3-008-522 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Volunteer Field-Day at Brighton: arrival of volunteers on the racecourse, 1862. 'Nothing could be finer than the approach of something like 12,000 men in close column, at quick march, up the steep hill leading to the racecourse...The whole aspect of the field, as seen from the Grand Stand, was magnificent in the extreme...On each side, as far as the racecourse extended, was a dense body of spectators, which appeared to stretch away for miles...Again, in the fourth brigade of the second division...was a broad streak of scarlet, caused by the uniforms of the 3rd City of London and the 32nd Middlesex, under Major Richards, so that the dark mass of compact troops was banded as it were at each end with a bright scarlet band, giving a most picturesque effect and finish to the whole. Behind the brigades were two lines of cavalry of the 18th Hussars, under Colonel Knox, in their gay uniform, supported by a small body of the 1st Hants Light Horse'. Note woman riding sidesaddle, itinerant vendor with basket of wares on his head, and yokel in a smock drinking beer or cider from a bottle. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.