prominently，markedly.promptness，readiness.recoiled，fallen back.reputations，characters.selected，chosen.severely，seriously.
1.When Sir Colin Campbell was asked by Lord Palmerston how soon be would be prepared to start for India，to take the command of the army against the rebels，he replied，“Within twenty-four hours.”He was as good as his word.On the following evening he set out for India，accompanied by his staff；and he reached Calcutta within a month of his receiving his appointment in London.
2.Similar promptness and decision marked Campbell’s conduct during his whole career，and were the secrets of his success.Of his long life，the greater part-fifty-five years-was spent in active service，in all parts of the world；and not once in all that time did he fail in the duty intrusted to him，or disappoint those who relied on his help.
3.He was born at Glasgow in 1792.His parents were not rich，but his mother was of good family；and to this young Campbell owed his start in life.Through the influence of his uncle，he obtained an ensigncy in the 9th Foot in 1808，when he was barely sixteen years of age.
4.It was the time of the Peninsular War，and almost at once Campbell embarked with his regiment to join the army of Sir Arthur Wellesley （afterwards Duke of Wellington）.
5.He was present at most of the great battles and sieges of the next five years-at Vimiera，at Corunna，at Vittoria，at San Sebastian，and at the passage of the Bidassoa-and his coolness and courage frequently brought him praise from his superior officers.Both at San Sebastian and at the Bidassoa he waswounded-on the latter occasion so severely as to disable him for further service in the Peninsula.
6.During his early manhood Campbell saw much service in North America，ain the West Indies，in China，and in India.At Chillianwallahhe served underLord Gough，with the rank of Brigadier-General.Though that battle damaged other reputations，Campbell‘s remained whole.“Brigadier Campbell，”said Lord Gough in his despatch，“with the steady coolness and military precision for which he is so conspicuous，carried everything before hin.”At the close of the war，he was specially named in the thanks of Parliament，and was made aK.C.B.
7.The two events which brought prominently before the world Campbell’s high qualities as a soldier，were the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny.In the Crimea he commanded the Highland Brigade in the Duke of Cambridge‘s division.
8.The success of that division in its attack on the Russian right at the Alma was entirely due to Sir Colin’s coolness and independence of judgment.The Fusilier Guards had recoiled under the galling fire from the Russian intrenchments.The Duke of Cambridge suggested to Campbell to halt his men until the whole line could be re-formed.But Campbell saw the advantage hewas gaining，and that it would be thrown away if he paused.
9.He therefore pressed steadily forward.He knew that the Highlanders complained of the weight of their clumsy hats，covered with feathers.Campbell called out to them that if they held their fire till they were within twenty paces of the enemy，he would ask the Queen to give them the “blue bonnet.”
10.The men cheered this happy sally，and advanced steadily，with Sir Colin at their head.At twenty paces they delivered a volley，and then with a rush carried the right flank of the works，and the battle on that side was gained.
11.When the siege of Sebastopol was formed，it was Campbell‘s duty to guard Balaklava with his brigade of Highlanders.It was there that the 93rd Highlanders received the charge of a whole squadron of Cossack horse，not formed in square，but in a “thin red streak，topped with a line of steel.”When the horsemen were within one hundred and fifty yards，the rifles were levelled，and a deadly volley flashed out，which made the Cossacks wheel about and fly back faster than they had come.
a Chillianwallah.-A battle fought with the Sikhs in the Punjab，January 13，1849，in which the English，though the victors，suffered very severely.Lord Gough，the English general，was much blamed for risking the engage ment；but he redeemed his fame at Goojerat，five weeks later.
b K.C.B.-Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
12.When surprise was expressed that the Highlanders had not changed their formation to receive the tide of horsemen，Sir Colin remarked，“No；I did not think it worth while to form them even four deep.”
13.When the Indian Mutiny broke out，Sir Colin Campbell was selected as the man who was best able to save the falling empire.The promptitude with which he entered on his work has already been referred to.Campbell’s great work in India consisted in the masterly way in which he used the small force at his disposal to put down the rebellion in one district after another.
14.Certainly his greatest feat-the turning-point of the war-was the relief of Lucknow.The crisis came when only a mosque，strongly garrisoned by sepoys，stood between the relieving force and the Residency.The British guns had been silenced by the scathing fire of the rebels.Sir Colin then appealed to the 93rd Highlanders，the heroes of Balaklava.“Our guns are silenced，”he said，“but that mosque must be taken to-night.You will do it with your bayonets，and I shall lead you myself.”
15.The brave fellows did not disappoint him.Though they suffered terrible loss，they cleared the mosque，and that very night Lucknow was relieved.Campbell at once returned to Cawnpore，where his communications were threatened，and by a masterly movement drove back the enemy.Before the end of 1858‘all the strongholds in the north-west of India had been recovered，and the mutiny was at an end.
16.For these great successes Sir Colin Campbell was raised to the peerage，with the title of Lord Clyde.He died in 1863，respected and regretted by all his countrymen.
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