In his account of the 12th June 1863, Friedrich Weiz recalled the officer commanding the battalion during the battle on Sunday 18th June: ‘The commander of the 1st Battalion was Major von Weyhers, an educated man and a brave and energetic officer of the highest degree, but he did not have the gifts and skill to train a young battalion, and consequently to lead it. Therefore, even today this officer must be reproached that he did not take time to practice a single command with the young battalion from the day of mobilisation till the day of the battle. The soldiers did not know his voice. If the battalion fought with honour, it was due to the officers’ merit. It is unbelievable that the superior authorities did not interfere. Whether this did not happen out of consideration for certain persons remain a secret. But everyone knows, and quite rightly so,  that in such circumstances consideration must play no part.’ This item also forms part of the on-line archive.

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