Commands

Campbell held a command in the American expedition of 1814; and after the peace of the following year he devoted himself to studying military science. In 1823 he quelled the slave rebellion in Demerara, and two years later bought himself a major's rank. In 1832 he became lieutenant-colonel of the 98th Foot. Campbell was next employed in the Sikh War of 1848-49, under Lord Gough.. He was made a KCB in 1849, and specially named in the thanks of Parliament.

Crimea

When The Crimean War broke out, and he accepted the command of the Highland Brigade. The brigade and its leader distinguished themselves very greatly at the Battle of Alma; and with his "thin red line of Highlanders" he repulsed the Russian attack on Balaklava. At the close
of the war Sir Colin was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Bath, and elected honorary D.C.L. of Oxford.

Later Life

His military ability had been late in being recognised; but his true worth was soon appreciated. The outbreak of the Indian Mutiny called for a general of tried experience; and on July 11, 1857 the command was offered to him by Lord Palmerston. On being asked when he would be ready to set out, Campbell replied, "Within twenty-four hours." He left England the next evening, and reached Calcutta on August 13.

Born Colin Macliver or M'Liver to a simple carpenter at Glasgow, Scotland, he was educated at the High School of Glasgow. When only fifteen he watched an inspection of troops by the Duke of York, escorted by his maternal uncle Colonel John Campbell. The duke enlisted the boy under the surname of Campbell, which he adopted for Military life.

The Russian force was 25,000 strong; but only their massed cavalry pushed right forward down the road to Balaklava. Part of this threat was parried by the immortal charge of Scarlett's Heavy Cavalry Brigade. The rest, a formidable mass, swept on to charge the 93rd drawn up in line, two deep. "There is no retreat from here, men," Campbell told them as he rode down the line, "you must die where you stand." And the reply of John Scott, the right-hand man, was taken up by them all: "Ay, Sir Colin. An needs be, we'll do that." They fired two volleys and the cavalry charge split in half, galloping to right and left and finally into full retreat. Some of the younger soldiers started excitedly forward for a bayonet charge, but Sir Colin called out, "93rd, 93rd, damn all that eagerness!"
The Battle of Balaklava. The Thin Red Line

The Times correspondent, W. H. Russell, who standing on the hills above could clearly see that nothing stood between the Russian cavalry and the defenceless British base but the "thin red streak tipped with a line of steel" of the 93rd. Condensed almost immediately into "The Thin Red Line", the phrase has survived to this day as the chosen symbol of everything for which The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders believe themselves to stand.

Asked why he had been so unorthodox as to receive a cavalry charge in line instead of in a square. Sir Colin Campbell said; "I knew the 93rd, and I did not think it worth the trouble of forming a square."