The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-07-19 00:00:00

THE BOMBARL BUNT OF ELMINL

(From an occasion a correspon,lent of The Times)

ELMINA, June 23
As the forts of Elmina were completely surrounded
by the Askant-a army, it was deternused to open
the road which lay between it end Caps Coast
Castle. On Thursday night a detachment of Marine
Artillery and Infantry, under the command of
Lieutenant. Colonel Festing, R.M.A., and an ad-
vanced guard of about 5o Honoree, under Lieutenant
Quill, of the Marini-9, left Cape Coat Castle; the
other officers with the relieving force were Lieu-
tenant Allen, R.M.A., and Dr. 13. Minermott, in
surgical charge. Tho distance between the two places
is about seven miles. The road is a narrow track cut
through a den,e bush, except within • mile and a half
,if Elinina, where the country as more open. About a
mile and is half from Elmira the troops had to ford
the Sweet River, where they came up with the ad-
vanced guard, whe held the rising ground on the
Eimins side. After • short rest the march was
resumeo, and Fort St. George was reached about 4 30

At egg o'clock on Friday morning the boats of Her
Majewy's ships, Burracouta, Argus, end Druid occu-
pied the narrow river which divides the hostile part of
the town from the gardon, Cr friendly part ; a (let ,ett-
went of the 2nd West India liegimeht held the bridge
over the river, and Mr. Loggin, Soporiotendent ot the
Sierra Leone Constabulary, with 120 Houssas, cut off
the communication on the shore side. Colonel Festing
sent for the ahteis, and ordered them to give up their
arms; if th•y did not do so within one hour from the
time a gun was tired from Fort St. George he declared
that the town would be levelled. In place of comply•
imr, all the armed men fled to join the Aehantee forces
who occupied tne dense trash outside the town.

At 11.30 Lieutenant Allen, R.M. Artillery, received
orders from the Commander of the Forces, and the
bombardm-nt commenced. Simultaneously, the rocket
beats and launchrs. carrying boat guns were signalled
by Captain Freernantle, of Her 'Majesty'. ship Barra-
[mita, to open fire. The second shell from the fort com-
menced the conflagration. Flames were soon leaning
from every part of the town. Constant explosions were
heard, as large quantities of gunpowder were concealed
in the houses. At cue o'clock the troops in garrison
were ordered to march out and attack the Ash-inter,
forces, who had opened fire on the boats and Honiara/
lining the shore. On emerging from the town the
Marines and sailors from the fleet, under Captain
Freemantle, occupying the right towards the river,
drove back the enemy under a brisk fire; the centre
and left towards the beach were occupied by the
Marines of the garrison, the 2nd West Indio Regi-
ment, and Houma. Lieutenant Quill, of the Marines.
was ordered to clear the hash running parallel
to the beseh, and a difficult task it was, a few narrow
footpaths being the only means of advancing;
and well he executed his orders, the fire from the
breechloalers soon driving the enemy from their
cover. Displaying their usual tactics, a party of
them made a rush for the high ground of the beach,
and thus sought to get in the rear of the troops clearing
the slope towards the river. Colonel Festing ordered
Mr. M`Dermott, with some Marines and Honssas, to
hold the beach and drive them back in that direction.
Lieutenant Moore, of Her Majesty'a ship Druid, with
the bluejackets, dislodged the hostile E minas and
Ashanteee from the bank of the river. Some Ashsntee
prisoners were captured. One private of the 2ad West
India Regiment WllB killed, another w undeslin the fore-
head, and a marine struck in the thigh. Some of the
men landed from the shios rece-ved slight wounds.
An the men had no rest the previous night, and
had been fighting in a burning sun, the enemy being
completely dislodged from the water and neighbour-
hood, Colonel Febting drew off his men. On returning,
numerous bodies of the enemy were seen lying on the
approaches to the town, mostly shot in the head and
chest. Among the incidents of the day was the capture
if a Dutch flag which the enemy had displayed. A
rush was made for it by Mr. Loggie, one of the Houssas,
arid a marine artilleryman; Mr. Loggie WAR outstripped
by his competitors, one of whom seized the staff, the
other the bunting. An neither would part with the
trophy, Mr. Loggia divided the Sag between them,
with which both were content.

All were anticipating a rest, when at half-past five
news was brought that the Ashantees were coming
down in strong force to attack the forts and burn
the friendly part of the town. The troops were
ordereal to fall in, and fort Santiago was first mum-
pied, and, as the enemy was seen pouring in largo
masses out of the forest about two miles hum the
town toward,' the salt ponds in the plain, the
Housias were thrown into the redoubt Java, on a
small hill ut the edge of the plain. By this time the
enemy's skirmishers in large numbers had occupied
part of the garden side of tbe town, and were ad-
vancing along the plain towards Fort Santiago. the
task of clearing the town WOA intrusted to Captain
Freemantle and the Marines and blue jackets from the
fleet. The enemy sheltered behind a high atone wall
and among the trees and houses. The wad was
quickly scaled. A marine of the Argus was killed, a
sergeant struck by a bullet in the forehead, and a
bluejacket of the Seagull wounded. The dead and
wounded of the enemy were lying about in large
numbers.

Meantime, on the plain, the Marines, 2nd West
India Regiment, and Hausa vs drove the advevecad
portion of the enemy back on their main body.
The Athantees, driven back from the town and
plain, with the main body and the fresh accessories
from their rear, numbering about 5,000 men, kept UP
a brick fire, which was vigorously replied to at about
250 yards by the men under Mr. Quill and Mr.
Loggie. Mr. Doggie received a bullet wound in the
left hand, the bullet lodging, and was also struck in
the right knee. He was immediately attended to by
Dr. hrDermott. Two of the Housman were also
wounded, one on the left side of the neck, the bullet
ercerging on the opposite side; another in the leg.
Mr. Loggie is an old Crimean soldier. He declined
to leave his men, although urged to do so. It is
to be hoped the Government will acknowledge his
services, as he has now been wounded three times
in this war. The Marines and bluejackets now
coming up from the right, Colonel Feeting ordered
the entire lire to advance, and a destructive
fire being poured into the large body lining the
salt powits, they quickly withdrew into the forest and
bush, when, as darline-er was quickly coming on,
Colonel Resting withdrew his men, while ringing • 12.-ere
went up at their sneerer. The enemy in the even.
hag engagement lass about 550 killed and wooded;
the King of the Ashanteee' nephew WAS among the
slain, and the following day they sacrificed a large
number of slaves to accompany their fallen chief,
into another world.