The British Officer

PREFACE.

THERE is, perhaps, no profession in the world so abounding with Rules, Regulations, and Customs affecting Personal Action, Personal Advancement, and Personal Remuneration, as the profession of Arms under the British Crown and the Government of the East India Company. Excepting the Brevet promotion of the fortunate soldier, the conferment of the honours of the Bath, and the acquisition of the means of purchasing Promotion, nothing in the Officer's career is the result of accident: conformity to rule marks his prosperous progress, and by rule alone is his elevation to the highest rank determined. Yet, British Officers, as a body, are very imperfectly acquainted with what materially concerns themselves: the "Queen's Regulations and Orders" are required to be possessed and read, but the number of Officers who master them is very small; while information regarding the important subject of Pay and Allowances, under their multitudinous forms, is only acquired through the fortuitous circumstances which give a temporary title to one or the other. This imperfect knowledge of matters so important and desirable to be known, is not, however, the fault of the Officer; as much information, even of essential im

portance, is placed beyond his reach. The innumerable Warrants, Memoranda, Circulars, &c., affecting the pecuniary and other interests of the Service, do not find their way into the hands of every Officer, and are frequently limited to Commanding Officers, Paymasters, Auditors, and others; besides being constantly amended, corrected, and superseded; so that they are almost a sealed volume to the British Officer. Sometimes they are entered in the Orderly Books, but then are only hastily scanned, and often forgotten amidst the occupations and pastimes of Barrack or Cantonment life.

It is with the view of placing within the reach of Officers of the British and Indian Armies, and of the British public generally, all the Rules, Regulations, and Usages of a personal nature which concern the Commissioned ranks of the Service, that the following pages have been prepared. Condensation and concentration have been the ruling principle of the Compiler, who has been careful to discard all such purely professional and technical knowledge as it is indispensable should be gleaned from the works particularly treating of such matters. Details of Drill, Field Manoeuvres and Operations, Sword Exercise, &c. &c., have therefore been left untouched; as also have the Standing Orders of Regiments, and those minutia which are only acquired and understood by an Officer on joining his Regiment. The Compiler's object has been to fill up a great gap in our Military literature of reference and utility, and supply a handbook which leaves the soldier and the public without ground of complaint that access to useful information on military affairs is next to impossible.

The Compiler cannot send forth this volume without
recording his acknowledgments to his kind friend, Colonel
Mitchell, author of "Thoughts on Tactics," and other excel-
lent works, for the Introduction; and to the Rev. Mr. Gleig,
the much-esteemed Chaplain-General of the Forces, he is
beholden for assistance in the preparation of the remarks on
the Colours of Regiments. To Major Hughes, author of a
valuable work on the "Duties of Judge Advocates," the
Compiler is also indebted for some serviceable suggestions
respecting the arrangement of the contents of the book.

AUTHORITIES CONSULTED

IN THE COMPILATION OF

"THE BRITISH OFFICER."

The Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Army.

The volume of "Military Finance" to 1847.

All the later Warrants, Circulars, and Orders issued from the War

Office and Horse Guards.

The Army List.

The Army Estimates for 1850-51.

The Ordnance Estimate for 1850-51.

Gleig's Military History.

Cannon's Histories of Regiments.