THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
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Here was a difficulty. According to Aldershot practice, we should 
have given up our position as soon as the attacking force got within 
a hundred yards of us; but, as we did not, the whole thing ended in 
a jam. The troops got mixed up, and the affair collapsed. 
Can there be anything more absurd than the general of the attack 
ordering the general of defence to retire, and abandon his position! 
Here was u clear case for umpires. They would have halted the 
attacking regiments before they got jammed, examined the position; 
the numbers of men on each side, and then decided whether we 
should give up our position and retire, or whether the attacking 
force should retire, and commence the attack from another direction, 
and make us let go our hold. 
General Lysons’ camp at Sandhurst was attacked by the remainder 
of the division on the right of our camp, with a faint attack on our 
front. I covered the concentration of our brigade by two companies 
of the 4th regiment in a very strong position, with plenty of wood 
and cover, while Colonel Wilby brought up the remainder of his 
regiment; and while the 4th King’s Own held the enemy in check, 
the remainder of our brigade was assembled in our rear. The enemy 
came on, as usual, without a check, refused to be repulsed, or even 
stopped; and of course the usual jam very soon occurred, when it 
was necessary to stop the fight. 
There were no umpires to regulate the advance, or give us credit 
for our position and dispositions. Moreover, with us the troops are 
never evenly divided. One brigade is generally attacked by the rest 
of the division, always outnumbered two or three to one. 
I think myself that we only require to lay down certain necessary 
rules for general guidance, like the Prussians, and we should very 
soon take to the system. The Prussians only use umpires when 
troops are divided, and placed in opposition, to manoeuvre against 
each other. 
Crisis of the Battle. 
When the crisis of the battle has arrived, and the reserves have 
been brought into action, and it is clear that nothing more can be 
done, the halt and officers’ call is sounded by the commanding 
general, which is repeated all over the field. The movements are 
then criticised by the commanding, general, and either the troops 
march to their bivouacs, or an interval of time is allowed for the 
withdrawal of one side and the renewal of the fight. By this 
means a premature jam, or block, on any part of the field, can be 
rectified, without spoiling the whole morning’s work and marching 
home, as we do. 
Advance of Prussian Troops. 
Standing on a hill, and watching a Prussian army advancing to 
attack, is highly interesting. They attack with heavy broken lines 
of skirmishers, supported by company columns, which keep close to 
the skirmishers to give them moral support, and even the advantage 
of volley firing, by getting into the skirmishers’ line, when they think 
it necessary to increase the fire. 
