Every adjutant knows that when a senior military officer changes an inspection programme at short notice, the implications are considerable. In the nineteenth century, without the benefits of modern communication, nothing could be left to chance.
Captain Charles Smith was the adjutant of Argyll’s Volunteer Artillery, sitting in the headquarters at Lochgilphead on 10th July 1867. It was a Wednesday. With only two days to go, Colonel Ord, Commander Royal Artillery for North Britain, had ordered a change to his schedule. Friday’s inspection of the Easdale Volunteers would have to be postponed. Now the adjutant had to rewrite the inspection programme for the dozen units throughout Argyll and change the travel arrangements for the inspecting officer. That meant a flurry of letters to Volunteer companies, a flood of handwritten notes to coastal steamers and ferrymen, and all to be written today. His letter to the Easdale Volunteers survives. It was written in haste and the flourishes of his cursive handwriting show signs of impatience.
I am directed by the Marquis of Lorne to inform you that your corps will be inspected on Monday 15th – which I hope will not put your men much about. Colonel Ord will drive down from Oban on Monday arriving about 12 o’clock noon, ready for duty, so you will know what time to order your parade.
It was not a trite remark – that he hoped the men would not be put out. Rather, it was a subtle acknowledgement that he knew exactly how inconvenient it would be. The Easdale men were slate quarrymen in full-time employment. Part-time soldiering had to be juggled to fit in with work and family. Charles Smith understood that these last minute changes, though unavoidable, were nevertheless inexcusable.
The adjutant was more concerned with practicalities. On Saturday Colonel Ord would inspect the artillery in Oban. He would embark at Greenock and make the coastal voyage to Oban by steamer, which would stop at Easdale on the way. The challenge was to ensure that Colonel Ord did not disembark at Easdale by mistake.
Will you therefore kindly give the enclosed note for Colonel Ord to your ferryman who attends the steamers, and instruct him NOT to land the Colonel at Easdale, but tell him to proceed on to Oban. Of course after he reads the note he will know what to do, but he will be for jumping into the boat at once, which please tell the boatman NOT to let him.
It’s all perfectly clear but we can sense the anxiety in the adjutant’s tone. He concludes abruptly: The Marquis will be present. Him and I drive overland to Oban tomorrow.
The adjutant’s efforts must have been successful. One month later, in a circular to every artillery company, the Marquis of Lorne congratulated all ranks on their drill and proficiency during the inspections. He had accompanied Colonel Ord, who had found little to criticize. The Marquis’ praise may also be a hidden tribute to the adjutant’s detailed and flexible planning.
Top photo: the final paragraph of the adjutant’s letter to Captain-Commandant James Bett of the Easdale Volunteer Artillery.