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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
of an army, but generally signifies a large force of a separate arm-— 
as e< divisions of infantry ," or “ divisions of cavalry," to which may be, 
however, and nearly always is, attached a proportion of artillery. 
Towards the close of my remarks I shall make allusion to what has 
been generally admitted as shortcomings in our first attempt, which I 
would premise, as a first attempt, may be pronounced a success, and 
more than carried out what our facetious friend Punch" designated 
recently as a albs pretty well.” 
The map before you represents upon a large scale the country over 
which the operations took place. The ground was limited in area, as you 
probably know, by an act of Parliament, and although before the 
manoeuvres commenced some critics took exception to the small extent 
of ground, yet it proved quite large enough for the force employed, and 
rather too large for the powers of the transport service. As you will 
observe, the ground assumed every phase—mountain, moor, bog, wood, 
cultivated land, parks, and villages, intersected by railways, canals, 
streams, and roads of all natures, from the good level turnpike to the 
merest forest or moorland track; at the same time several lakes and ponds, 
whilst adding to the difficulties of the country, facilitated the watering of 
large bodies of cavalry. 
Aldershot Camp lies as nearly as may be in the centre of this tract of 
country, and as from it principally supplies were drawn, I think the 
locality was well and judiciously chosen as the site of our first attempt. 
We must' walk before we can run, and it was at least prudent to guard 
against the contingency of an utter collapse. 
The troops began to assemble at Aldershot about the commencement 
of the month, and the earlier period was consumed in teaching the 
militia to drill, the cavalry to picket their horses, and the staff—many of 
them entire strangers, not only to the country, but to the troops with 
whom they were called upon to serve—to make acquaintance with their 
new duties. Some difficulties presented themselves from the want of 
transport, which as you all know is the most vital necessity in a campaign, 
and one that is most neglected in England, for it has been truly said 
that an army marches not upon its feet but upon its belly. 
As soon as the transport began to assume some form, two corps were 
formed and left the camp of Aldershot on the 8th September, one for 
Hartford Bridge Flats, another for Woolmer Forest, leaving enough to 
form another corps at Aldershot pending the further organisation of the 
Control Department. For some time it was doubtful whether this corps 
could march further than half-a-day's march from Aldershot (returning 
thither every night), but everyone was rejoiced when on the 12th inst. 
the force under Sir Hope Grant left Aldershot and marched to Pirbright 
Common. 
The positions of the three corps were on the evening of the 12th inst. 
as follows:— 
1st, Grant's Corps ... Pirbright (subsequentlyto Chobham). 
2nd, Carey's n ... Hartford Bridge. 
3rd, Staveley's u ... Woolmer. 
Everyone felt that the presence of three distinct bodies in the field, 
