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MINUTES OF PEOCEEDINGS OF 
on the part of the cavalry of the 3rd Corps, who remained dismounted 
in second line. On a sudden, a rattle of firearms announced that the 
attack had begun, and troops hurrying from right to left proclaimed 
that the position was attacked in flank. Some infantry had been 
hidden very skilfully, and made, a dash at the wooded extremity of the 
position, and although numerically weak they effected a lodgment, 
and were speedily supported by others, while their cavalry slipped round 
in rear and commenced to show on and to protect their right flank. 
The attack developed, and the fire of guns showed that the position 
was turned. The cavalry of the defenders attempted to support their 
left flank, but were beaten by the ever-increasing cavalry of the attack ; 
and in spite of the concentration of the fire on the part of the reserve 
artillery of the defence, they were forced to change front and bring up 
their infantry of their right flank in support towards their left in second 
line, and so prolong their front. This entirely denuded their right 
flank, and at an instant the brigade of invaders, that had been waiting 
for orders, crowned the heights almost unopposed, and completed the 
rout of the 3rd Corps, who retired to a second position with their 
backs to the canal, where destruction was inevitable. At this period 
all operations stopped, and the troops returned to their quarters, huts, 
and encampments in Aldershot; and so ended the first attempt at 
manoeuvring British forces in the field. 
sept. 22nd. The following day there was a march past, at which all the 
foreign officers assisted, and were in loud praises of the manner 
in which the troops turned out, and marched, after the toils of the past 
ten days. 
Sept. 23rd. On the 23rd several regimentsdeft for their own stations, 
among others the cavalry regiments of the guard, who marched 
to London in 7J hours, a distance of thirty-four miles, thereby showing 
that they can not only look superb in the park, but can make long 
marches, as well as their comrades in the light cavalry. A battery of 
Royal Horse Artillery also marched to Woolwich in one day, a distance 
of forty-four miles. 
It would ill become me, as holding a very subordinate position in the 
campaign, to presume to criticise the actions of the generals in command, 
yet I feel that the subject upon which I am now speaking would hardly 
be completely treated unless I were allowed to make some deductions 
from what came under my observation. 
As you all know, it was an attempt at copying the Prussian system 
of manoeuvres; but tied down as we soldiers are, by what is called “ the 
liberty of the subject,” it became impossible to assimilate to, or to copy 
their system absolutely, or to act as would be done in war time. I allude 
more particularly to the inability that the military authorities have 
in this country of billeting troops on the inhabitants. Now this simple 
want tends to diminish very vastly any similarity between mimic and 
real war, and it acts very hardly upon the newly formed and somewhat 
chaotic system of control, by forcing it to find transport for tents 
and camp equipments, which' is perhaps the most bulky of all the 
materiel carried with an army. In future wars it is doubtful whether 
