CATOU, K.C.B., ROYAL ARTILLERY. 
XIX 
“ It would have been a great comfort to me to have been assured of your able 
assistance, advice, and co-operation till the close of the War, but the separation is 
no fault of yours, and I must make up my mind to submit to it. 
“ I hope the voyage will restore your strength, and that when you get home you 
will be well enough to resume your former avocations, and attend to the many 
important matters which will come under your notice.” 
It will readily be conceived how great the disappointment must have been to 
the General himself, to watch transport after transport leaving Yarna, and bearing 
away the batteries which he had hoped to command, and for which he had done so 
much to prepare for the field; and then to feel compelled to relinquish his 
appointment on their departure for active operations. 
He had however the great consolation of feeling that he had done his duty, so 
long as the power remained, and also that of having arranged that his command 
should be given to his old friend and comrade Brigadier-General Fox Strangways, 
one so well worthy of it, and who fell gloriously at the head of his corps shortly 
afterwards at the great battle of Inkermann. 
The following letter was written by the Duke of Newcastle to Lord Raglan, 
dated 18th August, 1851 1 — 
“ Your private letter of the 27th July, placed the services of Colonel Strangways 
in so prominent and favourable an aspect, that I could feel no hesitation in applying 
to Lord Hardinge to submit his name to the Queen for the local rank of Brigadier* 
General in Turkey. 
“ Your recommendation was sufficient, but if any further had been requisite, it 
would have been supplied by the strongly expressed wishes of General Cator, the 
valuable services of this meritorious officer entitle such a desire on his part to every 
Consideration.” 
His Chief was indeed loth to part with him, as the following letter, which he 
(Lord Raglan) wrote at the time to General Cator’s daughter shews, as clearly as 
it also exhibits, that kindly feeling and warm-heartedness for which that “ Fine 
old English gentleman” was so remarkable. A man whom he had once made 
his friend, he never deserted or forgot. He had known Cator through a long 
life, and therefore these expressions of his feelings towards him bore the greater 
value. The following are the words of his letter:—“ I part with your dear father 
with the greatest regret, but the doctors tell him that English air is necessary for 
the recovery of his strength, go therefore he must I feel; I have every hope, 
however, that by the time he gets home, you will have no reason to complain of 
his appearance, and that you will be quite comfortable about him. He leaves the 
army with the highest character for ability and efficiency ; and there is not in the 
Artillery an Officer or man who does not look up to him with confidence for advice 
in any, the smallest as well as the greatest, difficulty. To me his departure is 
most painful; his long friendship, his good will, his cheerfulness, are invaluable 
to me, and I do not know how to reconcile myself to such a loss. Take care of 
him.” 
Also, a letter from the Duke of Newcastle to Lord Raglan, dated Sept* 15th, 
1854 
“ I received your letter of the 28th ultimo, announcing General Cator’s return 
tb England on sick leave with very sincere regret; 
