Military officers at that time did not wear any set uniforms, and indeed there was very considerable latitude among the soldiers, and it was only because he was followed by two attendants that the boy had taken him to be an officer, probably a young captain.

The quietness of his dress had not even led him to believe that he belonged to a noble family.
"This lad tells me that he is the son of Captain Campbell of the Scottish regiment ?" "That is so, general." "And also that you were a sergeant in his father's company, and have since taken care of him." "I have done the best I could for him, general; but indeed the officers of the regiment allow me quite as much as the lad's food costs." "He seems to be a careful student of military history, sergeant ?" "That he is, sir.

I don't think there has been a battle, or even a skirmish, in the past ten years which he cannot tell you the ins and outs of.

He will sit here for hours as quiet as a mouse when some soldiers from the wars come in, and sometimes he gets books lent him with the plans of battles and sieges, and when he is not doing that he is in the barrack yard watching the men drill.

I believe he knows all the words of command as well as any captain in the Scottish regiment.