DOI issue:
July to December, 1853
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16612#0015
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
! CIVIL (VERY CIVIL) WAR AT CHOBHAM.
IE gallant fellows now as-
sembled under arms and over
ankles in tlie mud and dust
of Cliobham, were on Tues-
day, the 21st of June, led—or
rather guided—into one of
the most civil wars to be
found in the pages—including
the fly-leaves—of history.
It having been understood
that a battle was to be fought,
every one seemed animated
with the spirit of contention,
and the struggle commenced
at the Railway Station, where
a company of heavy Cockneys,
several hundred strong, be-
sieged with great energy the
few flys, omnibuses, and other
vehicles, that were to be met
with. The assault was vigor-
ously carried; but the re-
taliation was complete; for
the cads, drivers, and other
marauders, having allowed
the besiegers to fall into the
snare, drove them off to the
field, and exacted heavy tri-
bute as the price of their
ransom. Some few took refuge by trusting to their heels, rather than undergo the severe
charge to which they would have been exposed ; and they arrived, after a fatiguing march of
nearly five miles, much harassed by the ginger-beer picquets and tramps that always lie
on the outskirts of an army.
It was, however, on the field, or rather among the furze-bushes of Chobham, that the
battle was really to be fought; and in the afternoon, the Guards, the 1st and 2nd Brigades,
with the Artillery and Cavalry, took up a sheltered position under a hill, to conceal them-
selves from the enemy. This “concealment” was rather dramatic than real; for the enemy
had already determined not to see, and as none are so blind as those who won’t see, the “ con-
cealment ” was quite effectual. When the force had had full time to get itself snugly out of
sight, the “ foe ” poured down with immense vehemence from (Flutter’s Hill, and began
squeezing into ditches, or hiding behind mud walls, to avoid the “ observation ” of the
enemy, who knowing from signals where it wras proper to look without the possibility of
seeing anything, kept up the spirit of this truly “ civil ” war in the politest manner.
The moment of action was now eagerly looked lor on all sides, and particularly by our
old friend the British Public, who had perched himself on all the available eminences com-
manding a view of those who were about to give—and take—battle. Aides-de-camp were
now seen flying about in all directions with
breatnless speed, delivering “property” des-
patches, similar to those with which the gallant
officers at Astley’s are in the habit of prancing
over the platformed planes of Waterloo. Sud-
denly the skirmishers of the 42nd made a sally
from the heights, and poured an incessant volley
of blank cartridge into the ears of the High-
landers ; who, after one decisive struggle—though
we defy anybody to say what the gallant fellows
really struggled with—dislodged the foe, who had
on the previous day received regular notice to
quit their lodging at the time agreed on. The
Guards now came on from the 0. P. side. Upper
Entrance, of the Common, and turning back the
wing, made for an adjoining flat, marching fear
lessly over the set pieces under a heavy fire—
of nothing—from the muskets of the enemy.
Victory seemed hesitating on which side to
declare herself, when a rush of cavalry turned
the scale, scattered the weights, and upset the
barrow of a seller of sweet-stuff, who had incau-
tiously — as a camp follower — ventured too
near the flanks of the horse on the field of
battle.
The melee now became general, and it being-
impossible to discriminate between friend and
foe, the Guards, seeing a large assemblage of
the public on Plutter’s Hill, were immediately
“ up and at ’em.” This put the Hill in a more
than usual flutter, for the British public having
been given to understand there was “ nothing
to pay ” for their position, were not prepared to
expect there would be any charge whatever, and
still less a charge at the point of the bayonet.
It was here that the war assumed its most civil
aspect, for the public, though vigorously
charged, were most civilly requested to get out
of the way, and the request was met on all sides
with the most civil compliance. Thus ended
the battle of Chobham of the 21st of June, in
which several fell on both sides ; but of all who
fell every one happily jumped up again. A few
lost their balance, but as these kept no banker’s
account the loss did not signify. We annex a
spirited drawing of
I
THE CAMP AT CHOBHAM—TAKEN ON THE SPOT BY A RISING YOUNG ARTIST.
A City Ballad.
At the Metropolitan Tree Hospital Dinner, the Lord Mayor in the
Chair, we find it reported that Miss M. Wells obtained great applause
by the spirit and feeling with which she sang the ballad of “ Annie
Laurie A Is the Reporter sure that it was Axnje ? Is he quite
certain it wasn’t Peter ?
A Measure with a Misnomer.
There is one objection to the Bill for the Recovery of Personal
Liberty in Certain Cases. That is, its title. False imprisonment, in
certain cases, is remediable by Habeas Corpus. What inspection of
nunneries is chiefly needed for, is the recovery of personal liberty in
uncertain cases
! CIVIL (VERY CIVIL) WAR AT CHOBHAM.
