having passed up the Course took up heir first position on the ridge of heights overlooking Brighton, and afterwards formed an extended line on the crest of one of the hills running inland and parallel with the race-hill. This long line of about a mile in length was supported by four guns on the extreme left. At the time of commencing operations the furze on the side of the hill was, either by design or accident, set on fire. Huge volumes of smoke rose from the burning gorse, and as the line opened and kept up a heavy firing for some time, the imaginative spectators on the distant eminence might suppose that some quiet hamlet had been set on fire, either by the enemy or by the brave defenders of their hearths and homes. After some very heavy file-firing from right of companies, and two or three well-delivered volleys, the line fell back, protected in its retreat by the guns in position. The enemy was supposed to have followed them, but, like the Spanish fleet, they could not be seen, because they were not in sight. Lord Ranelagh’s force was too small to admit of division into two forces; but even had it been larger, it is doubtful whether a Volunteer enemy would submit to be beaten according to orders, with so much cheerfulness, and with so much steadiness, as is the case with the regulars on the field-days of Aldershot and elsewhere. The retreating force next deployed towards the sea, the action became more general, and several battalions were moved up in support of the line. There were more rattles of musketry, and more volleys, and then, wearied out with the persistence of the enemy, two brigades, forming the right, charged down on the enemy’s left and drove them over hill and dale. The unseen and flying enemy, however, got some imaginary reinforcements, and returned to the attack and retrieved their laurels. The gallant brigadiers led back their unwilling, but not disheartened men on the left wing; then the centre fell back, and the right, unable to stand alone, followed the example. Lord Ranelagh’s eye instantly saw the cloud of dust which told of the approach of horsemen. Quick as lightning there went forth the command—“Form square to receive cavalry,” and the order was promptly obeyed; and had there been any cavalry, they would no doubt have been very warmly and heartily received, in obedience to orders. The division took up a fresh position—again advanced—the Battle of Ovingdean was fought and won, and the well-known strains of the “National Anthem” told of the loyalty, as many courageous deeds had told of the valour, of the Volunteers.
At the second Easter Volunteer Field Day there were 19,000 of the following corps present:—
Cavalry.—18th Hussars, Lieut.-Col. Knox. 1st Hants Light Horse, Capt. Bower.
Artillery.—Field Batteries.—Lieut.-Col. Ormsby, R.A., commanding Staff: Capt. Tupper, R.A., Capt. Pitt, R.A., Capt. Ward, R.A., Capt. Blackwell, R.A. 1st and 2nd Batteries—Major Dalbiac, 1st Sussex. 3rd Battery—Capt. Darby, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sussex. 4th Battery—Major Harcourt, 4th Cinque Ports.
Garrison Brigade.—Lieut.-Col. Estridge, commanding; Capt. Woodhead, 3rd Middlesex Militia, Aide-de-Camp; Capt. Wolf, R.A., Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Sturdee, 1st Hants. 2nd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Lord Truro, 3rd Middlesex. 3rd Battalion—Major Creed. 3rd Essex, 1 A Cinque Ports, 1st Middlesex, 2nd Middlesex, 1st Tower Hamlets.
Infantry.—First Division.—Major-General Crauford, commanding, Staff: Capt. Smith, Grenadier Guards; Lieut. Hon. J. C. Eliot, Grenadier Guards.
First Brigade.—Lieut.-Col. the Duke of Wellington, K.G., commanding; Capt. Goff, 50th Foot, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Macleod, 1st Middlesex (Engineer), 1st Tower Hamlets (Engineer), and two companies 16th Middlesex. 2nd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. the Hon. C. Hugh Lindsay, 11th, 18th, and 36th Middlesex. 3rd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. G. Warde, 1st City of London. 4th Battalion—Major Whitehead, 1st Middlesex.
Second Brigade.—Lieut.-Col. the Marquis of Donegall, G.C.H., commanding; Major Mackenzie, Antrim Militia, Aide-de-Camp; Brevet-Major Shaw, R.A., Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Jeakes, 4th and 37th Middlesex. 2nd Battalion—Major Vernon, 28th Middlesex, and 4th Bucks. 3rd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Lord Enfield, 29th Middlesex. 4th Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Lord Bury, 21st, 30th, 38th, 42nd, 43rd, and 44th Middlesex.
Third Brigade.—Lieut.-Col. Viscount Ranelagh, commanding; Capt. Templar, Dorset R.V.C., Aide-de-Camp; Brevet-Major Deedes, 60th Foot, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion—Major Atherly, South Middlesex. 2nd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Somerset, 40th Middlesex. 3rd Battalion—Sir John Shelley, 46th Middlesex, 2nd City of London, and 4th City of London. 4th Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Bigge, 20th Middlesex.
