New-York tribune., 1908-06-03

Garnet Wolse1ey who took him on the expedition
to the Gold Coast in 1873 In the Ashantee war Of
that and the following year he adJutant and
quartermaster general. and he also saw service in
the Kafir of 1873 and the Zulu Of 1873. re-
ceiving brevet lieutenant coonelcy and the Vic
toria Cross for Eallsntry. being thanked in gen
eral orders. He put in command of the
Frontier Light Horse colonel. and saved the
lives of two of his officers and Of his in
perilous conditions. The report In which the Vic
toria Cross conferred him said: For his
gallant conduct at the retreat at Inhloband. on
March 2s 1879 in having assisted. while hotly pur
sued by Zulus, in rescung Captain c. Darcy, Of
the Frontier Light Horse who retiring on
foot. until he overlook the rear guard; also for
having the day. and in the same circurn-
stances, conveyed to q place Of safety Lieutenant
c. Everitt. of the Frontier Light Horse. whose
horse had been killed under him. Later on Colonel
Butler. in the same manner. saved trooper Of the
Frontier Light Horse whose horse was completely
exhausted and who otherwise would have been
killed by the Zuus, who within eighty yards
of him.
In 1881 Colonel Butler served in the Boer war as
chief of staff Sir Evelyn Wood, with the local
rank of major general. and he had share In the
in Egypt in 1892 in charge of the intelligence
bureau taking part IN the battles Of Kassassn and
Tel-el- Kebir. being mentioned in dispatches. and
receiving the K. {. NJ. G., a medal with clasp. the
third class Of Osrnanieh. and the Rhedives Star.
He served under Sir Gerald Graham in the Soudan
campaign in 1884, commanding the First Infantry
Brigade For his service ne promoted to a
ma tor generalcy In 1885 he was chief of stafr to
Lord Wolseley in the Soudan. When Sir Herbert
Stewart had been killed and Colonel Barnaby
wounded General Butler took command of the
desert column and defeated the enemy. receiving
a L. c. B for his services From 1887 to 1890 he
was quarterrnaster general of the army. and then
was made adjutant general to the forces. succeed
ing Lord Wolseley- The following year he was
promoted 10 the rank of lieutenant general and in
1894 he received the G. c. b In 1898 he put in
command of the First Army Corps and the gsrri-
son at AldershOt.
In 1s9s-1e00 he served in the Boer war. going out
in November Of the former year as general COM
rnandfng the forces in South Africa, and afterward
becoming general officer commanding in Natal
Great things had been expected from his reputa-
ton as an indouitabe fighter, but he suffered
serious reverses in the vicinity of Ladysmith. al
though he accomplished its relief after it had been
invested 11S days. He afterward acted in conjunc-
ton with Lord Roberts, who was put in supreme
command but returned to Aldershot in 1901 But
IN consequence of an i'll advised speech in London
he was retired from active service His friends.
who were anxious for his vindication. succeeded
onIv in bringing out the facts in regard to his
career IN South Africa II was made public IN
official channels that after his first reverse he sent
message by heliograph 10 General " hite IN
1nsnd of the invested garrison at LadysmIth.
N surrender which advice was followed. The
Secretary for War. in commenting this Incl
dent. said that if General Buffers advice had been
followed il would have been the most calamitous
reverse in English military history
This was the text Of General Buffers message;
AS If appears certain that cannot relieve Lady
smith for another month and even then only by
means Of protracted siege operations, you Will
burn YOUR ciphers, destroy your guns. fire your
ammunition and make the best terms possible
with the general of the besegtng forces. after
giving me time fortify myself on the Tugela' -
This message was at first taken by General White
70 he a Boer forgery. The publication OF the facts
DESTROYED the reputation of General Butler as
military man.
General Butler was married in 1852 10 Lady
Audrey Jane Charlotte Howard. widow OF the Hon
G. T Howard