Colonel Ross

“ Excuse my not inviting you.”
“It is very excusable—under the circumstances,” said the Colonel, stiffly.
“What does he mean?” thought Harry. “I can’t tell what circumstances he refers to.”
“Mother,” said he, opening the door of the sitting-room, “here is Colonel Ross.”
“Take a seat, Colonel Ross,” said the widow, politely.
Colonel Ross seated himself deliberately in a chair near his wife’s uncle.
“Glad to see you, Mr. Ross,” said Uncle Obed, thinking the visit was meant for him. “You’re very kind to look in on an old man.” ”

“ The Colonel, with a curl of the lip, took the stand again.
“Really,” he said, “it looks as if my son and I were on trial instead of the prisoner.”
“Colonel Ross, you must be aware that I am according Harry no unusual privileges. It is as a lawyer—his own advocate—that he questions you.”
“Go on,” said the Colonel, haughtily.
“Colonel Ross,” continued Harry, “do you generally keep a list of the numbers on your bonds?” ”

“ On they came in overwhelming numbers, the artillerymen in the plain firing over their heads, while the British guns began blazing away with canister, sending destruction amid their ranks. Column after column had advanced, but were driven back in confusion; not a man ever reached the lines. Sometimes the cavalry galloped up, but they were quickly forced to retire.
All night long the battle raged, but the dauntless courage of Colonel Ross and his band of heroes prevailed, and when morning dawned the enemy were seen retiring with their guns. ”

“ For nearly sixteen years Ross held the delegated command of the troops in the north. The manufacturing districts were in a disturbed condition during most of this time, and the disaffection that prevailed entailed much responsible work. Ross had been promoted brevet colonel on 22 July 1830, and regimental colonel on 10 Jan. 1837, and was continued in the horse artillery. He was made a major-general on 23 Nov. 1841, a colonel-commandant of the twelfth battalion of royal artillery on 1 Nov. 1848, a lieutenant-general on 11 Nov. 1851, and a colonel-commandant royal horse artillery on 11 Aug. ”

“ Entering Colonel Ross-Ellison's room the Pathan quickly metamorphosed himself into Colonel Ross-Ellison, and sent for his Adjutant, Captain Malet-Marsac.
"Fifty of the best, with fifty rounds each, to parade at the gate in half an hour," he said. "Bruce to accompany me, you to remain in command here. All who can, to wear rubber-soled shoes, others to go barefoot or bandage their boots with putties over cardboard or paper. No man likely to cough or sneeze is to go. ”

“ I’ll stay here to-night, if you insist upon it.”
“Do so, and I will take the bonds.”
“Lay them down, Colonel Ross; they are my property!” said Harry, sternly.
“You can’t be allowed to take ’em, Colonel, till you prove that they are yours. One you admit is not,” said the constable.
“It doesn’t matter much,” replied the Colonel, discomfited. “They will find their way back to me soon. This boy won’t take on so high a tone tomorrow.”
CHAPTER XXXVIII — PHILIP’S SURPRISE
“Where did that other bond come from?” thought Colonel Ross, as he wended his way homeward. “I can’t understand it. ”

“ Colonel Ross was sensible that his force could not successfully engage with any large body, but he hoped that, by avoiding all places where any rebels were likely to be collected, and by advancing chiefly at night, to prevent any information of his movements from reaching the enemy.
Violet, who was a good horsewoman, bore the fatigue of the march well, and even Nuna and the other ladies kept up their spirits and did not complain. The poor wounded men were the greatest sufferers ”

“ Early in 1793 Ross went to England for the benefit of his health. He was made local brevet colonel in India, for service in the field, on 1 March 1794. In September 1795 Ross was back in India, and brought to notice the inadequacy of the engineer corps, with the result that in January 1796 that corps was reorganised on a larger scale. He was promoted brevet colonel in the army on 1 June 1796, and major-general on 1 Jan. 1797. He remained at Madras during the campaigns of 1798 and 1799, sending forward supplies to the engineers, and generally superintending the operations of that arm. ”

“ Glenn, the adjutant, had returned from the commandant's tent and gone straight to his own. Presently he emerged, girt with sash and sword-belt, and that meant business. No use for any one to run and hide; that merely deferred matters.
"Mr. Ross, you are hereby placed in close arrest, and confined to your tent. Charge—promoting a fight. By order of Lieutenant-Colonel Hazzard," was the pithy address he delivered to his class-mate, with precisely the same amount of emotion which he might have displayed had he informed him he was detailed for guard duty on the morrow. ”

