Volunteers
citizens who of their own accord offer the state their services in a military capacity without the stipupany of the city of London, which re- The numout being attached to the regular army. having nearly 500,000 The oldest volunteer force in Great Britain is the Honorable Artillery Company of the city of London, which rewhen the ambition and threats of ceived its charter of incorporation from Henry VIII. In 1794, and again in 1803, almost ceased to exist. About 1857 a France agitated England, the government reckoned on ha efficient volunteers in arms. ber soon declined, and in 1815 the force feeling of insecurity began to manifest itself in consequence of the alleged incorps were formed. In the course of sufficiency of the national defense, and the Victoria Rifles and one or two other in 1863, and 1869, and these with the ation of the Forces Act of 1871, two or three years many thousands issued from time to time, conof volunteer riflemen the Volunteer Act of 1896, and orders in council issued from time to time, con- stitute the law relating to volunteers. There are now also corps of artillery- men, engineers, light horse, and mounted throughout the kingdom. Acts of Parstitute the law relating to volunteers. Regulation of the Forces Act of 1871, There are now also corps of artillery- Regulation men, engineers, light horse, and mounted council iss a National Rifle Association was formed rifles as part of the volunteer force. In connection with the volunteer movement a National Rifle Association was formed in 1860, which inaugurated those great annual meetings held till 1889 at Wimconnection with the volunteer movement lowed by a National Artillery Associain 1860, which inaugurated those great bleton (since removed to Bisley, near tion, whose annual meetings are held at weight of the body in grammes, and S Woking), where many thousands annually compete for prizes. This was folwere enrolled Vol. X VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA In the case of a war of magnitude the United States has always relied on its volunteer soldiery. During the Civil War, including re-enlistments, there were 2,656,533 men in the field-the great body of of whom were volunteers. They were paid by the National Government, but the States appointed field and line officers. For an account of the volunteers in the United States in the World War, see UNITED STATES, section United States in the War.