He rode with his father and his uncle, Muncastle, the famous traveller, into Paraguay.

He saw fighting before he was twelve.

Before he was twenty he was learning outpost duty in the Austrian frontier cavalry.

He served in the Peninsula, served in Canada, served in India, volunteered for any chance of distinction.

No need to say much of his mastering the picked Indian swordsmen in single combat: he knew their trick, and was quick to save his reins when they made a dash threatening the headstroke--about the same as disabling sails in old naval engagements.
That was the part for the officer; we are speaking of the General.