502 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
The 3rd Corps advanced, covered by skirmishers, and drove in the 
advanced posts of the 1st Corps on the Hog's Back, who retired 
rapidly, destroying the railway arches and bridges on the main position 
of Fox Hill; and so cleverly did it manage to effect its retreat that the 
advance of the 3rd Corps failed to keep it in view, and lost its trail 
entirely. The right brigade and some cavalry of the 3rd Corps advanced 
in seeming security, without any feelers, until it found itself within 
the easy range of the artillery posted on Fox Hill, which opening fire, 
in a short time destroyed and demoralised this attacking force round 
Ash Church. The left brigade came up shortly after, and was treated 
in a similar manner. 
The 1st Corps had, up to then, only engaged with its artillery, 
without calling on its supports in any way; and the umpires decided 
that the 1st Corps had succeeded in repelling and destroying the 
3rd Corps. 
Owing either to the want of transport or the want of organisation 
of it, the 1st Corps was compelled to fall back—leaving the strong 
position it had so successfully held—to Bisley Common, where it 
encamped for the night and for Sunday ; and here came one of the 
ridiculous episodes of the campaign—the defender and invader march¬ 
ing peacefully side by side, sometimes actually on the same road, in 
order that the latter might find its forage and commissariat stores 
that had been deposited overnight four miles in rear of the defenders' 
position, and which of course they had too much good feeling to destroy, 
or to carry off if they could; which however was impossible, seeing that 
they could hardly transport their own stores. 
We have now seen how the first day's manoeuvres were rather a 
fiasco , and boded badly for the future. 
Sopt. 17th. Sunday was a day of perfect rest; not even outposts or 
picquets were placed. 
Head-Quarters Army Corps, 
Aldershot, 17th September, 1871. 
Continuation of General Sketch of Manoeuvres. 
General order. Monday, 18th.—The 2nd and 3rd Divisions will continue their 
operations; their object being to reach the valley of the Thames. 
The area of operations is restricted on the north by the London and Southampton 
Road, and to the east by the BrookwOod Station, London and South-Western 
Railway. 
By command, 
C. R. EGERTON, 
Major-General, 
Deputy Adjutant-General. 
Sept. 18th. On Monday hostilities commenced. Again was to be clearly 
traced the pernicious tendency of the existence of three corps. 
For had the affair been real instead of what it was, the 1st Corps, having 
the command of the bridges of the canal, could and would have fallen 
