Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-07

then half-past one. But, of course, this
can't be true story, because heroes never
brag, Nelson and Wolfe, among Others,
having been specially noted tor their
modesty. 1t is further stated, by the
way, that Sir Garnet's travelling equipage
is OF the lghtest, consisting OF nothing
beyond toothbrush and clean shirt.
To return to the Red River Expedition.
OF course Sir Garnet made short work of
the rebels; but what struck his superiorg
much more than the mere quelling Of an
armed mob was the administrative abil-
lty he displayed after the victory. So
eulogistic of the loyalists, SO concilia:ory
to the submissive, so peremptory with
the mutinous, evidently there haa
arisen among US the man after Napoleon'x
heart, with the iron hand encased in the
velvet glove. Canadians in general, and
Man1tobans in particular, speak kindly
of Sir Garnet; for they have not forgot
ten him, even after the lapse of eight
years, which is something in these
days
1t was September IL, 1873, that he
embarked for the Gold Coast, accom-
panied by brilliant staff, the several
members of which he has looked very
carefully after ever since. Grumblers
indeed. complain, that none but 'Ashan-
tee men" have 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 so well2 Is ne to
prefer men of whom he has had no ex-
perience to men whose special capacities
he can exactly gauge?
As to the way in which Sir Garnet per-
formed his Ashantee work there can be
no serious difference Of opinion. His
success was complete; "the butchers bill''
very small; and the cost of the entertain
ment in all less than million sterling.
Possibly the transport arrangements, as
asserted, were nearly breaking down, and
the English general only beat the saw
ages by fiuke. But stories similar to
these have been so invariably told by the
beaten side in war, or by rival officers in
dignant at being overlooked. that sensi-
BILE people rarely set much store by them
1t must be remembered, too, that chance
and good luck have been factors in the
reputation of every successful captain.
Napoleon said Of his conoueror: 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 Cesar
or any other great commander. War is
mixed game of skill and hazard
Sir Garnet's private secretary during
the Ashantee campaign, be it mentioned
in passing, was Lieut.. Maurice. son Of
Frederick Denison. Lieut.. Maurice and
Sir Garnet had both been competitors
for the prize OF one hundred guineas Of
fered by the present defence of England.
Maurice won it; and not every general
would have taken SO kindly revenge
on a subaltern who had beaten him on
his own weapons. To the functions Of
secretary Maurice, with his chiefs coD-
sent, joined those of special cores
pondent of the Daily Neaos. Sir Garnet
loathes special correspondents who are
non-combatants, calling them the 'drones'
Of an army. One wonders whether he
would consider Mr.. Archibald Forbes q
drone.
Sir Garnet absolutely forbade the con
sumption of all intoxicating drinks what
soever in his army from the beginning
to end of the Ashantee campaign, except,
of course, when stlmulants were ordered
to their patients by surgeons. Needless to
add, the general practiscd what be
preached.
Sir Garnet is professional tactician-
as is Lord Chelmsford. The difference
between the two men il. this: The for
mer can act as we'll as write. By acting
I mean not beng afraid to incur respon-
sibility at critical moments. A young
officer once asked Sir Garnet which was
the best road to eminence In the military
career. He unhesitatingly replied,
''studi," adding: "Don't believe what
some men tell you about tie difference
between bookish and practical men. You
can't do anything nowadays, without sci
entifc knowledge. Read as much as you
can; it is sure to pay IN the long-run.''
He has himself written the "Soldiers'
Pocket Companion of the best lit
erary manuals ever penned.