BENGAL.[1]
Three brigades of Horse Artillery, European and Native. Six battalions of European Foot Artillery. Three battalions of Native Foot Artillery. Corps of Royal Engineers. Ten regiments of Light Native Cavalry. Two regiments of European Fusiliers. Seventy-four regiments of Native Infantry. Twenty-three regiments of Irregular Native Cavalry. Twelve regiments of Irregular Native Infantry. One corps of Guides. Sixteen regiments of Local Militia. One regiment of Sappers and Miners. One regiment of Camel Corps. Shekhawuttie brigade, Artillery, Cavalry, and Infantry. Contingent troops of Gwalior, Maliva, Bhopaul, Kotah, and Joudpore.
The native cavalry of Bengal forms a most efficient and generally distinguished branch of our Anglo-Indian Army. The men are rather shorter than those in the same corps at Madras. The latter are almost all Mahomedans, and three-fourths of the Bengal cavalry are of the same race. The fact is that, with the exception of the Mahratta tribe, the Hindoos are not, generally speaking, so much disposed as Mahomedans to the duties of a trooper; and though the Mahomedans may be more dissipated and less moral in their private conduct than the Hindoos, they are zealous and high-spirited soldiers, and become very warmly attached to the service. In the native infantry of Bengal, the Hindoos are in the full proportion of three-fourths to the Mahomedans. They consist chiefly of Rajpoots, who are distinguished as the military tribe or caste. The general standard is five feet six inches; but the great proportion of the Grenadiers
- ↑ "The Bengal army is commanded by a general officer of her Majesty's service, who is, at the same time, commander-in-chief in India. He does not interfere in the general control of the armies of the other Presidencies; but, as the Sovereign's representative, he reviews courts'-martial held on Queen's officers, and confirms or revises the sentence. He appoints and promotes Queen's officers, also, to fill vacancies, subject to final decision from the Horse Guards. The military salary of the commander-in-chief is 8000l., and as a member of council he receives 10,000l. per annum. At the minor Presidencies the salaries of the commanders-in-chief are one-half of the preceding sums." – India Reform Tract.
