The letters of Lord and Lady Wolseley, 1870-1911;

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Hahner

(Marcella Burns

, Wes THE LETTERS OF LORD AND LADY

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CHAP.

XXII.

CHAPTER I RIDEAU Hatt, Monday, 25th Apnil 1870

I have just returned from the parliament building, where I have to do so much talking that my throat becomes sore.

I

Lord

Wolseley.

Lord Wolseley.

Lord Wolseleye

The General consults me upon everything, and sits heavily upon that greasiest of commissaires, Ittol Martindale. No one yet has been able to give me any information about our | Governorship—I have in vain tried to pump Col. Barnard, who is Sir John A. Macdonald’s brother-in-law. Sir John has been closeted all day with the Red River Delegates, in hope of settling affairs amicably. If I am to be Governor and to remain there for the winter, I will telegraph to you that “ Barkis is willing.”

(Extract of letter from Sir J. Michell to Sir E. Lugard with reference to proposed Expedition to Red River:

“They are going, I believe, to send in command the best officer for the purpose that I know of (Colonel Wolseley).

““Whatever can be done by every foresight, good sense and judgment, and for having the perfect confidence of his troops, will be done by him.’’)

This almost makes me afraid when I hear what others expect from me.

RIDEAU, 27th April, Wednesday.

In the strictest confidence I have this moment been unofficially informed that I am not to be the Lt.-Governor. I am to come back from Red River in autumn. I will tell you more hereafter. Iam disappointed. Never mind; I shall meet you to-morrow evening,

Ross_tyn House, Toronto, Tuesday, 3rd May 1870.

I have passed the most wretched time since I returned from _ Ottawa, knowing that we were so soon to part again, and I could not help reproaching myself for going away. I felt as if I were about to commit some crime. The fact is, that soldiers should never marry. The bubble reputation which I seek, not at the cannon’s but at the mosquito’s mouth, is the light that beckons me on. I trust it may not prove an ignis fatuus that will leave me stuck in some swamp near Winnipeg.

LORD AND LADY WOLSELEY .

Rosstyn House, Tuesday, toth May 1870.

Another stupid day over without any result : I am to-night as ignorant as I was yesterday. The Government have been so dilatory that one might almost think time was no object at all. General Lindsay left yesterday evening, and I am in hopes that he is now in Ottawa, where I trust he may be able to tackle all the Ministers to-morrow.

I cannot bear the idea of you all alone in Montreal, and I am very sorry that the Stephens! are going home. By the bye, the money he owes me for my books amounts to twenty dollars for - sixteen copies. I shall to-morrow send you a New York Herald, with an amusing description of me. Send it home when you have read it.

SAULT SAINTE MARIE, 237d May 1870.

We arrived here this morning in a violent thunderstorm. The camp is pitched three-quarters of a mile from the upper end of the rapids, at the old Hudson Bay Government House, now fast falling into ruin. Everything is very green and pretty. Ford Brody, on the Yankee shore, is merely a wooden barrack, surrounded by palisades, having four parrot guns for drill purposes. The Yankee Commandant is an officer of the Regular army, as I hear all the others there are also. He asked Bolton and the officers here to dine with him. They went, and the Yankees tried to make the Britishers drunk, but failed. They sang ‘‘ God save the Queen ” and other National airs, and drank champagne out of goblets. On the roth the Commandant heard from Washington that our Expedition was simply a movement of British troops from one part of H.M. Dominions to another, and as the emeute at the Red River had been amicably settled, we could use the Canal, and take anything through except soldiers and munitions of war. Colonel Offley says he does not consider that horses or boats come under that head.

The Americans have warned us to look out for Fenians, as those worthies may try to destroy some of our vessels. The Chikaluma has been delayed two days in getting the Waubuno off a rock; as she is paid by the day, the master is in no hurry.

1 Afterwards Lord and Lady Mount Stephen,

Lord Wolseley.

Lora Wolseley.

Lord Wolseley.

ForT FRANCIS, Saturday, 6th August 1870.

