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General Garnet Joseph Wolseley Letter

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0106
Finding aid note: Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Scope and Contents

General Garnet Joseph Wolseley’s letter of 1885 consists of four pages written on one folded sheet, dated June 30, 1885, and sent from Cairo to the publisher MacMillan. Wolseley is primarily concerned with criticizing Prime Minister William Gladstone for his vacillation in sending rescue forces in time to reach General Charles Gordon and Egyptian troops defending Khartoum from attack by Sudanese rebels (1884-1885); he also mentions his plan to produce a fifth edition of his Soldiers’ Pocket Book.

Dates

  • 1885

Creator

Access Restrictions

This material is open for research.

Conditions Governing Access

Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from the General Garnet Joseph Wolseley Letter must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

Biographical Note

Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount, was born June 4, 1833 at Golden Bridge, County Dublin, Ireland, the son of an army major. Wolseley entered the British army in 1852 and fought in many campaigns around the world, including Burma (now Myanmar), 1852-1853; the Crimea, 1854-1856; India, 1857-1858; and China,1860. His record of success in the field and continuous efforts toward army reform led to his appointment in 1871 as assistant adjutant general at the War Office. He served successive governments as chief troubleshooter of the British Empire and conducted the Ashanti campaign in West Africa in 1873-1874, served as high commissioner of Cyprus in 1878, and as an administrator in South Africa, 1879-1880. He returned to the War Office as quartermaster general (1880) and then adjutant general (1882), resuming his efforts toward reform.

Wolseley was then sent to Egypt, where he waged his most brilliant campaign, ending a nationalist uprising under ‘Urabi (Arabi) Pasha in 1882, for which he was rewarded with a barony by Prime Minister William Gladstone. In 1884 Wolseley organized and headed an expedition to the Nile in an attempt to rescue General Charles “Chinese” Gordon and Egyptian forces at Khartoum, where they were under attack by Sudanese rebels. Wolseley was elevated to viscount for his efforts, but bitterly regretted government delays which prevented reaching Gordon in time.

Wolseley later commanded troops in Ireland (1890-94), became field marshal and commander in chief of the British army (1895-1901) and continued to press for reform and modernization of army training and equipment. He was also the author of several books. Wolseley was married to Viscountess Louisa (Erskine) Wolseley. He died March 26, 1913, in Mentone, France.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (4 pages)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

A letter written from Cairo by British General Garnet Joseph Wolseley to the publisher MacMillan, primarily attacking Prime Minister William E. Gladstone for his vacillation which resulted in failure to reach General Charles G. Gordon and Egyptian forces at Khartoum in time to save them from destruction by Sudanese rebels attacking the city, and also discussing Wolseley’s plan to produce a fifth edition of the Soldiers’ Pocket Book.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from dealer, September 17, 1962.

Subjects

Record Groups

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the General Garnet Joseph Wolseley Letter, 1885
Status
Completed
Date
2003
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

https://library.rice.edu/woodson
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA

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Harmful Content Statement
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Fondren Library, Rice University
Physical Address: 6100 Main, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892