THE EOYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
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and in almost immediate presence of one another would render tho con¬ 
ception of a scheme of operations very difficult, as under any circum¬ 
stances, from the equalisation of the bodies, the forces opposed to one 
another would be in the proportion of two to one. 
Head-Quaetebs Akmy Corps, 
Aldershot, 13th September, 1871. 
General Sketch of Manoeuvres. 
General order. The enemy having effected a landing on the south coast of England, 
has refused the direct roads upon London, and is endeavouring to turn 
the strong positions between Eeigate, Dorking, and the Hog’s Back, and so to gain 
the valley of the Thames, and march upon London. 
His advanced corps (the 2nd Division) has reached Hartford Bridge Elats, and 
the main body (the 3rd Division) is at Woolmer. 
A defending force (the 1st Division) has been collected in the vicinity of London, 
and has moved to Chobham. 
Such is the position this day. 
On the evening of the 13th the programme appeared, and it was, at 
a glance, clear that it was based upon false premises, but this was 
unavoidable, owing to the want of water, transport, and many other 
incidental matters of that sort. For instance, if the 2nd Corps had ever 
reached Hartford Bridge, and commanded the passage of the Blackwater, 
nothing short of a general action would have forced it to retreat, 
situated as it was on the high road, and as near to London as the 1st 
Corps ; nor would the latter have ever thought of holding Fox Hills or 
the Hog's Back, were the 2nd Corps where it was, viz. almost in his 
rear. Again, the 3rd Corps would never have attacked the position of 
the Hog's Back, but would have advanced to its left front, and have 
assisted to maintain the 2nd Corps in the position it was fortunate 
enough to find itself in—a very easy operation, as the capture of a small 
chain of hills and Farnham would have effected the double purpose of 
reinforcing the 2nd Corps and turning Grant's position on the Hog's 
Back and Fox Hills. However, circumstances, as I have before told 
you, led to the selection and adoption of the scheme by the highest 
authorities, and it only remained for us to carry it out. 
Each corps contained— 
3 batteries of artillery, 
3 (1st Corps 4) regiments of cavalry, 
11 battalions of infantry. 
The corps were numerically nearly equal as well as similar in their 
composition, if you except the 1st Corps, that had no light cavalry and 
was forced to perform its outpost duties with the heavy cavalry of the 
guard, who, however, showed themselves quite equal to the occasion. 
Five batteries of artillery were at first left, for reasons of supply, at 
Aldershot, and were called generally “ the reserve," but on the 16th they 
were dispersed—three batteries to the 1st Corps, and two batteries to 
the 3rd Corps, 
