Sir Harry Smith Defends Eliza Esdaile's Son, William Green

At the Cape of Good Hope everything is going on peacefully and promisingly under the government of Sir Harry Smith. His Excellency left Graham's Town on the 22nd of February, previously issuing the following General Orders:--

 "Head Quarters, Graham's Town

21 February 1848

...."2. A War arising from the sudden and unexpected inroad of hordes of barbarians, is the author of various irregularities and errors, attributable to exciting and peculiar causes frequently not to be avoided, or resulting from an ill-directed zeal or timid apprehension on the part of those in some degree empowered to authorize issues; which at the time the Commissariat has no power to refuse, and the expenditure is thus augmented for the moment.

     With this knowledge, derived from experience, the Commander-in-Chief desires to express to the Commissary-General Palmer, and the Deputy-Commissary General Green, his marked approbation of their conduct, and that of the great department under their control; and they may rest assured that it will ever afford His Excellency great happiness to report on the method which obtains in this department; reflection as much honour and credit upon these officers, as conspicuous bravery in the field does upon the soldier."

The excerpt above is from

The United service magazine, Volume 57, Page 2 (Google e-book)

 By Arthur William Alsager Pollock.

The "unexpected inroad" would be the 7th Xhosa War, 1846-1847. The Xhosa were such "barbarians" that British forces fought nearly two years to temporarily subdue them. The Xhosa wars are also called Africa's 100 Years War 1779-1879.

Using Google books and search term "commissariat Green" I was able to to outline some of William Goodall Green's career in the Army as various editions of the Army List came up.

16 March 1813 appointed Deputy Assistant Commissary General
10 September 1830 appointed Assistant Commissary General
16 December 1845 appointed Deputy Commissary General

1821 & 1827 on half pay
1829 Canada
1841 Nova Scotia
1845 Newfoundland
1847 Cape of Good Hope
1850 Cape of Good Hope