The Punjab force, which had 5 batteries of native artillery attached
to it, continued under the Punjab government. In addition, the
Hyderabad contingent of 4 cavalry, 6 infantry regiments and 4
batteries, and a local force in central India of 2 regiments cavalry
and 6 infantry, were retained under the government of India. After all
the arrangements had been completed the army of India consisted of
62,000 British and 125,000 native troops.
76. _The Modern Army._--The college at Addiscombe was closed in 1860,
and the direct appointment of British officers to the Indian local
forces ceased in 1861. In that year a staff corps was formed by royal
warrant in each presidency "to supply a body of officers for service
in India, by whom various offices and appointments hitherto held by
officers borne on the strength of the several corps in the Indian
forces shall in future be held." Special roles were laid down. The
corps was at first recruited partly from officers of the Company's
service and partly from the royal army, holding staff appointments
(the new regimental employment being considered as staff duty) and all
kinds of political and civil posts; for the system established later
see INDIA: _Army_. The native artillery and sappers and miners were to
be officered from the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. The only
English warrant and non-commissioned officers now to be employed in
the native army were to be those of the Royal Engineers with the
sappers and miners.
A radical change in the regimental organization of all the native
armies was effected in 1863. The Punjab Frontier Force was from the
first organized on the irregular system, which was there seen at its
best, as also were the new regiments raised during the Mutiny. This
system was now applied to the whole army, each regiment and battalion
having seven British officers attached to it for command and
administrative duties, the immediate command of troops and companies
being left to the native officers. Thus was the system reverted to,
which was initiated by Clive, of a few British officers only being
attached to each corps for the higher regimental duties of command and
control. Time had shown that this was more effective than the regular
system instituted in 1796 of British officers commanding troops and
companies.
A new spirit was breathed into the army. The supremacy of the
commandant was the main principle. He was less hampered by the
unbending regulations enjoined upon the old regular regiments, had
greater powers of reward and punishment, was in a position to assume
larger responsibility and greater freedom of action, and was supported
in the full exercise of his authority. The system made the officers.
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