IE gallant fellows now as-
sembled under arms and over
ankles in tlie mud and dust
of Cliobham, were on Tues-
day, the 21st of June, led—or
rather guided—into one of
the most civil wars to be
found in the pages—including
the fly-leaves—of history.
It having been understood
that a battle was to be fought,
every one seemed animated
with the spirit of contention,
and the struggle commenced
at the Railway Station, where
a company of heavy Cockneys,
several hundred strong, be-
sieged with great energy the
few flys, omnibuses, and other
vehicles, that were to be met
with. The assault was vigor-
ously carried; but the re-
taliation was complete; for
the cads, drivers, and other
marauders, having allowed
the besiegers to fall into the
snare, drove them off to the
field, and exacted heavy tri-
bute as the price of their
ransom. Some few took refuge by trusting to their heels, rather than undergo the severe
charge to which they would have been exposed ; and they arrived, after a fatiguing march of
nearly five miles, much harassed by the ginger-beer picquets and tramps that always lie
on the outskirts of an army.
It was, however, on the field, or rather among the furze-bushes of Chobham, that the
battle was really to be fought; and in the afternoon, the Guards, the 1st and 2nd Brigades,
with the Artillery and Cavalry, took up a sheltered position under a hill, to conceal them-
selves from the enemy. This “concealment” was rather dramatic than real; for the enemy
had already determined not to see, and as none are so blind as those who won’t see, the “ con-
cealment ” was quite effectual. When the force had had full time to get itself snugly out of
sight, the “ foe ” poured down with immense vehemence from (Flutter’s Hill, and began
squeezing into ditches, or hiding behind mud walls, to avoid the “ observation ” of the
enemy, who knowing from signals where it wras proper to look without the possibility of
seeing anything, kept up the spirit of this truly “ civil ” war in the politest manner.
The moment of action was now eagerly looked lor on all sides, and particularly by our
old friend the British Public, who had perched himself on all the available eminences com-
manding a view of those who were about to give—and take—battle. Aides-de-camp were
now seen flying about in all directions with
breatnless speed, delivering “property” des-
patches, similar to those with which the gallant
officers at Astley’s are in the habit of prancing
over the platformed planes of Waterloo. Sud-
denly the skirmishers of the 42nd made a sally
from the heights, and poured an incessant volley
of blank cartridge into the ears of the High-
landers ; who, after one decisive struggle—though
we defy anybody to say what the gallant fellows
really struggled with—dislodged the foe, who had
on the previous day received regular notice to
quit their lodging at the time agreed on. The
Guards now came on from the 0. P. side. Upper
Entrance, of the Common, and turning back the
wing, made for an adjoining flat, marching fear
lessly over the set pieces under a heavy fire—
of nothing—from the muskets of the enemy.
Victory seemed hesitating on which side to
declare herself, when a rush of cavalry turned
the scale, scattered the weights, and upset the
barrow of a seller of sweet-stuff, who had incau-
tiously — as a camp follower — ventured too
near the flanks of the horse on the field of
battle.
The melee now became general, and it being-
impossible to discriminate between friend and
foe, the Guards, seeing a large assemblage of
the public on Plutter’s Hill, were immediately
“ up and at ’em.” This put the Hill in a more
than usual flutter, for the British public having
been given to understand there was “ nothing
to pay ” for their position, were not prepared to
expect there would be any charge whatever, and
still less a charge at the point of the bayonet.
It was here that the war assumed its most civil
aspect, for the public, though vigorously
charged, were most civilly requested to get out
of the way, and the request was met on all sides
with the most civil compliance. Thus ended
the battle of Chobham of the 21st of June, in
which several fell on both sides ; but of all who
fell every one happily jumped up again. A few
lost their balance, but as these kept no banker’s
account the loss did not signify. We annex a
spirited drawing of
I
THE CAMP AT CHOBHAM—TAKEN ON THE SPOT BY A RISING YOUNG ARTIST.
A City Ballad.
At the Metropolitan Tree Hospital Dinner, the Lord Mayor in the
Chair, we find it reported that Miss M. Wells obtained great applause
by the spirit and feeling with which she sang the ballad of “ Annie
Laurie A Is the Reporter sure that it was Axnje ? Is he quite
certain it wasn’t Peter ?
A Measure with a Misnomer.
There is one objection to the Bill for the Recovery of Personal
Liberty in Certain Cases. That is, its title. False imprisonment, in
certain cases, is remediable by Habeas Corpus. What inspection of
nunneries is chiefly needed for, is the recovery of personal liberty in
uncertain cases