Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/320

 290 THE DEATH OF LORD RAGLAN. chap, 'the Army, in order that the military career o! _ ' so illustrious au officer shall be recorded, not ' only as an honourable testimony of Her Majes- ' ty's sense of his eminent services, and the re- ' spect due to his memory, but as an example ' worthy of imitation by all ranks of her Army. ' Selected by the Duke of Wellington to be his ' Military Secretary and Aide-de-camp, he took ' part, nearly 50 years ago, in all the military ' achievements of our greatest commander. From ' him, Lord Raglan adopted, as the guiding prin- ' ciple of his life, a constant, undeviating obedi- ' ence to the call of duty. ' During a long peace, his life was most usefully ' employed in those unwearied attentions to the ' interests and welfare of the Army, shown by ' the kindness, the impartiality and justice, with ' which he transacted all his duties. ' When war broke out last year, he was selected ' by his Sovereign to take the command of the ' Army proceeding to the East ; he never hesitat- < e d — he obeyed the summons, although he had ' reached an age when an officer may be disposed 1 to retire from active duties in the iield. ' At the head of the troops during the arduous ' operations of the campaign, he resumed the early ' habits of his life ; by his calmness in the hottest ' moments of battle, and by his quick perception ' in taking advantage of the ground, or the move- ' ments of the enemy, he won the confidence of ' his army, and performed great and brilliant ' services.