Colonel William Campbell, a well-connected officer during the 1857-59 war, faced significant criticism for his failure to intercept retreating rebels at Musa Bagh but was still praised and promoted, which has puzzled historians. Despite his incompetence, he was rewarded with a promotion to divisional commander, only to die of cholera shortly thereafter. His connections to influential figures such as Sir Colin Campbell and Lord Canning may have played a role in his unexpected acclaim and advancement.

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A WELL CONNECTED CAMPBELL WITH GOOD
CONNECTIONS GOES SCOT FREE DESPITE MAKING
ONE OF GREATEST BLUNDERS OF 1857-59 WAR
Major A.H Amin (Retired)
A WELL CONNECTED CAMPBELL WITH GOOD CONNECTIONS GOES SCOT FREE
DESPITE MAKING ONE OF GREATEST BLUNDERS OF 1857-59 WAR
• July 2021
• DOI:
• 10.13140/RG.2.2.23369.67686
• Project:
• Military History
• Agha H Amin
Colonel Campbell who was earlier the commanding officer
of HM 2nd
Dragoon Guards (later Bays) was well connected.
The site British battles states that he was relative of the
commander in chief Sir Colin Campbell.1
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britishempire.co.uk The British Empire
https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishcavalry/queensbayswcampbell.htm

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Michael Mann whose book this scribe with great difficulty
found and purchased for over 300 USD from England
stated in his regimental history that Colonel William
Campbell was cousin of the Governor General Lord
Canning.2
Campbell travelled overland to India to avoid the terrible
sea sickness and on arrival managed to get the command
of a brigade.3
During the final capture of Lucknow , Campbell was tasked
to block rebel retreat by establishing a road block south
and west of Musa Bagh on 19TH
March 1858.He had
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Page-239- THE REGIMENTAL HISTORY OF THE 1ST
THE QUEEN DRAGOON GUARDS-Op Cit.
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Page-239- THE REGIMENTAL HISTORY OF THE 1ST
THE QUEEN DRAGOON GUARDS-Op Cit.

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following force under command as per the records of
Forrest’s Despatches:--4
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Page-464-SELECTIONS FROM THE LETTERS ,DESPATCHES AND OTHER STATE PAPERS PRESERVED IN THE
MILITARY DEPARTMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA-1857-58-VOLUME THREE-Edited by G.W Forrest-
Calcutta-Military Department Press-1902.

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Brigadier William Campbell behaved in a most
COWARDLY fashion and as described by British historian
Malleson as below:-- “no attempt whatever was made by
him to cut off the fleeing enemy.His conduct was officially
attributed to having lost his way.”But” records an officer
who wrote of these occurrences the year following that in
which they took place,his error appears to have partaken
of willfulness.He moved his forces in utter disregard of
the statement of his guides,in opposition to the
protestations and explanations of all to whose
information and advice he was bound to
listen.Consequently the greater number of rebels
escaped.5
Instead of being censured this man was praised by the
commander in chief Sir Colin Campbell for his conduct at
Musa Bagh , in his dispatch .6
J.W Fortescue simply noted that “Brigadier General
Campbell made practically no attempt to molest them”.7
Instead William Campbell was rewarded and promoted
divisional commander.Luckily for British arms he died of
Cholera on 6th
July 1858 before he could take over his
command of Cawnpore Division, having been promoted
Brigadier General ! 8
For many years this scribe was perplexed and confused
why and how Campbell was promoted despite the
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Page-408—HISTORY OF THE INDIAN MUTINY-1857-58-VOLUME 2-Colonel G.B Malleson-William H Allen and
Company-London-1879.
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Page-472- SELECTIONS FROM THE LETTERS ,DESPATCHES AND OTHER STATE PAPERS PRESERVED IN THE
MILITARY DEPARTMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA-1857-58-VOLUME THREE-Op Cit.
7
Page-344- A History of The British Army- Volume-XIII-1852-70- J.W Fortescue-Macmilland and Company Limited-
Saint Martin’s Street-London-1930
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Page-258- THE REGIMENTAL HISTORY OF THE 1ST
THE QUEEN DRAGOON GUARDS-Op Cit.

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massive act of incompetence at Musa Bagh.However the
reference to his connections and relatives on the British
empire site and Manns 1st
Dragoon Guards history made
things more clear.