292 MAJOR W. HODSON. 



able — a soldier of the highest class ; I have un- 

 bounded confidence in him, and would rather 

 have him than 500 more men.' The general on 

 hearing this at once acquiesced, and at the same 

 time authorised me to organise an 'intelligence 

 department.' "^ 



On December 10, after four days of forced 

 marches, Hodson's Horse were encamped some 

 fourteen miles from Aligarh. " We joined the 

 column this morning," writes Hodson, "and march 

 on to Aligarh to-morrow. . . . We have a frightful 

 convoy and crowd, but I hope not for long. The 

 headquarter people, Colonels Keith-Young, Becher, 

 and Congreve, are with us. It is said that our 

 friend Napier is to be adjutant-general of the army 

 — delightful if true. I have only just got my tent 

 up, and it is nearly dark, so I can only say that I 

 am safe and well." 



Early the next morning the column reached 

 Aligarh. "Everything perfectly quiet in the 

 neighbourhood," was Hodson's report, " and no 

 large gathering of Pandies anywhere near. There 

 is a small party at Khasganj, and I hope we may 

 be lucky enough to find them, but I doubt their 

 waiting for us. Meantime we are to march down 

 the Trunk Eoad, halting here to-morrow. I cannot 

 get over our parting — each separation seems a 

 greater wrench than the last. ... I have 596 

 sabres with me now, 50 more coming from Delhi, 

 besides the 140 with Gousfh — not so bad that." 



On the following day he hears from Agra that 

 the ladies, together with the sick and wounded 

 from Lucknow and Cawnpore, have been sent down 



^ From Cadet to Colonel. 



