Let the eight service companies of each of these corps be raised to 1,000 rank and file, by a junction with their depôts, and by volunteers from the other regiments in the colonies or garrisons from which the regiments may be drawn. Let the garrisons in the Mediterranean and America (if necessary) be reinforced, either by an equal number of Militia regiments, or by an equal number of enrolled pensioners, formed into garrison or veteran battalions, or else by raising colonial corps for the purpose, similar to the Malta Fencibles, Canadian Rifles, &c. It appears certain, however, that several English Militia regiments would gladly volunteer for garrison duty in healthy stations. Further, our East Indian Empire being now perfectly tranquil, and the army of India being very numerous and efficient, and the French having set us a good example by employing their colonial troops from Algeria in the present war, it is proposed that an arrangement should be made with the Directors of the East India Company, in order that an Indian contingent of about 25,000 rank and file (with proportionate officers) should assist the Imperial forces in the approaching struggle, and be sent by way of the Red Sea, Egypt, &c. Let the infantry of this Indian contingent consist of five Queen's regiments and fifteen regiments of Native Infantry, all of 1,000 rank and file-the whole to be drawn from the three presidencies collectively, and in relative proportions. It is proposed that each native corps should (for the present war) have the same number of European officers as every royal regiment of like strength. Let the following be the particular Queen's regiments selected for the Indian contingent: (the above corps being particularly chosen for a special purpose, which will shortly appear). Thus, with eight battalions from home, ten battalions from the colonies and garrisons, and five from India, the Grand Army of the East, including the thirty-two battalions now belonging to it, will number fifty-five battalions of Queen's infantry; to which must be added fifteen battalions of Native Infantry; giving a grand total of seventy battalions. Let the whole be formed into nine divisions, of two brigades each; and let each brigade (except the three brigades of Guards, Highlanders, and Fusiliers) be composed of three regiments of her Majesty's infantry and one of Native Infantry, each 1,000 rank and file strong. Let the three brigades before excepted each be respectively reinforced by the 1st battalion Grenadier Guards, 78th Highlanders, and the 87th Fusiliers, by which means each brigade of the Grand Army will average four battalions, or 4,000 rank and file. Let the infantry of the Grand Army be thus organised: This being the weakest branch of the British Army, the arrangement about to be proposed is only urged as a temporary one, or a sort of preparatory step, until the cavalry force generally shall have been augmented to a respectable strength. Let the following seven regiments of cavalry be directed to proceed to Turkey as soon as possible, viz.: 1st Life Guards...... Royal Horse Guards 2nd Dragoon Guards 6th Dragoon Guards Heavy. 3rd Light Dragoons... 7th Hussars 16th Lancers. Light. Let all the above, as well as each regiment now in Turkey, make up three war squadrons, of 140 rank and file each (or 420 rank and file and 430 troop horses to each regiment), which might be effected in the following manner :-Presuming the household brigade of cavalry to average 370 rank and file and 370 horses per regiment, let the 1st Life Guards and the Blues make up their three war squadrons from the 2nd Life Guards, which would leave 270 rank and file and 340 horses; these, after allowing 35 rank and file and 40 horses for the depôts of each of the war regiments of the household brigade, would leave 200 rank and file and 170 horses for the 2nd Life Guards. Then, again, let the heavy dragoon regiments engaged (and about to be engaged) in the Eastern war, have their war squadrons made up from those regiments of heavy dragoons remaining at home, allowing a few men and horses for the depôt of each war regiment; which arrangement, I calculate, would leave an average of about 160 rank and file to each regiment at home, and about 30 rank and file to each depôt of the war regiments, as regards the heavy dragoons, and about 100 rank and file to the one regiment at home, and 30 rank and file to each depôt, as regards the light cavalry. To carry out this proposal effectively, let the 9th Lancers be sent from India with the Indian contingent, and let it be made up to 800 rank and file and 900 troop horses from the other Queen's cavalry regiments in India; and, upon its arrival in Turkey, let this regiment be also formed into a three-squadron corps of 420 rank and file, the surplus of officers (native cavalry officers) and men and horses being given to other regiments of the light cavalry division in need of the same. Also, let the cavalry depôt at Maidstone furnish 200 volunteers for the purpose suggested. The following will then be the result: Should there be a deficiency of horses, it is recommended that the police and constabulary in England and Ireland should hand over their horses to the army in this pressing emergency; and finer animals could not be desired than those possessed by the Irish constabulary and Dublin police. Let the Indian Army furnish for the cavalry contingent six regiments of regular Native Cavalry, two being Lancer corps (1st Bombay and 4th Bengal Native Cavalry) of three squadrons each (or 420 rank and file), and four regiments of Irregular cavalry (600 rank and file each). Let the whole cavalry force of the army of the East be formed into two divisions, one light and the other heavy. Let the first (or heavy) division be composed of three brigades of three regiments each, and let the second (or light) division be composed of three brigades of regular cavalry (five regiments each), and one brigade of irregular cavalry of four regiments. Let each regular brigade of the light division have three European regiments and two regiments of Native Cavalry, and let each native regiment have the same number of European officers as all her Majesty's corps of the same strength. It is proposed that the following be the organisation of the cavalry of the Grand Army : 4th Dragoon Guards.......(three squadrons) 420 3rd Brigade (Dragoons). 2nd Dragoon Guards.......(three squadrons) 420 1,260 1,260 1,260 Total Rank and File............. 3,780 2d (or Light) Division. 1st Brigade (Lancers). 9th Queen's Lancers......(three squadrons) 420 ... 2nd Brigade (Hussars). 2,100 7th Hussars 8th Hussars 11th Hussars (three squadrons) 420 (three squadrons) 420 (three squadrons) 420 2,100 1st Madras Lt. Cavalry..(three squadrons) 420 2nd Bengal Lt. Cavalry..(three squadrons) 420 |