Canada on account of threatened Fenian raids. It was stationed at Brantford, north of lake Erie. Butler got three months' leave in September, went off to Nebraska, and made his first acquaintance with buffalo and 'the glorious prairies.'
In the spring of 1868 he succeeded lieutenant Redvers Buller [q. v. Suppl. II] as look-out officer on the frontier, and had to travel 1500 miles a month to visit the posts placed to intercept deserters. In September 1869 he went home on leave, in the hope of finding some way of escape from being purchased over in his regiment, but he was disappointed. His father died in March 1870, and was buried at Killardrigh; his mother had died in 1849. He returned to Canada; but before he left Ireland he learnt that Colonel Wolseley, whom he had met two years before, was organising an expedition to the Red River. He telegraphed 'Remember Butler 69th regiment.' There were no vacant berths on the staff, when he reached Toronto, but he was sent independently on a special mission to the Red River settlement, to find out what was the state of affairs there, and what the rising of the half-breeds really meant. He set out on 8 June. Travelling through the United States, he descended the Red River to Winnipeg, had an interview with Louis Riel [q. v.], and met the expedition on 4 August about halfway on its route. He accompanied it to Fort Garry, from which Riel had fled; and he remained there when the expedition went back.
On 24 Oct. he set out on a new mission, to investigate the situation in Saskatchewan and report on the need for troops, the Indians, and the fur trade. Striking the north Saskatchewan at Carlton, he followed it up to the base of the Rocky Mountains, and then descended it, reaching Fort Garry on 20 Feb. 1871, after a winter journey of 2700 miles. He told the story of this journey and of his earlier mission in 'The Great Lone Land,' which was published in 1872 and reached a fourth edition in 1873. His report to the lieut.-governor of Manitoba was printed as an appendix to that book, and was a most able paper. There was in fact a rare combination in Butler of the qualities needed for such work. Tall, strong, and active, he was quick of observation and full of resource; genial, yet with much force of character, he was a ready writer, and had the gift of style. He was also a good draughtsman. Lord Wolseley has said that he was pre-eminent in imagination, 'that quality so much above the other gifts required for excellence in military leaders ' (Wolseley, ii. 202).
His work brought him praise but no more substantial recognition, and it was not till 13 April 1872 that he succeeded in obtaining an unattached company. A lucky land-venture had given him the means to travel, and returning to Canada he went to lake Athabasca, where he had 'movement, sport, travel, and adventure sufficient to satisfy the longings of anybody,' and found material for another book, 'The Wild North Land,' 1873 (new edit. 1904). He was back at Ottawa at the end of August 1873, and learning that Sir Garnet Wolseley was leading an expedition to Ashanti, he hurried to England, sending a telegram ahead of him. On his arrival he found instructions that he should follow Wolseley to West Africa, and he reached Cape Coast Castle on 22 October.
He was sent to Accra to make his way inland to Western Akim, muster its fighting men, and intercept the Ashanti army as it retreated across the Prah. This proved impossible; with the utmost difficulty he persuaded the Akims to move forward towards Coomassie eastward of the main line of advance. By the end of January 1874 he was within 20 miles of it with 1400 men; then they took alarm and hurried home. But Butler had done his work. As Wolseley reported: 'He has effected a most important diversion in favour of the main body, and has detained before him all the forces of one of the most powerful Ashanti chiefs' (Lond. Gaz. 7 March 1874). He had been struck down several times with fever, and was in Netley Hospital for two months on his return to England. He was promoted major, and received the C.B. and the medal with clasp. He described his share of the campaign in 'Akim-Foo: the History of a Failure,' published in 1875.
While he was engaged on this book, and was regaining health in Ireland, he was called upon for special service in Natal. In Feb. 1875 Sir Garnet Wolseley went there as temporary governor, to put things straight. Butler accompanied him, and was made protector of Indian immigrants, with a seat in the council and assembly. He was sent on a mission to the Orange Free State, to Kimberley, and to Basutoland, and made many acquaintances, British and Boer. He returned to England in Oct., and on 30 Nov. he was placed on the headquarters staff as deputy assistant quartermaster-general. He remained on it till the end of Feb. 1879, when he went back to South Africa for the Zulu war.
