Such reasons will account for the fact that youth seemed to be an almost essential requisite for a company officer, whilst it was not so in the same degree in the higher positions.
It was astonishing to see the rapidity with which well-educated and earnest young men progressed as officers.

They were alert in both mind and body.

They quickly grasped the principles of their new profession, and with very little instruction made themselves masters of tactics and of administrative routine.

Add to this, bravery of the highest type and a burning zeal in the cause they were fighting for, and a campaign or two made them the peers of any officers of their grade in our own or any other army.
Another class which cannot be omitted and which is yet very hard to define accurately, is that of the "political appointments." Of the learned professions, the lawyers were of course most strongly represented among officers of the line.

The medical men were so greatly needed in their own professional department that it was hard to find a sufficient number of suitable age and proper skill to supply the regiments with surgeons and the hospitals with a proper staff.