4. He Built a Stronghold of Fellow Officers Around Him
Wolseley was so intent on getting his ideas across that he organized a group of talented officers who shared his vision. They were later referred to as the “Wolseley Ring.” Consisting of fellow Red River officers, veterans and a collection of inspired Staff College graduates, the ring was quite a prestigious group. Wolseley wanted to ensure his way of thinking would be carried out without a hitch, ensuring repeated command in his operations.
Naturally, the ring incited controversy within the army. Wolseley would exclude other service members while favoring his group of officers, affecting significant expeditions like the Egypt campaign and the disaster in Khartoum.