The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-05
THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.


Notwithstanding almost continuous
military employment during his nine
years of Canadian service, this period
of Wolseley's career must have bean
somewhat dreary. In 1865 he got a
step in army rank to brevet colonel;
but 1 have heard that there were peri
DDS of depression when he was all but
decided to quit the service and devote
himself to the avocation of civil en-
gineer, for which he had eminent quail
ifications. Any such brooding notions,
however, were dissipated when early in
1870 disoyal ebUllitions en- the Red river
became so perilous that the authorities
determined TO dispe roh Z body of troops
to restore the queens authority in that
remote settlement, and to nominate
the expedition. This event was the
turning point of his career. All inde-
pendent command, the highest aSplra-
ton of the Jealous and ambitious Off
Ger, had come to Wolseley at the age
Of 81, and after eighteen years Of SER
vice. The Red river expedition was
not a very great exploit; it cannot rank
with Albert Sidney Johnson's march
across half continent to Utah, and its
object might have been accomplished
more simply and cheaply by sending
the little force by water from Quebec
round Labrador to the mouth of Mel
son river in Hudson'S bay, a route by
which more than one regiment had pre-
viously reached Fort Gary. But it was
a fine piece of adventurous exploration;
it afforded scope for command, for
skill, for self reliance, and for the for
tunate opening to make a name-an
opening made the most of in consis-
tency with Wolselsy's methods. With
what resolution, fertility of resource,
and unvarying cheerfulness he conduc-
ted the arduous journey and voyage
over a distance of some six hundred
miles by water and land portages the
Argonauts whom he had led testify en-
Enthusiastically on their return to civili-
eaton.
WoIseley returned to England toward
the end of 1870. But that the attention
of the nation was then centered in the
mighty struggle between France and
Germany, greater interest would have
been manifested i'm the progress and
successful issue of the Red river ex-
petition. While ragged in 1t he had
received the c. b, and now the queen
bestowed ON him the honor of K. 9,
NJ. c. But routine held its sway. and
Sir Garnet had to revert temporarily
to the position Of a substantive major
ON half pay. Later sphere Of duty
was found him at the Horse Guards
as an assistant adjutant general.
His prestige as a man who had ex-
ceptionaily distinguished himself in
many fields of fight. his ability as a
member of the headquarter staff, his
conduct in independent command of
the Red river expedition. all were cir
cumstances which justly weighed in
his favor Men who had served with
or under him, and who had become i'm
pressed with his high soldierly abili-
ties waited for the opportunity to ac-
cept positions as his adherents. The
government, alive to his capacity, Sc
l.cted him for the command in Africa
Of the operations which had become
necessary in consequence of the ag
gressicns Of the king of Ashantee; and
they wisely centered in his hands the
supreme direction of civil as we'll as os
military affairs He gathered around
him for special service large staff, con-
sisting Of officers of exceptional ability:
and as the result of his preliminary
operations on the Gold Coast, he reoui-
STONED from home three regiments.
q battery of artillery, and considerable
details. Immediate end decisive results
followed. The brilliant success of VOL
seley as commander of the Ashantee
expedition gave proof to the nation
that in him it possessed a general of
exceptional gifts and qualifications.
The issue of that arduous enterprise
made il clear that he was possessed
of fertility of resource, strength OF