I hope to leave this on the gth instant—so as to overtake Feilden before he gets to Fort Alexander on the Winnipeg River. There I shall halt for three or four days to collect the Regular troops before I make my triumphal entry into the Red River Settlement. I have letters from several people there, the English Bishop (Monroe) of Rupert’s Land amongst the number. They all beg of me to lose no time, but to push on with all possible speed, as affairs there are in a sad state, every one being in a dread of the Indians, who have become disturbed by the late troubles there. A large number of them have assembled at the mouth of the Winnipeg River to await my arrival. Their Chief has written to me two or three times expressing devoted loyalty to their great Mother (the Queen), and abusing Riel’s party—all the Indians naturally say, ‘‘ You never would allow us to steal or to murder, and always punished us when we did so, but here is this man Riel who has already murdered one man, and who steals whatever he likes.” This Fort Francis is a very pretty place: all around is beautifully green with luxuriant grass, finer than I have ever seen anywhere in America. Some eight or ten wigwams filled with filthy Indians add to the artistic effect. These Indians are dreadful beggars, and expect a present from every newlyarrived person, I have to give away tobacco, flour, pork to the infidels after every interview their leading men honour me with. The Chief has one half of his face painted yellow and the other black. Fort Francis is a favourite resort of theirs in summer, as the river here abounds in fish, upon which they live and grow fat. Below this the sturgeon are caught in great quantities, fifty pounds in weight being nothing for one fish. I have eaten it fried, and it is remarkably good. They have not yet arrived at the art of making caviare, but I suppose that by the time they have been decimated by civilisation, there may be a manufactory here for making that precious preparation. Their medicine dances take place here every summer. The women’s part is to slaughter all the white dogs they can find, which are then cooked and eaten by the men. There is some species of freemasonry gone through ; the men are initiated into the mysteries of medicine, the use of several plants being imparted to them. I believe that there are five degrees, one of which can only be taken each year ; the last consists only in learning the uses of the poisonous plants, and is very select. There are a good many Indian groves about here, all are surrounded by palings, and some have a flagstaff with a piece of white cotton nailed to its top, erected over them. The chiefs are not buried, but are placed in coffins upon a raised platform. When the next in succession dies the remains of the father are taken off the platform and buried, the son’s body being put upon the platform in its place. There are two or three of such coffins here at present close to the fort.

The Franco-German War, of course, deprives this expedition of all possible interest : who on earth will care two straws for us, or for news from Red River, when great events are being enacted on the Rhine.

Fort ALEXANDER, Sunday, 21st August 1870.

Mr. Smith! has just informed me that he has named the ' Hudson Bay Post at the mouth of the Winnipeg River, Fort Louisa, after you—that at their great council he had proposed this arrangement, and that it had been unanimously agreed to. Another post, at the north-west corner of the Lake of the Woods, has been named Fort Wolseley, so you see your fame is being recorded geographically. I leave this place with all the Regulars to-day at 3 p.m., and hope to be in the Red River Settlement to-morrow evening ; and, please God, I shall hoist up the Union Jack over Fort Garry on Thursday morning, or at least some time during the day. _ I hope Riel will have bolted ; for although I should like to hang him to the highest tree in the place, I have such a horror of rebels and vermin of his kidney, that my treatment of him might not be approved by the civil powers in these puling times of weak measures and timid policy.

Fort GARRY, 26th August 1870.

I marched in here with all the honours of war this morning.

It poured all last night and all to-day. When we heard that

Riel and his army!!! were still in the Fort, we all forgot the 1 Afterwards Lord Strathcona.

Lord Wolseley.

Lord Wolseley.

