On Tuesday evening, after his usual devotion to the desk, ho was seized with symptoms of a choleraic character, and took to his bed, where he died on the night of the following Thursday. Lord Raglan possessed qualities which, if not those of a great general, were calculated to obtain for the English army more consideration than that to which it was entitled by its numerical strength. Although he was frequently obliged to give way to their councils, in opposition to his declared convictions, his calmness in the field — his dignity of manner — his imperturbable equanimity — exercised their legitimate influence over the generals of the French army.
That Lord Raglan was an accomplished gentleman, as brave a soldier as ever drew a sword, an amiable, honourable man, zealous for the public service, of the most unswerving truth, devoted to his duty and to his profession, cannot be denied; but he appears to me to have been a man of strong prejudices and of weak resolution, cold to those whom, like Omar Pasha, he considered "vulgar," coerced without difficulty by the influence of a strorger will, and apt to depend upon those around him where he should have used his own eyes. There was something of the old heroic type in his character, which would have compensated for even graver defects, if their results had not been, in many instances, so unfortunate for our arms; his death on a foreign soil whilst in command of an English army touched the hearts of his countrymen.
The following General Orders were issued next day: —
" Head-quarters before Sebastopol, June 29.
" No. 1. It becomes my most painful duty to announce to the army the death of its beloved commander, Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, G.C.B., which melancholy event took place last night about nine o'clock.
" No. 2. In the absence of Lieutenant- General Sir George Brown, the command of the troops devolves on me, as the next senior officer present, until further orders are received from England.
" No. 3. Generals of Divisions and heads of departments will be pleased to conduct their respective duties as heretofore.
"J. Simpson, Lieutenant-General."