The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-10
A Successful Soldier.
Sir Garnet Wolseley's Biography, with 81
Variety of Anecdotes.

- ----~ONN~N~D'
Sir Garnet was once in hospitable Ireland,
where it is needless to say he had good time
of it. In returning thanks for the toast of his
health he remarked that he was proud to think
himself an I1shman. Which shows that olie
imperfection in an almost faultless character
may sometimes be lack of historical knowl-
edge At the same time he may take comfort,
for Wellington was equally ignorant, to say
nothing of Marlborough.
The truth is the Wolseleys Of the seven
teenth century-Sir Garnet is of an old family
would have absolutely screamed at kins-
man of theirs calling himself Irish; in fact,
they would have been as much disgusted as
one of William the First's barons might
have felt at being stigmatized as English. 1t
was Wolseley who commanded at New
ton Butler, when the Celts got the most
terrible thrashing they ever received from the
Saxons. l think it was his descendant who
was created Baronet of Ireland 1744. But
the head of the family is Sir Charles Michael
Wolseley, an English baronet of a creation in
1925 and a Catholic. Sir Garnet is in the sue
cession to both titles. After the Ashanteo
campaign he was offered baronetcy for him
self, but declined it. So they gave him the
G. c. NJ. G., the X. G. B., and 925, 600 down.
The first two honors were conferred on him by
the Queen at review in Windsor Great Park,
held shortly after Sir Garnets return, her
Majesty having thoughtfully brought down the
Commanders badges in two black leather
bags.
'The history of heroes" said Sidonia to
Coningsby, ''is the history of youth" To do
Lord Beaconsfield Justice he believes in this
particular axiom of his, as he has proved on
several occasions. 1t was, however. Mr..
Gladstone who, 'early wise" himself, gave the
youthful Garnet Wolseley his first brilliant
chance by sending him against the Red River
insurgents. Colonel Wolseley was then thirty
four, and this has been his record: Ensign in
1852, he became captain in 1854, major lin the
Nineteenth) in 1858, lieutenant colonel in 1859,
and colonel in 1865. Seldom, in our time, has
there been more rapid rise. For the best of
reasons: few officers of this generation having
seen so much service. What is equally to the
point, the service had always been well done.
Sir Garnet first smelt powder in the Indian
campaign or 1928; returned in the nick of
time, and distinguished himself in the Crimea
where he was badly wounded. The Russian
war over, he managed, with his usual luck to
be i'll India at the right moment, and knows as
much about the Relief of Lucknow and the
defence of Alumbagh as as any man living
The year 1860 saw him in China
The man has perfect genius for being on the
spot Wherever fighting is to be done. The
only affair of Importance he has missed in his
lifetime is the Abyssinian Expedition. "Ready
aye, ready" should be Sir Garnet's motto.
"When can you start?" asked the Premier,
after appointing him to the Cape command.
by the 415 train, replied Sir Garnet. 1t was
then half past 1. But of course this can't be
true story, because heroes are noted for their
modesty. 1t is further stated. by the way, that
Sir Garnets travelling equipage is of the
lightest consisting as rule of nothing beyond
a toothbrush and clean-Shirt.
Toreturn to the Red River expedition. OF
course, Sir Garnet made short work of the
rebels; but what struck his superiors much
more than the mere quelling of an armed mob
after the victory So eulogistic of the loyal
lists, SO conciliatory to the submissive, so per-
emptory with the mutinous, evidently
there had arisen among us the man after Ma
poleon's heart, with the iron hand encased in
the velvet glove. Canadians in general, and
Manitobans in particular, speak kindly of Sir
Garnet; for they have not forgotten him, even
after lapse of eight years, which is something
in these days.
1t was on September u, 1873, that he en-
barked for the gold coast, accompanied by q
brilliant staff the several members of which
he has looked very carefully after since.
Grumblers, indeed, complain that none but
"Ashantee men" have any chance of getting
good thing where Sir Garnet commands. The
latter asks pathetically, What would people
have? Is he to forget old comrades in arms,
who served him so well? Is he to prefer men
of whom he has had no experience to men OF
whose special capacities he can exactly gague?
AS to the way in which Sir Garnet performed
his Ashantee work there can be no serious dif-
ference of opinion. His success was complete;
the "butcher's bill'' very small; and the cost of
the entertainment in all less than a million
sterling. Possibly the transport arrangements,
as asserted, were nearly breaking down, and
the English General only beat the savages by
fuke. But stories similar to these have been
so invariably told by the beaten side in war
or by rival officers, indignant at being over
looked, that sensible persons will rarely set
much store by them. 1t must be remembered
too, that chance and good luck have been fac
tors in the reputation of every successful cap
tain. Napoleon said of his conqueror: For
tune has done more for him than he has done
to win her." Very likely, but the saying would
have been equally true of Napoleon himself, of
Hannibal, of Caesar or any other great COM
mander. War is a mixed game of skill and
hazard,
Sir Garnet's private the secretary during
Ashantee campaign, be it mentioned in pass
ing, was Lieutenant Maurice son of Frederic
Denison. Lieutenant Maurice, and Sir Gar
net had both been competitors for the prize of
one hundred guineas offered by the present
Duke of Wellington for the best essay on the
defence of England. Maurice won it, and not
every General would have taken so kindly
revenge on a subaltern who had beaten him at
his own weapons. To the functions of secre-
tary Maurice, with his chiefs consent, joined
those of a special correspondent of the Daily
News. Sir Garnet loathes special correspon-
dents who are non combatants, calling them
the "drones" of an army. One wonders wheth-
er he would consider Mr. Archibald Forbes
drone.
Sir Garnet absolutely forbade the consump-
ton of all Intoxicating drinks whatsoever in
his army from the beginning to the end Of the
Ashantee campaign, except, Of course, when
stimulants were ordered to their patients by
surgeons. Needless to add, the General prac-
tlced what he preached.
Sir Garnet is professional tactician-as is
Lord Chelmsford. The difference between
the two men is this: the former can act as well
as write. By acting mean not being afraid
to incur responsibility at critical moments. y
young officer once asked Sir Garnet which was
the best road to eminence in the military ca
reer lie uhhesitatingly replied, Study"
adding: Don't believe what some fellows
will tell you about the difference between
bookish and practical men. You can't do any
thing nowadays without scientific knowledge.
Read as much as you can; it is sure to pay in
the long rum He has himself written the
Soldiers Pocket Companion'-one of the
best military manuals ever penned.-London
Truth