The Times, London, 19 Feb. 1857, p.9

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES

Sir, in The Times of this morning, at the end of the article on Colonel Tulloch's1 book, you remark upon Colonel Rumley as having been unjustly promoted to be a Major-General over the head of Colonel Tulloch.

As the writer of this article does not appear to be aware of the facts, I beg to enclose to you the relative dates of the commissions of the two officers in question:-

	Ensign	Lieut.	Capt.	Major.	Lieut.-Col.
Colonel Tulloch	April 1826	May 1835	Nov 1838	March 1839	May 1844
Colonel Rumley	Dec. 1824	Oct. 1825	Aug. 1837	Nov. 1841	July 1848

You will perceive that Major-General Rumley entered the army two years before Colonel Tulloch, that he was a lieutenant 10 years before him was a captain 11 years before him, and became a Major-General two years after him, Colonel Tulloch having received military rank for serving in an office in London, under Lord Grey,2 out of his turn; so that Major-General Rumley has only got his proper place again.

Major-General Rumley is well known to be one of the very best regimental officers in our army; he served with distinction in the Caffre war, has also served in India, and did everything he could to get to the Crimea, but was, much against his will and to his great disgust, retained at Malta, being found so very efficient in charge of the depots there.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
A.C. STERLING, Lieutenant-Colonel.3

13, South-place, Knightsbridge, Feb. 18.

[* We insert this letter, but it is altogether irrelevant. The question is one of seniority of rank, and it is not denied that Colonel Rumley was promoted over the head of his senior, Colonel Tulloch. We did not and do not disparage Major-General Rumley's claims to his present rank. We simply call attention to the fact that, not having had the opportunity of distinguishing himself in the field, any more than Colonel Tulloch, he was promoted over Colonel Tulloch's head, in recompense, apparently, for services much less remarkable than those of Colonel Tulloch.]

[Transcriber's notes]

Sir J. McNeill and Col. Alexander Tulloch went to the Crimea to conduct a Commission of Enquiry into the Commissariat. See also letters 1857/02/17 ERW London Times, 1857/02/19 H London Times, 1857/02/20 JF London Times, and 1857/02/24 WHD London Times for reaction to the tabling of the report.
Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey (1802-1894) was a British politician and son of Charles Grey. He served under his father as undersecretary for the colonies from 1830-33, resigning because the cabinet would not back the immediate emancipation of slaves. From 1835-39 he served as secretary of war; and as colonial secretary from 1846-52. [The Wordsworth dictionary of biography, Ware, Hertfordshire, 1994, p.185.]
See also Anthony Sterling, The story of the Highland Brigade in the Crimea: Founded on letters written during the years 1854,1855, and 1856, (Minneapolis, 1995). [Originally published as The Highland Brigade in the Crimea, (London, 1895).]

[M.S.]

The Times 19.2.1857 p 9

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES