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The new regiments have had to endure some of the sterner realities of camp life. The vast quantity of rain that fell on Friday and Saturday rendered Chobham Common little better than a quagmire. The tents were saturated ; the trenches cut round them were full ; and the horses were for some hours standing over fetlocks in water. At one time it was in serious contemplation to send some of the cavalry and infantry regiments into the neighbouring villages there to find better quarters ; and a repoit was spread that should the rainy weather continue the camp would be broken up. But the rainy weather did not continue ; and although on Monday it was impossible to hold any reviews, and nearly so to parade the troops, the ground was so far dried up on Tuesday, as to allow of a general parade and evolutions, and a brilliant sham-fight on Wednesday. The troops were supposed to attack an enemy and to be repulsed : the movements, therefore, consisted of vigorous charges, defeats, and finally a regular but orderly retreat followed by the enemy. The Scots Greys and Blues were conspicuous in the field. The new comers behave to the ad- ation of all.
Lord Ilardinge inspected the troops on Thursday morning ; after which there was a grand conflict. The character of the movement was again that of a defeated attack ; and the main evolutions of the troops consisted in retiring, each line well covered, before a superior force. In this way the "enemy "—a handful of Sappers and Fusiliers—drove back the main body of the troops, and occupied their position.
In the return march to the camp, the horse of one of the Scots Greys sank in a quagmire, and was with difficulty released ; both man and horse very much besmirched with mud. Subsequently one of the Eighth Hussars underwent a similar experience.
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