Garnet from Ismailia.-The Action at Tel-el-Mahuta. -Capture of FAGE 399 GENERAL LORD WOLSELEY (OF CAIRO), G.C. B., G.C.M.G., D.C.L., LL.D. مود CHAPTER I. THE BURMESE WAR. Introduction.-Parentage.-Early Life.-The Burmese War.-The Advance on Myat-toon's Position.-Ensign Wolseley leads the Storming Party on the 19th of March, 1853.—Is wounded.—Returns to England. LORD WOLSELEY is one of the foremost and most trusted of England's soldiers. In his conduct of the Ashantee and Egyptian Expeditions he presented a rare combination of dash and foresight, patience and energy, strategical skill and administrative capacity. These pages will show that, alike in the planning and execution of both these campaigns, he took a just view of the difficulties to be encountered, and of the time and measures necessary to overcome them. But not only for the skill with which he conducted the Ashantee and Egyptian Wars does Lord Wolseley merit the thanks of his countrymen, and the commendation of military critics. He had seen much and varied service since he entered the Army, and the galaxy of medals and stars he wears on his breast, attests the fact that in every quarter of the globe, and in every great and almost every 'little' war in which the British soldier has been engaged since his entry into the Service, he has participated; while the official records of these campaigns and sieges show that he has always earned the encomiums of his commanding officers and the thanks of his Government. Lord Wolseley served as a subaltern, officer in the Burmese War of 1852-53, and showed in his 'first appearance' on that stage where soldiers achieve distinction—the field of battle-that he was made of the stuff of which heroes are fashioned. Again, in the trenches before Sebastopol, which ran with the blood of some of England's bravest sons, he manifested, under the most trying circumstances, a calm intrepidity which extorted the admiration of all witnesses. He participated in some of the most striking episodes of that terrible struggle known as the Indian Mutiny, which, doubtless, future historians will regard as exhibiting in their strongest light the patient endurance and stubborn valour of the British soldier; and again, the orders and despatches of the General Commanding in the China War of 1860, show the estimation in which he was regarded by his military superiors. In the Expeditions to the Red River and the Gold Coast, when Lord Wolseley was first entrusted with independent command, he manifested talents for organization and practical knowledge of the art of war, as well as that peculiar aptitude for inspiring confidence in those under his command which is among the chief attributes of military genius. His successful conduct of these arduous operations placed him in the foremost rank of that small band of Generals from whom any Government, jealous only of the honour of its country, without any regard to aristocratic connections or political claims, would feel bound to select the Commander of an army, in the PARENTAGE AND FAMILY. 3 event of political complications embroiling this country in an European war. Lord Wolseley is the eldest son of the late Major G. J. Wolseley, of the 25th King's Own Borderers, and was born at Golden Bridge House, County Dublin, on the 4th June, 1833. The family of Wolseley is one of the most ancient in the county of Stafford, the manor of Wolseley having been in their possession before the Conquest. Among their progenitors was Sewardus, Lord Wisele, fifth in descent from whom was Robert, Lord of Wolseley in 1281; and Ralph, another descendant, was a Baron of the Exchequer in the reign of Edward IV. There are two baronetcies in the Wolseley family. The senior title was among the first creations of James I., and dates from the year 1628. Sir Charles Wolseley, the second baronet, represented the county of Stafford in the Parliaments of Charles I. and Charles II.; he was also high in favour with the Protector, and was a man of much consideration in those times. Richard Wolseley, a younger son of the second English baronet, was a captain in the service of King William III., and had three sons, the eldest of whom, on the death of his uncle, succeeded as fifth baronet to the English title and estates. Captain Wolseley devised his Irish property to his youngest son, Richard, who, in 1744, was created a baronet of 'Mount Wolseley, Carlow,' in Ireland. His eldest son, Sir Richard, succeeded to the title and estates; and the younger, William, Sir Garnet's grandfather, entered the Army and became a captain in the 8th Hussars, in which regiment he served on the Continent. Subsequently he retired from the Service, took holy orders, and became Rector of Tullycorbet, County Monaghan. Lord Wolseley is not the first of his family who has won military fame; his ancestor, Colonel William Wolseley, having greatly distinguished himself during the Irish war temp. William III. This officer, on the 29th of July, 1689, relieved the hardly pressed garrison of Enniskillen, defended by General Gustavus Hamilton, and advancing with the Enniskilleners, numbering about 3,000 men, defeated the Irish army, 5,000 strong, with guns, commanded by Macarthy (Lord Mountcashel) at Newtown Butler. In those. fanatical days 'The sword of the Lord and of Gideon' was the watchword alike among Protestants and Papists; no quarter was given by the stout colonists of Ulster, and 1,500 of the enemy fell by the sword, and 500 were driven into Lake Erne, where they perished miserably. Colonel Wolseley also commanded the Enniskilleners† at the ever memorable battle of the Boyne, on the 1st of July, 1690, when the star of King William, of 'pious, glorious, and immortal memory,' rose in the ascendant, and that of his pusillanimous rival, James II., set for ever in defeat and ruin. Lord Wolseley was educated at a day-school near Dublin, and later had private tutors. As a boy he was remarkable for his studious habits, and when a mere child had read all * Lord Macaulay (see his History of England,' vol. iii. p. 242) writes of Colonel Wolseley: Wolseley seems to have been in every respect well qualified for his post. He was a staunch Protestant, had distinguished himself among the Yorkshiremen who rose up for the Prince of Orange and a free Parliament, and had, if he is not belied, proved his zeal for liberty and true religion, by causing the Mayor of Scarborough, who had made a speech in favour of King James, to be brought into the market-place and well tossed there in a blanket. This vehement hatred of Popery was, in the estimation of the men of Enniskillen, the first of all qualifications of command; and Wolseley had other and more important qualifications. Though himself regularly used to war, he seems to have had a peculiar aptitude for the management of irregular troops.' The Enniskilleners commanded by Colonel Wolseley consisted of horse and foot, and are now known as the 6th Dragoons and 27th Regiment. They were raised, respectively, by Colonel Cole (afterwards Earl of Enniskillen) and Gustavus Hamilton (son of Sir Frederick Hamilton, one of the Generals of Gustavus Adolphus, the great Protestant champion), who, for his great services as Governor of Enniskillen, at the Boyne, and the capture of Athlone (which he effected by surprise), was raised to the peerage as Baron Hamilton and Viscount Boyne. The author may perhaps be forgiven for noting his own descent from this nobleman, with whom Wolseley's ancestor was so closely associated, Richard, fourth Viscount Boyne, being his great-grandfather. |