Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 27.djvu/81

 Art. Cantab.,’ a curious poem entitled ‘The Plvrisie of Sorrovv let Blood in the Eye-Veine; or the Muses Teares for the Death of our late Soueraigne Iames King of England,’ 4to, London. His next work was a theological treatise in English on the woman who anointed Christ's feet, called ‘Sancta Peccatrix,’ 12mo [Cambridge, 1630?]. William Wimpew, vicar of Tottenham, Middlesex, addressed the author in some verses at the end of the book as ‘his noble friend and worthy parishioner W. H.’ Hodson also wrote: 1. ‘Credo Resurrectionem Carnis. A Tractate on the Eleventh Article of the Apostles Creed, exactly revised and enlarged’ (2nd edition), 24mo, Cambridge printed, London, 1636, with Hodson's portrait prefixed. 2. ‘The Divine Cosmographer; or a brief Survey of the whole World, delineated in a Tractate on the VIII. Psalme,’ 12mo, Cambridge, 1640. 

HODSON, WILLIAM STEPHEN RAIKES (1821–1858), military commander, the third son of the Rev. George Hodson, afterwards archdeacon of Stafford and canon of Lichfield, was born at Maisemore Court, near Gloucester, on 19 March 1821. After a short time spent with a private tutor, the Rev. E. Harland, he went to Rugby, and in 1840 entered Trinity College, Cambridge, taking the degree of B.A. in 1844. He began his military career in Guernsey, where he obtained a commission in the militia; he left it in 1845 to enter the East India Company's service. He landed at Calcutta on 13 Sept. 1845, and after proceeding up the country to Agra, joined the 2nd grenadiers, then forming part of the governor-general's escort, and was at once engaged in the Sikh war, being present at the battles of Mudki, Ferozeshah, and Sobraon. He was soon after transferred to the 1st Bengal European fusiliers, and was introduced to Sir Henry Lawrence by the Hon. J. Thomason, thus beginning a friendship which only ended with their lives. In 1847 he was appointed to the adjutancy of the corps of guides, and it was in the service that this involved that he gained the experience and displayed the powers which afterwards made him an unrivalled partisan leader. For his services in this capacity he received the thanks of the governor-general. When in 1849 the Punjab was annexed, he was transferred to the civil department as assistant commissioner, and was stationed for some time at Umritsur. Thence he went with Sir H. Lawrence into Cashmere, and saw a good deal of Thibet.

On 5 Jan. 1852 he married Susan, widow of John Mitford, esq., of Exbury, Hampshire, and by the first week in March had resumed his duties at Kussowlee as assistant-commissioner; but his heart was with his old corps, the guides, and in September 1852 he was highly gratified to receive from the governor-general the command of the corps. Of his arduous life on the frontiers in this command he has given a very vivid picture in his letters.

Up to this time Hodson's career had been uniformly prosperous; but his rapid rise had made some envious, and his scorn of pretence, his restless energy, and his outspoken criticism of those who neglected their duty, had made him enemies, and a storm burst upon him which at the time threatened to ruin him. There was confusion in the regimental accounts, and charges of dishonesty as well as of harsh treatment of the natives were brought against him. An inquiry was held before a special military court, which terminated its sittings in January 1855. The report was unfavourable, and he was removed from the command of the guides. Against their decision he appealed, and a second inquiry was ordered, and entrusted to Major Reynell Taylor, who, after a long and patient investigation, reported on 13 Feb. 1856. This report fully cleared him of the imputations cast upon him. His words are: ‘The correctness of the whole account was established, and I was satisfied’ (, Life of Reynell Taylor, pp. 214, 215, Lond., 1888). In Colonel Napier's words, ‘the investigation … fully justified the confidence’ he (Napier) had throughout maintained in his honour and uprightness. The second report was only sent in May 1857 to Sir Henry Daly, commandant of the guides, with a minute from Lord Canning expressing dissatisfaction and directing explanations. Daly was soon afterwards wounded, and Hodson, who temporarily took his command, took possession of the report, which was found in his trunk on his death.

Meanwhile Hodson rejoined the 1st fusiliers at Dugshai, practically beginning his military career over again, but discharging regimental duties with a zeal and energy that procured especial commendation. On 10 May 1857 occurred the outbreak at Meerut, followed by the massacre of Delhi. Hodson at once rose again to his proper place, and after going with the 1st fusiliers to Umbala, and then to Kurnal, the commander-in-chief ordered him to raise and command an entire new regiment of irregular horse. This was the body known throughout the mutiny as ‘Hodson's Horse’; it may be said that no single regiment did so much towards saving our Indian empire. Besides this, the intelligence department was put into his hands. In June 1857 he was