A History of the Mahrattas v2.c36.62

v2.c36.62

On the death of Captain Stewart, Captain James Hartley was selected to command the reserve. Captain Hartley was a young man, who had been in the Company’s service fourteen years; he was well known to the Sepoys, who have much discernment in the character of their officers, and are very different under different men; but in the hour of need, where they have experienced kindness and seen their commanders worthy of confidence, there probably never was an instance of misconduct. An officer, even in a subordinate rank, has often a charge not only difficult in itself, but of higher national importance when leading the natives of India than is likely to fall to the lot of a junior officer in any other branch of the British service. He has not merely to do duty, not his only to animate, or, what is often more difficult, to restrain, but to support the minds of his men and infuse his own spirit when he may perceive them despondent or discontented.