Chestnut Trees on the Thames: патріотизм

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In Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Sigel, with 10,000 Union troops, had started south in coordination with Grant’s drive to destroy the railroad and canal complex at Lynchburg. Advancing from Cedar Creek, he was attacked by Major General John Breckinridge, with 5,000 men. At a crucial point, a key Union battery was withdrawn from the line to replenish its ammunition, leaving a weakness that Breckinridge was quick to exploit. He ordered his entire force forward, and Sigel’s stubborn defense collapsed. Sigel was driven back and failed to maintain further pressure in the Valley. Notably, among the Confederate soldiers was the young cadet corps of the Virginia Military Institute.

In this week's edition

The Times History of the War plus war reports, letters and comment as selected from The Times Archive

War Volunteers

This week's chapter examines the old regiments, early difficulties, the Brassard, "Special units", the Honourable Artillery Company, the London Scottish, the National Reserve and Royal Defence Corps, trench-digging, the four classifications, defaulters, camp life the National Guard, the Volunteer Training Corps, volunteer officers and cadet units, ambulances and hospitals, the Artists' Rifles, station work and motor cyclists, special recognition.

Nothing damped the ardour of the citizen who had enrolled. He paid his subscription, he hired or bought his Martini or dummy, he paid for his uniform, and if he went in for a little camp work or firing practice at a range, he bore his own expenses

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The Volunteers June 1, 1916

Though no one fears the landing of a large force, the vulnerability of Great Britain to attack is the extent of its coast line, and no place can be left quite denuded of troops

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-volunteers-d62njl0zs?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=newsletter_118&utm_medium=email&utm_content=118_25.04.2018%20Volunteers%20(1)&CMP=TNLEmail_118918_3210017_118

To the Editor of The Times
Sir, There is no war organization been through more vicissitudes than the Volunteers, and it can only be the essential soundness of its purpose that has enabled it to survive.
There was a time when even drilling was forbidden them, and it was only the persistency of some of us that the Volunteers got leave to train. When the first recognition did come, it was so hedged round with restrictions that many thought the force could not survive. But enthusiasm triumphed: meetings were held, literature circulated, and corps formed in every town and village.
Meanwhile, the sympathies of the Lieutenants of Counties were enlisted and a military organization on a territorial basis set up. Thousands of men have found their own equipment, rifles have been bought, drills put in, until at last the very efficiency of the Force has compelled the respect of the military. Job after job has been thrust on them; whenever an emergency has arisen the Volunteers have been called out to fill the gap. General Smith-Dorrien has used them on the railways, the Ministry of Munitions to guard unprotected factories, the Royal Flying Corps to provide landing places, the Ordnance to establish a new store centre, the officer in charge of lines of communications to protect railways when there were large movements of troops, and the Admiralty to patrol the coast; but the men had no status; they had no legal right to act, and were not subject to discipline. Their claim to become part of the armed Forces of the Crown was pressed without avail, and in despair Lord Lincolnshire presented his Bill to the Lords. It was accepted by the Government, went through the Upper House without a division, but because of political exigencies - for which the Volunteers were in no way responsible - did not reach the Commons. That was last November; but, largely through the efforts of Mr Walter Long, the situation was saved by the promise of the Government, early in February, to revive the old Act of 1863.

The new order has not been applied with undue haste; I make no complaint, but no one can say the terms are on the side of generosity; but they are a big step forward in that they transform the Volunteer from a civilian into a soldier. The Force, meanwhile, has been depleted by delay and other causes. The men are now called on to attest with very restricted liabilities, and they are only bound to come out - for the purpose of repelling an enemy in the event of an invasion being imminent.” Other services can be accepted if they volunteer for them. But before they undertake to put themselves in the hands of the military they wish to be sure their services are really required; they want a call for sacrifice, and with that call not only will they roll up in their thousands, but bring their neighbours with them.

I was present last night when Lord Kitchener made his speech. I did not read in it the want of sympathy that some of the Press has seen in it. He made clear there was work for them to do, but seemed possessed with the fear that too generous recognition of their services would lead to undue clamour for money and equipment at the expense nf more urgent claims. The Volunteers are reasonable people; they will take what they can get, but they want to know that they are really wanted and their sacrifices are not in vain.
The concluding paragraph of the speech of the Secretary of State for War did make it clear that they were of use, but 18 months’ association with politicians has made him over-cautious in his language, and, though an impression has been conveyed that there is no great enthusiasm for their services, I am sure there was no intention to convey that idea.
I can assure Volunteers that Lord French and the General Headquarters have allocated duties to Volunteers that on a rota system would give employment to double their numbers. If they do not enrol, Regular troops will have to be retained that otherwise would be free to go to the front.
The need for economy in our resources of men and money is being ardently pressed on the nation by Ministers on every occasion. The Volunteers without being withdrawn from their trade or occupation and without being a charge on the State, are able to perform military duties which, if they did not exist, would require the calling up of more men.
Though no one fears the landing of a large force, the vulnerability of Great Britain to attack is the extent of its coast line, and no place can be left quite denuded of troops. To complete the chain of defence would require a very large force, but the existence in each town of Volunteer Corps ready to be called out at a moment’s notice is not only an additional security in war time, but makes it possible to concentrate the Regular Forces for home defence and work on much smaller numbers. Many of them have rifles, but I am satisfied that sufficient arms will be forthcoming to enable the Volunteers to maintain adequate guards and patrols where required.
On Saturday, June 17, Lord French is to inspect the County of London Volunteers, and the turn-out of the men will show the nation that they have in the Volunteers a reserve of strength that increases the potential fighting value of the Regular Forces.
Yours, &c.
PERCY A. HARRIS,
Central Association Volunteer Training Corps,
Judges’ Quadrangle, Royal Courts of Justice, WC, May 31.