The troops, from twelve to fifteen thousand, now fell into marching
order, and went to attack a wood, where we were to suppose the enemy to
be stationed. The sham-fight seemed to me rather clumsily managed, and
without any striking incident or result. The officers had prophesied,
the night before, that General K------, commanding in the camp, would
make a muddle of it; and probably he did. After the review, the Duke of
Cambridge with his attendant officers took their station, and all the
regiments marched in front of him, saluting as they passed. As each
colonel rode by, and as the banner of each regiment was lowered, the Duke
lifted his hat.
The most splendid effect of this parade was the gleam of the sun upon the
long line of bayonets,--the sheen of all that steel appearing like a
wavering fringe of light upon the dark masses of troops below. It was
very fine. But I was glad when all was done, and I could go back to the
mess-room, whither I carried an excellent appetite for luncheon. After
this we walked about the camp,--looked at some model tents, inspected the
arrangements and modes of living in the huts of the privates; and thus
gained more and more adequate ideas of the vile uncomfortableness of a
military life. Finally, I went to the anteroom and turned over the
regimental literature,--a peerage and baronetage,--an army and militia
register, a number of the Sporting Magazine, and one of the United
Service, while Bennoch took another walk.
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