The secret was admirably kept.
Outside three or four of the General Staff, not a soul knew what was to happen.

At 10 p.m.on Thursday an officer left me for his bed; a quarter of an hour later he was marching with his squadron upon the unknown adventure.

It was one of the finest and most successful things done in the war, but what I most admire about it is its secrecy.

The honours go to the Volunteers.

One regrets the exclusion of the Regulars after all their splendid service and cheery temper, but the Volunteers are more distinctly under Headquarter control, and it was thought best not to pass the orders through the brigades.