A major cause of resentment that arose ten monthsprior to the outbreak of the Rebellion was the GeneralService Enlistment Act of 25 July 1856. As noted above,men of the Bengal Army had been exempted from overseasservice. Specifically they were enlisted only forservice in territories to which they could march. Governor-General Lord Dalhousie saw this as an anomaly,since all sepoys of the Madras and Bombay Armiesand the six "General Service" battalions of the BengalArmy had accepted an obligation to serve overseas ifrequired. As signed into effect by Lord Canning,Dalhousie's successor as Governor-General, the Actrequired only new recruits to the Bengal Army to accepta commitment for general service. However, servinghigh-caste sepoys were fearful that it would beeventually extended to them, as well as preventing sonsfollowing fathers into an Army with a strong traditionof family service.