his Times History of the War in South Africa. Wood continued as Adjutant-General until 1901 and was then appointed to command the II Army Corps and Southern Command 1 October 1901, holding the positions until 1904. On 8 April 1903, he was promoted field marshal. He retired on 31 December 1904. Personal life Family Wood's mother was left short of money after 1866 when her husband died and, already 66 years old, she went on to write fourteen novels, translating Victor Hugo's L’Homme qui Rit into English. His sister Anna was also a novelist under her married name Steele – one of her novels featured a henpecked VC who was probably based on her brother. Anna left her husband Colonel Steele on her wedding night – apparently still a virgin – when she discovered that he expected to have sex with her. Evelyn was once sued for assault after striking Colonel Steele in one of the latter's many attempts to "reclaim" his wife. Anna Steele was very close to her brother and allegedly helped to write his speeches. During the Indian Mutiny another sister, Maria Chambers, conveyed her children to safety through mutineer-controlled country carrying a phial of poison for each child. Marriage and children In 1867 Wood married the Hon. Mary Paulina Anne Southwell, a sister of Thomas Southwell, 4th Viscount Southwell, a friend from India. Southwell opposed the marriage as the Southwell family were Roman Catholic and Wood, although not a man of particularly strong religious views, refused to leave the Church of England. Having barely seen Paulina for four years, he proposed by letter in 1867 on the understanding that she would never "by a word or even by a look" try to prevent him from volunteering for war service. His marriage hurt his career, as neither Wolseley nor the Duke of Cambridge were impressed by his home life. They had three sons and three daughters but she died on 11 May 1891, while Wood was commanding at Aldershot. After his wife's death Wood was deeply touched to receive 46 letters of condolence from NCOs and private soldiers who had served under him. Hunting Wood hunted an average 46 days out of his 60 days leave each year, almost up until his death. He was convinced that hunting was of great value in training officers by encouraging horsemanship and developing an eye for terrain and for rapid