Wearing British clothes as a second-generation aristocrat

21. Acting Battalion Commander

Dugan didn't have much of a relationship with Haywood and Mackenzie, but they had been through a fierce battle together, so they were acquaintances.

Only a few days have passed, and he's gone. Dugan felt a pang of sadness, and at the same time, he marveled at how skillfully the Marathas employed guerrilla warfare.

"Major Dugan," Colonel Stevenson called out, pulling Dugan back to reality.

"I have decided to appoint you as the acting battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion, 94th Infantry Regiment. Proceed immediately to the 2nd Battalion assembly point to assume command and be responsible for rebuilding the 2nd Battalion."

Upon hearing this, Dugan felt a complex mix of emotions.

Leading troops independently means he has real power, which is much better than being a staff officer without a "commander" title in the regimental headquarters.

However, leading troops independently also meant that the responsibility on his shoulders was heavier. Dugan had never commanded a battalion independently before, let alone a battalion that had just suffered a crushing defeat, was demoralized, and suffered heavy losses.

"What are you afraid of? Come on then."

Without the slightest hesitation, Dugan immediately saluted, "Yes, sir!"

Colonel Stevenson nodded in satisfaction when he saw how readily Dugan agreed. "I believe you can do it. Dugan, remember, the soldiers of the Second Battalion have just suffered a crushing defeat and are filled with fear and grief. You must not only strictly enforce discipline but also treat them kindly and soothe their emotions. As for supplies, I will do my best to allocate resources to support your reconstruction of the Second Battalion."

"Understood, sir," Dugan replied again. "However, I have a request."

Colonel Stevenson stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and asked, "What's the request?"

"I want Tom to be my adjutant," Dugan stated decisively.

"I agree," Colonel Stevenson replied readily.

Tom, standing to the side, looked excited and immediately straightened up to salute Dugan and Stevenson.

However, to Tom's surprise, Dugan continued to tell Colonel Stevenson, "But Tom is only a corporal, and if he is to become an adjutant, his rank will need to be adjusted."

Colonel Stevenson replied without hesitation, "Then promote him to sergeant, and if he performs meritorious service later, promote him further."

"Yes, Colonel!" Dugan saluted respectfully.

Tom was overjoyed to be promoted directly from corporal to sergeant. He was so grateful to Dugan that he almost couldn't resist rushing up to kiss Major Dugan.

After the two stepped out of the tent, Tom stammered to Dugan, "Thank you, Major. I just don't know why you trusted me so much."

"Tom, Tom, Tom..." Dugan said bluntly, "That's because you're the first friend I made after coming to India."

"Friends?" Tom felt a warm feeling in his heart.

Looking at Tom's expression, Dugan knew that Tom had believed his lies.

if not?

Is Dugan going to tell him that he's unfamiliar with India and has no one else to rely on, so he has no choice but to make do with you for now?

Outside the tent, the scorching sun still baked the earth, the red soil was everywhere, and the distant horizon was distorted by the heat waves.

Dugan was somewhat worried, while Tom, having just been promoted, was incredibly excited, like he'd been injected with adrenaline.

"Major, shall we depart now?"

Dugan nodded and said, "That's right, let's set off immediately. We need to get to the assembly point as quickly as possible, take over the Second Battalion, and get the soldiers back on their feet."

Dugan looked at the junior officer from the 2nd Battalion who had managed to escape, but whose head was bandaged and whose hands were in splints.

"Soldier, what's your name? What's your unit number?" Dugan asked.

"Yes, Major! My name is Joffrey Donald. Lieutenant, 1st Company, 2nd Battalion, 94th Infantry Regiment," the man replied.

"How can he only be a lieutenant?" Dugan frowned. During his time at the regimental headquarters, he had gained a better understanding of the British military rank system. At this time, the infantry company commander in the British Army was at least a captain.

Lieutenant Joffrey replied somewhat embarrassedly, "My family can only scrape together enough money to buy a lieutenant."

"Alright." Dugan paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Lieutenant Joffrey, if you perform well in the mission to rebuild the 2nd Battalion, I will definitely recommend to Colonel Stevenson that you be promoted to captain."

"Thank you so much." Lieutenant Joffrey was also excited. Buying a lieutenant's rank had exhausted his father's entire fortune in the Welsh countryside and left him with a mountain of debt.

The three mounted their horses, which neighed loudly and galloped off towards the Second Battalion's assembly point, their hooves pounding the scorching red earth.

By evening, Dugan and his men arrived at the 2nd Battalion's temporary assembly point.

"Is this a military camp? It's a complete cesspool!" Dugan couldn't help but curse the moment he saw the place.

There were no orderly camps, only haphazardly erected, dilapidated tents, leaning precariously in the mud, their canvases torn by the wind and rain, the edges covered in mud and withered grass.

The ground was trampled into a muddy mess by countless military boots, mixed with human and horse excrement, broken smoothbore gun handles, scattered bullet belts and tattered military caps, a scene of utter devastation.

The campfire was dying, emitting wisps of smoke. The damp firewood crackled and popped as it burned, and the thick smoke, carrying a chill, permeated the air. Not a trace of warmth could be held back by the wind.

The air was filled with the stench of sweat, gunpowder residue, the stench of warhorses, and the putrid smell of mud, making it nauseating.

British soldiers sat or lay sprawled in twos and threes, their red uniforms covered in mud and wrinkled, some had torn off their caps and their hair was disheveled and stuck to their foreheads.

Some leaned against the earthen slope with slumped shoulders, their eyes vacant and numb, devoid of any soldierly spirit.

They were all dejected; some were stroking their worn flintlock pistols, while others huddled together, wrapped tightly in their tattered cloaks.

"Trash, you're all stinking dog shit from a cesspool, scum, scoundrels..." Dugan jumped off his warhorse, brandishing his whip and lashing several soldiers sleeping in the mud. "Are you even soldiers? Stand up, all of you!"

But the soldiers simply dodged Dugan's whip, moved to another spot, and continued to lie lazily, ignoring Dugan.

Lieutenant Joffrey said, "The regimental headquarters has supplied this army with meager supplies. We have not had pay, rations, feed, shoes, socks, clothes, tents, camping tools, or transportation for two months. Our material life is extremely difficult."

Upon hearing this, Dugan was stunned. "What? You're not kidding, are you?"

Lieutenant Joffrey nodded very seriously.

Dugen put down his riding whip and cursed, "The quartermaster of the regiment should be shot!"

Joffrey said in a low voice, "I heard it's because Lieutenant Colonel Haywood refused to bribe Quartermaster Lieutenant Colonel Leo Wood... Of course, I only heard it."

"Shit, fuck, idiot..." English doesn't have as many swear words as Chinese, and Dugan unleashed them all at once. "He's a bastard born of a whore and a leper, what's the difference between him and the soldiers of the 2nd Battalion?"

Dugan was furious, but he wasn't standing up for the soldiers of the 2nd Battalion. He simply felt that it was the greedy quartermaster Leo Wood who had created this mess, and now he had to clean it up.