218 MAJOR W. HODSON. 



To Hodson's peculiar merits as a leader of irregular 

 horse Brigadier (afterwards Sir J.) Hope Grant, 

 Gr.C.B., himself a successful leader of cavalry, paid 

 the following tribute in his diary of the siege : 

 " After Major Daly had been badly wounded Hod- 

 son was replaced in command. He was a dashing, 

 clear-headed, energetic officer; no man understood 

 or could lead an irregular regiment better, and at 

 such a time his services in the field could not be 

 dispensed with."^ 



" He is scarcely out of the saddle day or night," 

 wrote another officer; "for not only has he to lead 

 his regiment and keep the country clear, but being 

 Intelligence officer he is always on the move to gain 

 news of the progress of affairs and acts and inten- 

 tions of the enemy. 



"Even when he might take rest he will not, but 

 will go and help work at the batteries, and expose 

 himself constantly, in order to relieve some fainting 

 gunner or wounded man." 



When the stress of work in camp fell so hard upon 

 our wearied soldiers that the officers had to dispense 

 with the customary salute, "it was remarked," said 

 another officer, " that Hodson never passed down the 

 lines without every man rendering to him that mark 

 of respect. The soldiers loved him as their own. 

 * There goes that 'ere Hodson,' said a drunken soldier, 

 as he cantered down the lines ; ' he's sure to be in 

 everything : he'll get shot, I know he will, and I'd a 

 deal rather be shot myself: we can't do without him.' " 



On June 28 Hodson was despatched to Bhagpat 

 on the Jumna, twenty-five miles from camp, to look 

 after matters there, and try to save the boats which 



^ Incidents in the Sepoy War. 



