Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Royal Volunteer Review At Edinburgh, 25th August, 1881.
requisition , and the place was soon a somewhat confused scene of al fresco breakfasts and luncheons . Some corps , however , maintained more rigid order , and mounted officers seemed busy in keeping every one on the alert ancl exercising a little control over these irregular movements . In the "West Meadows , " where the First Division was assembling , the appearance of some of the Hig hland regiments elicited general admiration . The First Argyleshire
Rifles , under the popular Lieut .-Col . Malcolm ( of Poltalloch ) , and the Sutherland men , commanded by their chieftain the Duke , came in for a special share of approval . All the morning large bodies of volunteers came marching to the rendezvous , and took up their positions with beautiful order ancl precision . The detraining of the troops was accomplished , we believe , without any hitch or mishap whatever , and the greatest credit was given to the railway authorities
for the careful arrangements made for the conveyance of so many thousands to ancl from Edinburgh . Some few of the Highlanders arrived in town on the previous night , but for the most part the large army corps was disembarked at the various railway stations in ancl around Edinburgh between five and ten a . m ., ancl despatched again in the evening between seven ancl ten p . m . It need hardly be said that there was an enormous general passenger traffic on all
the lines during the day- and far into the following night . One instance of loyal self-sacrifice on the part of a volunteer corps may be noticed . A detachment of the First Inverness Artillery from the Island of Lewis in the Hebrides , left home on Monday night , reached Edinburgh on Wednesday night , left again on Thursday night , and did not reach home till Saturday evening , all this at a time of year when their earnings at home were of greatest value . It is right , too , to mention that the exrienses of their transit , necessarily considerable , were defrayed by the generous Lady Matheson , of the Lewis .
About mid-day increased animation was given to the scene in the meadows by the unexpected arrival of H . R . H . the Commander-in-Chief , accompanied by H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , Sir Garnet Wolsey , and staff . They rode on to the ground and made inspection of the disposition of the various brigades composing the two divisions at this rendezvous . Our Cumberland friends were brigaded in the second division , which had assembled under Salisbury Cragsin the Queen ' s Park . After looking to our own
com-, missariat , ancl not forgetting a few wraps ancl umbrellas , we resolved to walk that way before taking up our places on the Grand Stand . The cold wind of the ni ght had wonderfull y dried up the ground , and the rendezvous being on the upper slopes of the valley , this division had certainly the best of it so far , and the men seemed to be . enjoying themselves under the shelter of the hill . The Cumberland battalion had left home about midnihtancl arriving in
g , Edinburgh before six a . m ., were wisely marched off to a large hall for a comfortable breakfast before assembling in the Park . The spectacle , on gaining the St . Leonard ' s entrance , was a very pretty one , the troops being disposed along the opposite side of the valley , while regiment after regiment was marching on to the drive at various points , the varied colours of different battalions showing well among the grey rocks and green turf of the Park . On
the ridge above , and on every hill in the neighbourhood— -even on Arthur ' s Seat itself—there were clusters of spectators , who seemed thoroughly to enjoy these prepararory movements . After greeting our friends from " canny Cumberland , " we proceeded along the side of the hill , anxious to get through the line and across the Parade-ground before the way was blocked . The weather was beginning to look threateningancl a bitter wind was ing from
, sweep up the east , but nothing seemed to daunt the pressing crowds who were swarming tip the hill sides . The Grand Stand was as yet comparatively empty , and we were able to secure a sheltered post from which we could comfortably see the renew . The sight of the hills opposite was one not easily forgotten , ancl multitudes still kept adding to the immense concourse of spectators that covered the slopes . There seemed so little movement in the crowd , and there was so
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Royal Volunteer Review At Edinburgh, 25th August, 1881.
requisition , and the place was soon a somewhat confused scene of al fresco breakfasts and luncheons . Some corps , however , maintained more rigid order , and mounted officers seemed busy in keeping every one on the alert ancl exercising a little control over these irregular movements . In the "West Meadows , " where the First Division was assembling , the appearance of some of the Hig hland regiments elicited general admiration . The First Argyleshire
Rifles , under the popular Lieut .-Col . Malcolm ( of Poltalloch ) , and the Sutherland men , commanded by their chieftain the Duke , came in for a special share of approval . All the morning large bodies of volunteers came marching to the rendezvous , and took up their positions with beautiful order ancl precision . The detraining of the troops was accomplished , we believe , without any hitch or mishap whatever , and the greatest credit was given to the railway authorities
for the careful arrangements made for the conveyance of so many thousands to ancl from Edinburgh . Some few of the Highlanders arrived in town on the previous night , but for the most part the large army corps was disembarked at the various railway stations in ancl around Edinburgh between five and ten a . m ., ancl despatched again in the evening between seven ancl ten p . m . It need hardly be said that there was an enormous general passenger traffic on all
the lines during the day- and far into the following night . One instance of loyal self-sacrifice on the part of a volunteer corps may be noticed . A detachment of the First Inverness Artillery from the Island of Lewis in the Hebrides , left home on Monday night , reached Edinburgh on Wednesday night , left again on Thursday night , and did not reach home till Saturday evening , all this at a time of year when their earnings at home were of greatest value . It is right , too , to mention that the exrienses of their transit , necessarily considerable , were defrayed by the generous Lady Matheson , of the Lewis .
About mid-day increased animation was given to the scene in the meadows by the unexpected arrival of H . R . H . the Commander-in-Chief , accompanied by H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , Sir Garnet Wolsey , and staff . They rode on to the ground and made inspection of the disposition of the various brigades composing the two divisions at this rendezvous . Our Cumberland friends were brigaded in the second division , which had assembled under Salisbury Cragsin the Queen ' s Park . After looking to our own
com-, missariat , ancl not forgetting a few wraps ancl umbrellas , we resolved to walk that way before taking up our places on the Grand Stand . The cold wind of the ni ght had wonderfull y dried up the ground , and the rendezvous being on the upper slopes of the valley , this division had certainly the best of it so far , and the men seemed to be . enjoying themselves under the shelter of the hill . The Cumberland battalion had left home about midnihtancl arriving in
g , Edinburgh before six a . m ., were wisely marched off to a large hall for a comfortable breakfast before assembling in the Park . The spectacle , on gaining the St . Leonard ' s entrance , was a very pretty one , the troops being disposed along the opposite side of the valley , while regiment after regiment was marching on to the drive at various points , the varied colours of different battalions showing well among the grey rocks and green turf of the Park . On
the ridge above , and on every hill in the neighbourhood— -even on Arthur ' s Seat itself—there were clusters of spectators , who seemed thoroughly to enjoy these prepararory movements . After greeting our friends from " canny Cumberland , " we proceeded along the side of the hill , anxious to get through the line and across the Parade-ground before the way was blocked . The weather was beginning to look threateningancl a bitter wind was ing from
, sweep up the east , but nothing seemed to daunt the pressing crowds who were swarming tip the hill sides . The Grand Stand was as yet comparatively empty , and we were able to secure a sheltered post from which we could comfortably see the renew . The sight of the hills opposite was one not easily forgotten , ancl multitudes still kept adding to the immense concourse of spectators that covered the slopes . There seemed so little movement in the crowd , and there was so