After the heavy losses at St. Privat, two companies were combined into one for tactical purposes in some regiments of the Guard Corps. The administration of the consolidated companies had to remain distinct on account of the preparation of casualty lists, recommendations for promotion and decorations. On the day of the battle of Orleans, the strength of the German battalions varied from 459 men in the 1st Bavarian Army Corps to 747 men in the 40th Infantry Brigade. During the pursuit after the battle of Le Mans, the strength of the 56th Füsilier-Battalion was even reduced to 280 men.
The actual training of troops must be completed in
the company. Combat by an independent company is the exception;
combat by battalion the rule. By the consolidation
of four companies into one unit, the battalion, consisting of
800-1,000 rifles, is formed. The French Chasseur battalions
are the only ones that consist of six companies, because their
proposed independent employment, for instance, in mountain
warfare, makes it more often necessary to detach small units
than is the case in operations on more favorable terrain.
As, in the course of time, the independence of companies in action
developed, and as the combat of the battalion as an entity was transformed
into combined action of the four companies, the strength of the
company increased from 120 to 250 rifles while the number of companies
in a battalion diminished. The battalion of Frederick the Great was
divided for administrative purposes into five companies and for tactical
purposes into eight pelotons. The battalion of the first empire consisted
of six Füsilier and two Voltigeur companies, and the Austrian battalion,
until the reorganization after 1866, consisted of six companies of which
each two formed a division. Until 1866 the six company battalion predominated
in the infantry of all European armies (France, Italy, Austria,
and the minor German states), but early in the seventies most of the
states adopted the four company battalion, Russia being the last to do
this (four line and one sharpshooter company). In the regulations of
1812, Prussia had adopted the four company battalion. The independent
employment of the four united sharpshooter platoons of a battalion was
the exception even during the campaign of 1866. At present only the
British battalion consists of eight companies, which cannot, however, be
said to possess a capacity for independent action on account of their
small size.
In the four-company organization the battalion possesses
an asset which enables it to adapt itself easily to any
combat situation. The battalion organization is the out-