Lord Wolseley.

f rain, and every one was eager to have a shot at him. I cannot tell you how disappointed all are that we have not had a chance of ridding the world of this cowardly murderer. We drew up in battle array in front of the Fort, hoisted the Union Jack, saluted it with twenty-one guns, presented arms, and gave three cheers for the Queen. Then the men gave three cheers for Colonel W. I have not had any sleep for twenty-four hours, and only a few hours’ sleep for the last forty-eight hours, so I can scarcely see. It is now nearly three in the morning, and I have been writing all night. This goes by a special messenger to St. Cloud in Minnesota in an hour’s time—also a telegram to you. I hope they may not fall into the hands of Riel ; he would be as much amused by them as I have been by the letters and high-flown proclamation which he left behind him on his table. He bolted in such a hurry that he had not time even to finish his breakfast, which was devoured by our servants. I am sure to have the Regular troops back by rst October.

Fort Garry, Thursday, ist September 1870.

The last detachment of the 50th Rifles left this afternoon on their return journey. The small detachment of Royal Artillery and Engineers will start on Saturday. I shall wait here until about the gth or roth, and then hope to bid a long adieu to Fort Garry and Red River affairs. The troops, with the exception of one company, return by the same route as that by which they came. One company has gone by road to the Lake of the Woods (about 100 miles) and will embark there. I intend doing the same. I shall wait at Fort Louisa for my canoe; at any rate, I shall wait at Fort Francis until I hear that all the Regulars have got there safely. (

I have this moment received a telegram from General Lindsay that Cardwell! had declined to allow any Regular troops to remain here for the winter. I am glad of this for their sakes. Besides, I have already sent away all the 60th, and I should not like to have to recall any. Gov. Archibald has just arrived ; he is loud spoken in his praise of what we have done.

? Edward Cardwell [1 813-86]; created Viscount Cardwell. War Secretary, 1868-74.

[On Colonel Wolseley’s return from Canada he was appointed _ A.A.G. at Headquarters, and was closely associated with Mr. Cardwell’s Army Reforms.]

AT MAN@UVRES, 19/8/72.

I seldom have five minutes to myself : I shall be interrupted in this note many times, men coming to say that their wives are very ill, or their eldest child has the pip, and that they want leave, etc. etc. There is little or nothing to tell you, for our thoughts and hourly work here are all upon soldiering, and Iam sure you would not care to hear my views upon field-work, or the latest ideas regarding field artillery, etc. Yesterday we had a quiet time and gave our horses a rest. Our Controller evidently considers himself to be a man of great importance, and has an air about him as if he commanded the Army. Iam to dine in Blandford this evening, to meet Sir Richard Airey and the Quartermaster-General, so you see I am quite “in society ’ here. Don’t send me any grouse if you get any— one of the General’s A.D.C.’s, a young fellow of ten thousand a year, has a moor of his own, and we get as much as we can eat.

CAMP, NEAR BLANDFORD, 27/8/72.

We have had a grand show for the Japanese ambassadors to-day, which went off very well—they looked such guys in European dresses ; in fact, they looked like Methodist ministers out for a holiday. Your bottle of stuff has not turned up. I am very much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken about it, but you know my nose is accustomed to this exciting state of affairs, and although I have been similarly affected about twice in every year of my life, I have never found out anything that did me any good. Dear old Sir John lis as fussy as ever. Iam very fond of him, but he tries my temper occasionally by his benevolent wish to have his finger in everybody’s pie. But I contrive to “manage” him very fairly and we get on very well together. Iam glad to find that the essay which gained the Wellington Prize quotes The Soldier’s Pocket Book frequently ; I consider that not only a compliment but a good advertisement for the great work.

1 Sir John Michell, G.O.C. troops on manceuvres.

Lord Wolseley.

Lord Wolseley.

Lord | Wolseley.

Lord Wolseley.

a 8 THE LETTERS OF LORD AND LADY WOLSELEY

Camp, BLANDFORD, 29/8/72.