“ Ross had been made brevet lieutenant-colonel on 1 Jan. 1801 for his service in Holland; but he was still regimental major when he succeeded, in September 1803, to the actual command of the 20th, which was now reduced to one battalion. He exercised the regiment indefatigably: ‘we were repeatedly out for eight hours during the hot weather; frequently crossing the country, scouring the fields over the stone walls, the whole of the regiment acting as light infantry ”

“ In August 1783 Ross was appointed deputy adjutant-general in Scotland, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and he served in a similar capacity in India under Lord Cornwallis. He became colonel on 12 Oct. 1793. In August 1794 he went with Earl Spencer and Thomas Grenville to Vienna on a special mission to arrange that Lord Cornwallis should command the allies against the French. Their efforts were unsuccessful. He accompanied Lord Cornwallis as major-general to Warley camp in April 1795, and two months later was nominated surveyor-general of the ordnance in succession to the Earl of Berkeley. ”

“ Ross remained with Cornwallis in the centre of the attack, and then joined the column of Colonel Stuart, which had established itself on the island of Seringapatam, where he made his engineer park, and the place was invested. By Ross's advice the siege-works were directed against the north side, and ground was broken on the 19th, after the arrival of the Bombay army and the native allies. ”

“ On 21 Jan. 1808 Ross became lieutenant-colonel of the 20th, and six months afterwards embarked with it for Portugal. Vimiera had been fought before he landed, though part of the regiment was engaged there; but he was with Moore during his advance into Spain and subsequent retreat to Coruña. The 20th formed part of the reserve, and was for some time the rearguard of the army. It was repeatedly engaged, but owing to its excellent discipline it lost fewer men than any other regiment. Ross's knowledge of French and Spanish proved very useful in this campaign. ”

“ Next day, on the appointment of Colonel Brand, C.B., to the rank of Major-General, Colonel Woodford, who had commanded the Coldstream Battalion at Waterloo, became Lieut.-Colonel of the Regiment, and Colonel Macdonell, C.B., promoted Major, was posted to the command of the 2nd Battalion. ”

“ By the way, the Battalion Commander there referred to relieved me (he was then a Lieutenant Colonel) of the command of the Regiment (Three Hundred and Sixty-fifth [116] Infantry) the second day after the Armistice took effect.
It is my idea of justice that the race—namely the American Negro—that produced men who served their country so loyally, so bravely, so capably both as officers and as enlisted men under my command, should know the truth about my battalion. It would matter little whether the outfit were a division, a brigade or a battalion. It happens to have been a battalion. ”

“ The Lieutenant-Colonel feels assured that such old soldiers who, for the purpose of equalizing the two Battalions, may shortly be transferred from one to the other, will by their example, impress upon their younger comrades the necessity of a ready submission to discipline, and due subordination to those placed over them, by which 117the individual comfort of the soldier is so much advanced, and the credit of his corps firmly established. ”

“ Colonel Woodford feels certain, from the excellent conduct of the Battalion throughout the past year, that he may look forward with confidence to a continuance of good order, sobriety, and discipline in quarters, and although many soldiers will be dispersed in the public-houses, he trusts that they will never dishonour themselves by associating with any disaffected or ill-disposed people. The men must be regular and clean in their quarters, and they may expect to be visited frequently and at uncertain times and hours, both by day and in the evening ”

“ Then I was transferred to the headquarters company, a rather uncertain and complicated organization in those days, with an authorized strength of seven officers and three hundred and fifteen men. I remained with that company until after our arrival in France.
In the infantry regiments of the Ninety-second Division the lieutenants and captains were colored with the exception of the regimental staff captains and the captains of the headquarters and supply companies. The majors commanding the battalions and the lieutenant-colonel and the colonel were old regular army white officers. ”

“ Soon, having cleared several kopjes, we, the Fife Light Horse, New Zealanders, our Composite Squadron, and others, crossed a drift and leisurely advanced, passing on our way a deserted Boer waggon loaded with corn, mealies and other stuff. At a farmhouse we naturally managed to halt, and tried to secure edibles. Colonel Pilcher, however, came and ordered us to form up in a field further on, and as we proceeded to obey this order, Mausers began rapping out at us from a range of hills which we had supposed (usual fallacy!) were unoccupied, our guns having shelled them well. ”

