The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-10
a SUCCESSFUL SOLDIER
Sir Garnet Wolseley's Biography With Va
riety Of Anecdotes

Sir Garnet was in hospitable Ireland,
where it is needless to say he lad good
time of it. In returning thanks for the
toast of his health he remarked that he
was proud to think himself an Irishman.
Which shows that the one imperfectlon
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 ig-
norant, to say nothing of Marlborough.
Inc truth is the Wolseleys Of the sew
enteenth century-Sir Garnet is of an
ola tamily-would have absolutely
screamed at kinsman of theirs calling
himself Irish; in fact, they would have
been as much disguised as one of Will
liam the f1st's barons might have felt at
beng stlgmatized as English. It was
Wolseley who commanded at Newton
Butler, when the Celts got the most ter
rlble thrashing they ever received from
the Saxons. think it was. his descend
ant who was created baronnet of Ireland
in 1774. But the head of the family is
Sir Charles Micheal Wolseley an ENGLISH
baronet of creation in 1928, and Cath
Ole. Sir Garnet is in the succession to
both titles. After the Ashantee cam
paign he was offered baronetcy for him
self, bufdeclined it. So they gave him
the G. G. M. G., the K. G. B. and e25,-
600 down. The first two honors were
conferred on him by the queen at a re-
view in Windsor, Great park, held short.
~ after Sir Garnet's return, her majesty
having thoughtfully brought down the
commanders and grand commanders
badges In two black leather bags.
1.-The history OF heroes, is the history
OF YOUTH" said Sidonia to Coningsby.
To do Lord Beaconsield justice, he be-
lieves in this particular axiom of his, as
he has proved on several occasions. It
was. however, Mr.. Gladstone who, early
wise himself, gave the youthful Garnet
Wolseley his first brilliant chance by send
ing him against the Red River insurgents.
Col. Wellesley was then thirty-tour, and
this has been his record: Ensign IN 1862,
he became captain in 1854, major in 1858,
Northumberland in 1859 and colonel
in 1865. Seldom, IN our time, has there
been a 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 al
ways been well-rendered. Sir Garnet
first smelt powder in the Indian cam
paign of 1852 3; 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 once more in India
at the right moment, and knows as much
about the relief Of Lucknow and the de-
Tense of Alumbagh as any man living.
The year 1860 saw HIM in China. The
man has perfect genius for being on the
spot when fighting is to be done. The
only affair of Importance he has missed
In his lifetime is the Abyssinian ex-
petition. "Ready, aye. ready should he
Sir Garnet's motto. when can you
start?'' asked the premier, after appoint
ing him to the Cape command. 'By the
4:15 train replied Sir Garnet It was
then half-past one. But, of course, this
can't be a true story, because heroes never
Drag, Nelson and Wolfe, among others,
having been specially noted for their
modesty. It is further stated, by the
way, that Sir Garnet's travelling equipage
is of the lightest, 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 superiors
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:or
to the submissive, so peremp tory with
the mutinous, evidently there had
arisen among us the man after Napoleon's
heart, with the iron hand encased in the
velvet glove. Canadians in general, and
Manltobans 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, 1878, 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 gettinga good
thing where Sir Garnet commands. The
latter asks pathetically? What would
people have? Is he to forget ole comrades
in arms, who served so we'll? Is he 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 ste1ling.
Possibly the transport arrangements, as
asserted, were nearly breaking down, and
the English general only beat the saw
ages by fluke. 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.
It must be remembered, too, that chance
and good luck have been factors in the
reputation Of every successful captain.
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 commander. War is
| a mixed game of skill and hazard
| Sir Narpof,c