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52 columns acting under energetic and bold leaders, without too close a regard to maps, compasses, or strategical combinations. Moreover, in a climate in which, during a prolonged campaign, more casualties arise from disease and sunstroke than from fights, stormings, or pursuits, it is especially the duty of Commanders, if need be, to risk a loss of life in order to gain momentous objects. When Dundonald asked Nelson, just before a famous naval action, what tactics he should pursue on coming up to the enemy's fleet, he is said to have received the characteristic reply, 'Tactics be hanged, go straight at 'em.' And such considerations naturally occurred to many military men in India, who without desiring to omit proper precautions or to ignore necessary rules of strategy and tactics, nevertheless longed to see active columns under energetic commanders moving about the revolted provinces, while forces of moderate dimensions laid siege to fortified positions of importance, such as Delhi, Lucknow and Jhánsí.

The Indian Mutiny of thirty-four years ago called for dash and daring. No real success was ever achieved at that time in the field except by rapid movement and bold attack against heavy numerical odds; and no failure was possible except from excessive caution, or from a too rigid preference on the part of those in command for cumbersome orders, cumbersome columns, and cumbersome movements. Sir Colin Campbell, as all who served under him were well aware, was not a heaven-born leader, nor was