“ Behind us, every day now, we leave burning houses and waggons. Colonel Legge, who has taken over Ridley's command, is doing the same a little ahead of us on our left front, and Broadwood likewise on the other side of the Magaliesberg. Since leaving Commando Nek our column has found and destroyed nearly three dozen good waggons and numerous deserted farms. It seems rather rough, but leniency has proved the stumbling block of the campaign, and now we are doing what any other than a British Army would have done months ago. Our camp is near a deserted (p. 097) farm. ”

“ In the campaign on the north-west frontier of India (1863-4) Ross served with the rifle brigade, and was in the action of Shubkuddar (2 Jan. 1864) . He received the medal with clasp, and was promoted colonel on 3 April 1865. Subsequently he commanded the Laruf field force as brigadier-general during the operations in the Malay Peninsula in 1875-6, and took part in the capture of Kota-Lana (4 Jan. 1876) . On bringing the operations to a successful issue he was mentioned in the general orders of the government of India (Lond. Gaz. 18 Feb. and 23 Feb. 1876) , and was given the medal with clasp. ”

“ Round to their right we flew, with the bullets whistling by, and striking the earth before and behind us, but divil a man did they hit, though the air seemed thick with them. At last our exhilarating gallop was finished, and as our small party advanced to the attack, all they saw was the last few Boers scuttling off for dear life. Colonel Pilcher, who was with Mahon, sent round and thanked our little troop for this service. ”

“ Colonel Sir C. Wilson, R.E. (the Chief of the Intelligence Department) , and Captain Lord C. Beresford, R.N., with a small party of seamen, accompanied the column, and both had special instructions given to them. The latter was to take over one or two of the steamers which were known to be at Metemmeh, and, when he had reported them to be ready, the former was to proceed in them to Khartum, and to deliver a letter to General 383Gordon. Sir C. Wilson was to be accompanied by a small detachment of infantry; he might march the men through the city, and show them to the garrison ”

“ According to the rule then prevailing, the latter commanded the 2nd Battalion, and Colonel H. Bentinck was transferred to the 1st Battalion.
In May, 1848, the Regiment stood as follows:—
Colonel.—Field-Marshal H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, K.G., etc.
Lieutenant-Colonel.—Colonel T. Chaplin.
Majors.—Colonels H. Bentinck; C. Hay.
Captains.—Colonels W. Cornwall; W. Codrington: Lieut.-Colonels Hon. A. Upton; F. Paget; (Mounted) .
Lieut.-Colonels Hon. G. Upton; J. Clitherow; Gordon Drummond; Lord F. Paulet; J. Forbes; R. Vansittart; C. Windham; H. Daniell; Hon. R. Boyle; W. S. Newton; E. Milman ”

“ The strength was 35 Officers, 919 men, and 32 women, the average age and service of the men being twenty-nine and seven years respectively. [191] The following Officers embarked:—
Colonel C. Hay (Commanding Battalion) .
Colonels W. Codrington; and G. Drummond (Mounted) .
Lieut.-Colonels W. S. Newton; Hon. V. Dawson; M. Tierney; T. Crombie; and H. Cumming.
Captains C. Cocks; J. Cowell; L. D. MacKinnon; W. Dawkins; H. Jolliffe; C. T. Wilson; Hon. A. Hardinge; Hon. Percy Feilding (Adjutant) ; Charles Baring; Hon. G. Eliot; H. Bouverie; H. Cust; H. Armytage; and Hon. H. Byng. ”

“ Of these, nine were killed in action, viz. Lieut.-Colonels Hon. T. Vesey Dawson and J. C. Cowell, Captains L. D. Mac-Kinnon, H. M. Bouverie, Hon. G. Eliot, Horace Cust, and F. Ramsden, and Lieutenants E. A. Disbrowe and C. H. Greville; one died of wounds, viz. Captain Hon. R. Drummond; three died of disease, viz. Lieut.-Colonel Hon. R. Boyle, Colonel Trevelyan, and Captain 284Hylton Jolliffe: total loss of Officers, thirteen. Seven were wounded, viz. Major-General Sir H. Bentinck, Colonel Hon. G. Upton, Lieut.-Colonels J. Halkett, Lord C. FitzRoy, Hon. ”