Our battle of to-day was a grand affair and, as a spectacle, teally very pretty. I have, I know, made numerous enemies by being called upon to give decisions as an umpire. Mrs. and her sister attend all our field-days. She looks badly on horseback, having a very round back and being fat and ungainly ; her sister is decidedly good-looking ; will she go the same way of life? Mrs. ’s income is about £500 a year, and yet we find them everywhere living in the best way. The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, and a large party come down here to stay with Sturt! at Crichel, on Saturday, so I suppose we shall have a long field-day on Monday for their amusement. 7

I am proud of a remark made yesterday by one of these fine ladies who bother us here. Some one was showing them round the camp and they looked into all the tents one by one, most of them well fitted up with beds, tables, etc., but when they looked into mine and saw my bed made on the ground and Holmes’ glass hanging on the pole as my solitary ornament, they exclaimed, “ Oh, this is a private’s tent!” Tell that to Holmes.

Saturday, 31st August 1872.

I am to ride over in the afternoon with Sir John to Crichel, to pay our respects to T.R.H. We are inundated with women here, and I shall be glad when we start, so as to get beyond the region of Sir John’s friends—at present they swarm round him like bees on a sugar barrel. I want you to cut out from the Times of Wednesday and Thursday the Military articles on the Etappen arrangements in the Prussian Army.

The Duke is to have a grand parade here on Monday, at which I suppose ladies of all sorts and sizes will appear on horseback. I shall let you know who turn up. If I had cared to make acquaintances I might have come to know half the county by this time, but I have not always patience to bear with women’s conversation: you are the only woman in the world who amuses me or to whom I can talk with real pleasure

1 Mr. Gerard Sturt, afterwards first Lord Alington.

1873-1875 _

[In August 1873, Sir Garnet Wolseley! was selected to command the troops on the Gold Coast during the Ashantee War, with the rank of Major-General. He arrived in advance of his troops, whom he endeavoured to supplement with native levies, and commenced his inland march just before the close of the year. His difficulties were many and multiform, but the enemy, despite a stubborn resistance, was accounted for without any serious check.

The Ashantees made a final stand near their capital, and Wolseley, after inflicting a decisive defeat, entered Coomassie on 5th February 1874 to receive the submission of King Koffee, who agreed to appoint Commissioners to conclude a treaty. On his return march, Wolseley halted at Adamsi to await the Ashantee agents—the King’s fidelity to his engagements being confirmed by the opportune arrival of Captain Glover with a considerable contingent force on the north of Coomassie. Wolseley returned to England to receive the thanks of Parliament, a grant of £25,000 for his courage, energy, and perseverance, and the freedom of the City of London, and also to assume the command of the Auxiliary Forces.]

CHAPTER II SIERRA LEONE, 27th September 1873

Just a line to say we have arrived here ; a very pretty place, ~ so green, but with plenty of “ rank vegetation.’’ The Governor’s House, where I write this, is an old battery situated behind the town on high ground overlooking the harbour. I landed in state, but as there are only a few soldiers here, and no serviceable guns, I had to dispense with a salute, which I know you will regret very much. A guard of honour of armed police met me on the landing, and the “ population ”’ followed me as a howling crowd from the seabeach to Government House. I steamed into harbour, having a Union Jack flying at the fore- 1K.C.M.G., 1870. 9

Lord Wolseley.

Lord Wolseley.

a

Io THE LETTERS OF mast, which it appears is the right of a Governor, and the Government steamer dressed immediately with all her flags. A large barge came off for me and, for the first time in my life, I felt quite like a Royal personage, also rather like a “ super ”’ onthestage. The Governor, Mr. Berkeley, is a nice little fellow ; his appearance is not commanding, but his behaviour is kind. I am dropping one officer here to recruit, and sending the others to the Gambia to do the same ; I intend leaving another at Cape Palmas also. The heat here is nothing like in India, but steamy. The negroes are like so many monkeys ; they are a lazy, good-for-nothing race, no matter what Exeter Hall may say to the contrary.

GOVERNMENT House, CAPE Coast, 6th October 1873.

