occasion high praise was bestowed on his skill and gallantry by the Earl of Derby, the Duke of Cambridge, Lord Palmerston, and other distinguished statesmen.
It is impossible, however, to overlook the keen disappointment that was felt in the Service when the troops of the Central India Field Force were not only forbidden to accept the silver star which the Mahárájá Sindhia desired to give them, but received no batta, and no decoration, for a series of brilliant successes untarnished by a defeat or retreat, except the general clasp that was given promiscuously to all the troops in Central India, some of whom had done little or nothing. To crown all, the Central India Field Force was debarred, by a special pleading, founded on some Admiralty ruling respecting the blockade of ports by ships of war, from participating in the prize-money found at Bánda and Kirwi; although the right of the Force to receive a share had been frankly acknowledged by the Government of India, by the Commander-in-Chief in India, and by the military authorities and head of the Government at home. Sir Hugh Rose himself never asked for and never received any pension; and, his means at that time being small, the loss of some £30,000 as his own personal share in the coveted prize-money was a serious one.
In bringing to a close the story of the Southern operations, it may not be improper to quote the remarks of an impartial critic[1], who writes: 'It seldom happens
- ↑ Prichard's 'India.'
