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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
The company columns certainly get under cover when they can do 
so close at hand; but they do not commit the error that English 
supports do, of remaining under cover so far in rear of the skirmishers 
as to be unable to give them much assistance, as they are generally 
too far behind to come up with a rush in time to save or help the 
skirmishers. We use skirmishers to cover a movement, the Prussians 
use them to fight; which is a great difference, and requires different 
management. 
The company columns are scattered all along the first or fighting 
line, acting under their different captains, who are always trying to 
improve the occasion, and make a gap in the enemy’s line; and these 
companies (250 men in number) are doubtless sacrificed in large 
numbers, to “ make the running,” as a jockey would say. 
But the colonel of the regiment—that is, three battalions—is in 
reau, watching the advance; and he can keep one or two battalions 
in hand, to send help. 
Certainly, the first line has a very elastic look, from being worked 
in small bodies, under so many skilled leaders; and it appears to 
advance very quickly, seizing every available spot as it comes on. 
The second line comes on in double company columns; but they 
deploy with great rapidity, when necessary, in attacking or trying to 
outflank. They lose no unnecessary time, as we do , in dressing lines 
which are going to advance immediately. 
I would offer as a suggestion here that lines about to advance 
immediately should be deployed without points; the order being, 
“ Deploy without points on the leading company.” 
When Prussian infantry are advancing to storm or attack, all the 
drums in rear of each company take up the attack, and beat the 
attack step, which throws all the lines and columns into step, even 
over the worst ground, and makes the men advance in perfect order 
and with spirit. 
It is very curious to see the effect of the drum on several thousand 
men advancing to attack in every direction. An Austrian officer who 
had served in Bohemia told me that the effect of the Prussian 
advance with the drum was very imposing, and by no means calcu¬ 
lated to exhilarate the attacked! 
Cavalry . 
The cavalry commanders, I observed, ride well in front of their 
regiments several hundred yards, with their staff officers (adjutants), 
to watch the progress of the fight, the regiments being kept under 
cover as much as possible; and the moment they saw a favourable 
opportunity they sent back full gallop or signalled back to an officer 
who was looking out, and down came the regiment at a gallop, and 
generally in the nick of time. 
The cavalry, as I have already said, appeared to be beautifully 
handled, and their charges most brilliant, full gallop for long dis¬ 
tances, to be up in time; and it did not appear to me that they 
troubled themselves much about a few men going down, as, after the 
successive charges of several regiments, a good many men went down. 
