George Square, Glasgow, Scotland

peace, he commanded it whilst it did garrison duty in various towns in England, and he had it in such a state of efficiency, and put such esprit de corps into his men that the regiment was long pointed out with pride as being a model British regiment. Thus, Campbell had risen to the position he now attained by pure merit, bravery, force of character, and honest purpose. In 1844, he was made a brigadier-general, and with his division rendered great service in the Sikh war, for which he was made a K.C.B. in 1849. The great desire, after he had effectually quelled the Sikhs, in Campbell’s mind, was to retire from the appointment he held in India and return home. He had now attained, financially, a position capable of placing and retaining the other members of his family in comfortable, if not affluent, circumstances, and often his thoughts, even in the midst of his hottest campaigns, reverted to home. Lord Dalhousie, however, then Governor-General of India, and his life-long, staunch friend Sir Charles Napier, saw the great loss that the Indian Government would sustain by such a step on the part of Sir Colin Campbell, and earnestly entreated him to reconsider his decision. Sir Colin gave way to their urgent desires, and remained for other three years, effectually quelling during that period the hostile tribes in the Punjaub and Oudh.

It was in 1854 that the golden opportunity came which was fated to bring Sir Colin Campbell towards that illustrious eminence which he afterwards attained. War had been declared by Britain, along with France and Turkey, against Russia for her wanton violation of the Treaty of Paris and her ruthless invasion of the Balkan provinces. All the countries named were signatory parties to this treaty, so that Russia’s faithlessness rendered the war unavoidable. On the 11th February, 1854, Lord Hardinge, the Commander-in-Chief of the British army, offered Sir Colin the command of one of the two brigades which it was at that time intended to send to the East. Campbell at once accepted the appointment, but by the time he reached Turkey the forces were so mobilised that the brigade had become an army, and he was posted to the command of the Highland brigade of the 1st Division, under the command of the Duke of Cambridge, and consisting of the 42nd Highlanders (Black Watch), and the 79th and 93rd Highlanders. When one remembers the immortal battle-names with which the banners of these regiments are covered, from the days of Blenheim downwards, little wonder there is that Sir Colin accepted his command with unaffected national pride. At the head of his brigade he landed in the Crimea, and it was undoubtedly he and his Highlanders who won the battle of Alma. The strong redoubt on the crest of the hill, immediately overlooking the Black Sea, had been captured by the light division. They had not held it long before they were overpowered by hosts of Russians, and had to retreat. Seeing this, he turned to his men, and said, “Highlanders! there’s your work for you,” and led on the men who would have followed him through flames. His favourite charger was shot under him, but Colonel Shadwell gave him his at once, and the brave old chief led his kilted lads into the heart of the Russian columns. It was the old true and tried story over again — the deadly volley and then the bayonet. The Russians fled, and the day was won. The glory of Alma was accorded to him, and the only reward he asked was that he might have leave to wear the Highland bonnet instead of the cocked hat of a general officer!

When the army encamped before Sebastopol, he was appointed commandant at Balaclava. In that famous battle