Fourth Brigade.—Brigadier-General Haines, C.B., commanding; Lieut. Arbuthnot, 10th Hussars, Aide-de-Camp; Capt. Wovell, 41st Foot, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion—Major Beresford, 2nd, 7th, and 12th Surrey. 2nd Battalion—Capt. Trueman, Acting Major. 10th, 19th, 21st, and 23rd Surrey. 3rd Battalion—Major Farnell, 1st Administrative Battalion of Kent. 4th Battalion—Major Sir H. Fletcher, 5th, 13th, and 14th Surrey, and 2nd Administrative Battalion of Surrey.
Fifth Brigade.—Major-General Taylor, commanding; Capt. Pemberton, Scots Fusilier Guards, Aide-de-Camp; Major the Hon. W. J. Colville, Rifle Brigade, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Capper, 5th and 9th Essex. 2nd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Buxton, 1st Administrative Battalion of Tower Hamlets. 3rd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Money, 4th and 6th Tower Hamlets. 4th Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Walker, 2nd, 8th, 9th, and 12th Tower Hamlets.
Second Division.—Major-General Hon. A. Dalzell, commanding; Staff: Colonel Taylor, C.B., Colonel Walker, C.B., and Capt. Carleton, 21st Foot.
First Brigade.—Lieut.-Col. Lord Radstock, commanding; Lieut. Peake, Aide-de-Camp; Major Gooch, unattached. Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion—Lieut.-Col, Wilkinson, 2nd Administrative Battalion, Middlesex. 2nd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Bathurst, 19th Middlesex. 3rd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Colvill, 39th Middlesex and 26th Kent. 4th Battalion—Capt. Fenton, 9th Middlesex.
Second Brigade.—Brigadier-General Brown, commanding; Lieut. Savery, 78th Foot, Aide-de-Camp; Capt. Morgan, 55th Foot, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Grimston, 1st, 2nd, and 16th Hants. 2nd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Conran, 3rd Administrative Battalion, Hants. 3rd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Dunsmore, 1st Administrative Battalion, Isle of Wight. 4th Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Vallancy, 2nd Administrative Battalion, Hants.
Third Brigade.—Lieut.-Col. Moorsom, commanding; Lieut. Moorsom, Royal Artillery, Aide-de-Camp; Capt. Penton, 3rd Middlesex Militia, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion—Acting-Major Meek, 3rd Sussex Administrative Battalion. 2nd Battalion—Sir Percy Burrell, Bart., M.P., 1st Sussex Administrative Battalion. 3rd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Gage, 1st Cinque Ports Administrative Battalion and 17th Kent. 4th Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Barttelot, 2nd Sussex Administrative Battalion.
Fourth Brigade.—Brigadier-General Garvock, commanding; Hon. Capt. Chetwynd, Aide-de-Camp; Capt. Jones, 20th Foot, Major of Brigade. 1st Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Lord Elcho, 15th Middlesex. 2nd Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Brewster, 23rd Middlesex. 3rd Battalion—Major Richards, 3rd City of London and 32nd Middlesex. 4th Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Lord Grosvenor, 22nd Middlesex, 1st Battalion. 5th Battalion—Lieut.-Col. Lord Gerald Fitzgerald. 22nd Middlesex, 2nd Battalion.
Upon the arrival of the various corps, they were marched to their several places of rendezvous, on the Level, St. Peter’s Church and North Steine Enclosures, the Pavilion Grounds, and the Steine, where they partook of refreshments. At 11 o’clock the “assembly” was sounded, and very soon after the whole of the corps were on their march to the Race Hill, by way of the Marine Parade and Elm Grove, the Divisions meeting again in White Hawk Valley, whence they paraded down the Course and passed in Review opposite the Grand Stand, before Lord Clyde, the Earl of Chichester—Lord Lieutenant of the County,—and Lord Cardigan, passing out at the south end of the Course, and then descending to their original position in the Valley. The field evolutions took place principally on White Hawk Down, and were eminently successful, and the whole of the arrangements of the day, civil and military, were a practical demonstration of the facility with which troops might be moved towards a threatened point on the particular railway which would be most likely to be required for such a duty in an actual case of emergency. On the morning of the Review, 6,922 Volunteers were despatched from London Bridge in two hours and 41 minutes, and 5,170 from the Victoria Station in two hours and 20 minutes, without difficulty. They were conveyed in 16 trains, each composed of an engine and tender and 22 vehicles, and each carrying on an average 20 officers and 735 men; and they reached Brighton in an average of 2 hours and 28 minutes from the time of starting. The Brighton Company borrowed on this occasion 72 carriages from three neighbouring companies, and 79 carriages also brought Volunteers over their railway, from other lines; but they had to provide for their ordinary passenger-traffic on that day, as well as for the Easter Monday traffic to the Crystal Palace, which was very considerable, and to convey upwards of 2,000 Volunteers along the south coast from the several stations on their own line. Indeed, the total number of passengers who travelled upon the London, Brighton, and South-Coast Railway on that day was 132,202, including Volunteers and the holders of season and return tickets.