I wonder, as I pray for you every morning and every evening, if you are at the same moment praying for me. Tell me when you write that you do not forget me in your prayers; I always beg of God to bless you and by means of His Holy Spirit to turn your thoughts more and more to Him every day that you live, and that you may learn to love and serve and thank Him. Do you mind my talking thus ? or do you think my preaching out of place? I am to see these wretched Kings and Chiefs again in half an hour’s time, and receive their answer to my proposition. I shall enclose in this a copy of my letter to the King of Ashantee ; it is for Holmes’ perusal. No one else is to see it or know that I have sent it. I hope you and he will approve of it. ;

Later.—I have seen the Kings and they seem well pleased, but they say they have no power over their men. I shall not get much out of them until I have had a success somewhere. I shall write home for the European troops, for I can do little without them. The gun fires here at 5a.m. I havea biscuit, a cup of chocolate, and a quinine pill; dress and walk with M‘Neill? for an hour; return very hot, take off my saturated things, and bathe ; breakfast, work all day, dine at 7 p.m., and crawl, worn out, to bed at ro. I have not felt so well for a long time as I do now, and, please God, I hope to keep my health all through. Colonel Leeting, who is a careful man and who came out with the marines before the worst of the season

1 Afterwards Major-General Sir John M‘Neill, V.C.

LORD AND LADY WOLSELEY II was over, and has been here all through it, has never been ill foraday. The Chief Justice, a one-armed man named Marshall, has been here for three months and never a day ill. All those I brought out are still as well and jolly as they were at home.

8ih October.—We had a man hanged here this morning from the lighthouse tower on Fort William, so all the world could see the execution ; the town was on the qui vive, and seemed as well pleased as if a balloon had been sent up for their amusement. The man had murdered a poor slave girl in the bush for something trifling she had about her, so I do not pity him. But, as usual, the execution was a bungle, as the bolts could not be drawn, and the poor devil was consequently kept waiting for some minutes standing on the drop.

Cape Coast, 17th October 1873.

I have written such long dispatches about our fight and so numerous will be the newspaper accounts of it, that I shall not weary either you or myself by going over the story here. It was a complete success, but poor M‘Neill’s dangerous wound throws a damper upon the affair. He bled so profusely that my clothes and waterbottle were dyed with his blood ; he is a man of the right sort, for he took his wound like a soldier, although the pain was excruciating. He is going on well and hopes to be able to be about again in six weeks. The danger is that lockjaw may ensue, as all the tendons of his left wrist have been torn away. It is hard luck that such a good officer should have been struck down in such a trifling affair, but ‘God is Great,” as the Moslems say, and we must not cavil at His decrees. Any war brings one to think more seriously than when sitting at home at ease, and makes one realise how dependent we are upon Him for everything. Our life is a frail affair, the cord of which is easily and rapidly snapt at all times, whether at home or abroad. I trust that God will spare me to carry out this campaign successfully; but the personal ambition of which my very heart was at one time so full, has in great measure died out within me, and I have often of late wished that I could be taken. Don’t vote these thoughts gloomy. I never was in better health or in better or higher spirits outwardly than at present, but I feel a sort of relief and comfort in telling you just what I think and feel.

Lord Wolseley.

I enclose you some visiting cards. Only fancy ladies with cards here ; their complexions vary from the colour of an old saddle to that of a Spaniard. Three ladies paid me a visit yesterday, all got up in swell hats that smacked of Bond Street.

Some of the noble people for whom we are about to make war have just gone by the house carrying the head of an Ashantee in triumph. They wanted to bring it here to show me, but I sent down word to say that if ever I caught a man bringing in a head here, I would have him flogged.

18th October.—I keep up a very lengthy correspondence with H.R.H., which is rather a tax upon my time, as I have to tell him all sorts of fiddling things. - Gallant little M‘Calmont? is ill; the doctors said he was not strong enough for the job. He has been on board the Simoon for some days and does not mend rapidly. My other A.D.C. is as strong as a lion—I never met a finer fellow in every way: he works hard all day and feeds us very fairly ; he is the stuff for a soldier andj has a good head on his shoulders. The best thing to eat is the fish: the best sort isa herring. The sheep are so small that the whole animal, minus the head and shoulders, is about the size of a very large hare, with less meat on it.

Monday, 20th October.—I enclose you the copy of a proclamation I have issued. It is penned in a fine Bombastes Furioso style.

