THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
507 
Sept. 21st. The 2nd Corps was for this day's manoeuvres divided 
between the other two, and the programme left almost 
absolute liberty to the commanders of these corps. The 3rd Corps, 
strengthened by a portion of the 2nd Corps under General Staveley, 
were to prevent the return of the 1st Corps, reinforced by a portion of 
the 2nd Corps, to Aldershot. 
Cavalry,, 
Infantry 
Artillery 
Opposing Forces. 
1st Corps. 
. 6 Regiments. 
. 17 Battalions. 
. 42 Guns. 
3rd Corps. 
Cavalry. 5 Eegiments. 
Infantry . 16 Battalions. 
Artillery ...... 42 Guns. 
In order to do this, a long line had to be taken up or observed—viz., 
from the line of the Frimley Bagshot road on the left, to the Pirbright, 
Ash, Aldershot road on the right—a front of at least seven or eight 
miles, over nearly all of which every arm could be manoeuvred. 
I shall for simplicity still call the corps the 1st and 3rd. 
The 3rd Corps held strongly the position of Chobham Ridges, with 
their left on Golden Farmer junction, with a brigade in Frimley and 
another on Frimley Green, with outposts along the top of the ridges 
overlooking Bisley Green and the Brookwood Railway Station. These 
detachments were formed of the reinforcements from the infantry of 
the 2nd Corps that were joining the 1st Corps from their camping 
ground at Wishmoor Cross. These detachments were subsequently closed 
in to their right on the main body, but hardly in time to save being 
cut off by an enterprising body of lancers who had appeared on their 
left flank as they were on the march. The commander of the 3rd Corps 
had rather prejudged the course of events, and had massed his forces 
on the south end of Fox Hills, as he conceived that the 1st Corps 
meditated a flank march by Ash into Aldershot, and his idea was at the 
first borne out by large columns of dust that were seen moving in that 
direction; but of these we must speak when following the movements of 
the 1st Corps. 
The 1st Corps, moving from their camp, and reinforced by cavalry, 
artillery, and infantry of the now broken up 2nd Corps, advanced their 
cavalry until they ascertained that there was no force in their immediate 
front; then suddenly withdrawing them, they passed them over the 
canal and railway by the bridges at Woking and Cowmoor, and com¬ 
menced an advance in three columns towards their left front; these 
columns caused the dust I have above alluded to, and tended to deceive 
the 3rd Corps. After the cavalry had made a demonstration to turn the 
right of the 3rd Corps, the infantry crossed the bridges lower down, 
and which were now repaired, and marched through woods and 
eventually deployed across the left flank of the position taken up by 
the 3rd Corps, whilst a portion moved round their left and rear, and 
hidden by woods awaited the attack. During the whole of this time 
the cavalry of the 1st Corps performed their duty so well, that whilst at 
the same time being perfectly aware of the position they were about to 
attack, from repeated small dashes up nearly to the guns, they entirely 
masked the movements of their infantry, and prevented any exploration 
