With characteristic simplicity, the gallant old Scotchman lamented, at this time, that he found officers of every rank anxious to be at least Divisional Commanders at the head of small columns, independent of control. This, no doubt, was rank heresy from the Commander-in-Chief's point of view. At the same time, it is a matter for grave doubt whether they were not more in the right to wish it than their Chief was in condemning their ambition. Sir Colin Campbell began, indeed, at this early period to display signs of an excessive prudence and tenacity of authority, which became more marked as time went on. His soldiers called him 'Old Khabardar' (Old Take Care) as the truest expression they could apply to one whom they could not help respecting, even when criticising him.
Had there been real armies acting under real generals on the rebel side, or had the war been waged anywhere else than in India, few military critics would have found fault with the large forces occasionally employed for small operations, or with the delays and combinations which too often characterised the movements of the North-Western army. But the operations of the rebel Sepoys were in truth somewhat of the nature of a guerilla warfare. The mutineers, while formidable behind stone walls, were not so when scattered about the country in disorganised mobs under indifferent leaders. Being fleet of foot and short of courage, they required to be met, beaten, and pursued without hesitation, by lightly equipped
