Dear Jo: Thanks for the note and for making me scratch my grey matter. !! The term *aide-de-camp* was used by the French for an assistant to a prominent person in the official hierarchy like an Army General, Governor etc. His function was multifarious. He was a secretary in that he formulated letters and sometimes wrote them too for the "big" man, arranged* for *the daily visits by the "big" man, arranged for visits* to * the "big" man and did all the little things that "he" required.He held considerable power in that without the knowledge of the "big" man he could manipulate circumstances to the advantage of another!! In general he was a factotum. An army officer was, however, never used for this purpose except when the "big" person was high up in the hierarchy or a high ranking army officer.These ADC's had a considerable amount of political power too and a nose to bypass the non-beneficial transactions for the individuals or Governments concerned. He had to be smart and acute. Now coming to the question of this James Stewart being the J S in question - you are asking me a question that I have been posing to myself on several occasions. This commonality of names really gets in the way of defining a person especially when he lived about 250 years ago!! The time period could fit in with our"man" but could he be charged with the important task of raising a new battalion *after* a dismissal.? I am not able to get a clue as to who this James Stewart was and as to what he was indicted for, to earn a dismissal. But then, the Warren Hastings' Government was notable for its dismissals and summary dealings like flogging and hangings. The case of Carnac is in point. He was a long serving army man who I am certain climbed the tree of hierarchy because of his own achievements. He was also 2nd in Council at Bombay which meant that he was number 2 in the Civil administration after the Governor !! He got dismissed for being associated with the Treaty of Wudegaon of 1770 which Hastings thought insulted the British Government!! In fact [ and I have been going through literature] it would seem that Carnac ordered a retreat and a Treaty with the Maharattas because he wanted to save the remnants of the beleaguered and tattered British army that marched from Bombay and tried to retreat. Can we have a look at an excerpt of the especially pp 75 -93 of the doc. that you have referred to. I am not able to access these. Are you able to do this?? Thank you for your sustained interest in what I should call "our" man!! I await your response. Sincerely John Dr. John A.Thomas,MD,FRCPath, FAMS