- Author:
- Knox, Thomas Wallace
- Publication Info:
-
New York:
Harper and Brothers,
1882,
pg 467
Text on page 467
ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.
467
of the year the revolt was in a state of suppression; several battles occurred in the spring of 1858, and in some localities the rebels held out till autumn of that year. Anybody who wishes a full account of the scenes of that terrible time is referred to the many books that have been written concerning it, and particularly to 'The Sepoy War in India,' by J. W. Ivaye.
"Since the rebellion and its suppression there has been a radical change in the organization of the army. The native forces in all India are about 130,000, and the English 75,000. Compare this arrangement with that which existed at the time of the Mutiny, when the native strength was 240,000 and the English less than 40,000, and you will see a vast difference. Each cavalry and infantry regiment has only eight European officers, including the surgeon, and none of them are attached to the companies, which are all led by their native captains. The native captains are drawn from the higher castes, and appointed to their places, as in England, while in the old formation they were promoted from the ranks, and were often of low caste, so that they were despised by many of the soldiers they commanded.
"In the rank and file the system that made the Mutiny possible has been entirely abandoned ; instead of forming a regiment of a single caste,
ENGLISH OFFICERS IN INDIA.