Have you seen a bad pun, although very flattering to me, regarding my name, Garnet, in the Punch of 27th September. I feel so uncomfortable when I read all this “ high talk ” about myself in the newspapers, and have a sinking within me when I think how coarse would be the abuse of this same writer if I failed.

23rd October.—The women here wear the funniest-looking bustle, made, I believe—I have not yet personally inspected one —of rolls of cotton stuff upon which the baby sits astride, a cloth being fastened round the little beggar’s back so that nothing is seen but its head and sometimes its arms. It sometimes gets round so as to suckle the very long breasts of the mother. The women wear their hair in spikes twisted round with string. It is really far from unbecoming, especially as their hair is more like wool than hair.

1 Afterwards Major-General Sir Hugh M‘Calmont.

3rd November 1873.

I went on board the Simoon yesterday to see M'Neill. He is getting on well, walks about the deck, and tries to look jolly, although I know at his heart—apart from the bodily pain he suffers at times—there is gnawing disappointment that he cannot take an active part ashore. For a soldier such as he is, I know of nothing more trying. I once had, during the siege of Sebastopol, to go on the sick list from dysentery ; I stuck to my work as long as I could, till the doctors said I must go away. I was sent on board ship outside Balaclava for a fortnight. As I sat on the deck in the evening and heard the booming of the guns at the front, I felt I must jump overboard and swim for shore. The feeling that I was in safety whilst others were doing my duty horrified me into a good state of health, and at the end of a week I went ashore and returned to work. I can see all this in M‘Neill’s face, and pity him from my heart. I am sorry to say that Charteris ! had to go on board ship yesterday, being really taken there by force ; he has been unwell for several days, but kept his illness secret, which is foolish, although I can fully enter into the reasons he had for doing so. M‘Calmont (the King, as he is called here) is still sick and will have to go home, I fear. If he does I shall take a Captain Owen Lanyon (W.I. Regiment) to replace him; a very good soldier and accustomed to personal staff work. If this reaches you before Colonel Greaves leaves England, please send me out a box or two of really good Havanas, for many sailors dine with me here and make large hauls upon my tobacco. Ismoke three or four cigars myself every day, and find they agree with me. Every moment I hope to hear from Baker Russell? that he has been attacked this morning. The bulk of the Ashantee army is close to his post, and the Ashantee commander-in-chief has declared his determination to take it. If only he would try, it will be a grand thing for Russell, and a good thing for all of us. The bulk of the men are now cleared out of Cape Coast, leaving the women behind; these ladies parade the streets dancing and singing, their bodies daubed over with white, and very scanty clothing to veil their charms. One of our traction engines is

[! Hon. Alfred Charteris, third son of tenth Earl of Wemyss, Lieutenant, 71st Foot, died at sea, 24th November 1873. 2 Afterwards Lieut.-Gen. Sir B. Russell.

» Lord Wolseley.

now at work here, to the utter astonishment of the natives, who had never seen such a thing before. The day before yesterday I sent a letter to the king at Coomassie by an Ashantee prisoner; in order to impress him as much as possible, I sent him part of the road in a waggon drawn by the engine. I should like to hear his description of the screaming monster. ;

4th November.—Last night a scrawl was put into my hand saying, “‘ Poor Wilmot’s remains go to Cape Coast with this note— please have a coffin ready for them; nearly all our officers wounded.” Later on I received a letter from Colonel Festing, giving me an account of his skirmish : Wilmot was badly hit early, but held on so as to get these cowardly Fantees to fight, until he was shot through the heart ; he died almost at once in Colonel Festing’s arms, Festing being hit by a slug in the hip when bearing him out of fire. God’s will be done ; it seems hard that a fine young soldier should lose his life in trying to make a cowardly race fight for their own country. The more I see of these Fantees the more I feel convinced that they ought to be the slaves of the Ashantees, who, however barbarous, have at least the virtue of courage. A brave man can be converted into a good man, but a coward is fit for nothing and capable of nothing good.