The Express.
London, England, 1864-05-13 00:00:00

THE DEFEAT OF THI KING OF DAHOMZY'S

TROOPS.

The following curious account of the defeat of
the King of Dethotnefe troops appears in a supple-
meat of the Ito /rokin of April loth :
On the manias of Tuesday the Mb March, at about ball-
ast 6 a.m., the tnhabitants were alarmed by the report of
the 01111111011 at Aro gate in quick suoonsion. Intelligence of
the I:Ohm:Mans' army having reached Aro was spread like
wildfire. The men who had been watching at the walla all
the night immediately occupied their pounce for defense -
some who had returned home early hateeed to the wall,
which was nearly amend in about Mau minutes from the
I firing of the first moan ; about four hundred of the moot
daring Egbas west eel from miens positions to c
the snow to an immediate sagesateat, as they wash=
an from the Own truth slang down (we afterward, learnt
1 were drinking spirits). The Biala that allied oat wen
seareely half way ere the enemy were advanciag in
regales order. There was no occasion for the challenge. As
they matched right on, the Fobas, benne, fired • volley,
which was not returned by the enemy ; the Egbsa retired
'ridge the wall in order, through the several excavating
made previasel7 eaderneath the wall ; the canon was fired
spa at this critical moment. Unfortunately it dismounted
by its own recoil, but it had the effect of tansies: the ed-
vanisiag party of the enemy to another direction on
their right, where the wall being • little higher
than the other part the defenders could not be ass.
the enemy. At this junta* they displayed as manor-
another of white boners of about a yard long, with
arias distinguishing marks as Utters of the alphabet.
The letters J. O. N. and P. were plainly seen ; others had
sketches of elapthate, and other native annals on them.
A Portuguese Gwen was distinguished awing them. The
enemy could act be less than ten thousand strong ; they ad-
wed in • ham body end 6es style to within 900 yards
of the wall and extended right sad Left in • lies of about 700
yards long, then marched up to about 120 yards from the
wall. It was exactly seas 6'sta* a.m. when they opined
I • sharp Ike on the wall (the sigma for which was rum by •
tall sad( stoat looking person deemed in • blue top, evidently
captai the chie war n); the Egbu returned the fire sharply,
and ie sash mask noseniee that it was impossible to dis-
tinguish the report of the Dahoutiaa's muskets from that of
the Egbas, which was deafeniag. This was kept up for about
20 mamba when the Bras were ordered to fire from du
loopholes a the walls. Some of tha most darts( Debasing
adveneed to within 20 yards of the wall to fire; with few ex-
eeptions they were shot does. Some of the desperate
Ammons rented to the wall foe the part defended by the
Christina converts an the people of Items) with hero-
ines resolution, plunging into the trenchand endsavouriog
I. mole the walL others attempting to enter the town by
the earavations under the wall ; they were shot in the trench
or eat don in their mad attempt to scale the wall.
Some Amanita gave the defenders • little annoy-
SOON for when in the trench they threw large sang
over the wall on the Fobs; and snatched away about
six weaken from the halide of the Ferbes in the act of firing ;
by an equal determination on the part of the Bgbu they
were killed. No fewer than 72 dead Daboanas were
counted afterwards from the trench at this poiet. On the
Owe Bide of the walls three ferocious Amason actually
pleated their beanies along the wail, but were isnantly out
dews, their heads and hands stuck on poles and exhibited
over the wall with • pascal shout as of victory
from the Egan It was fully an boar from the 00111110070 e
meat of the battle when the enemy retired about 200 yards
further back, leaving their deed, and • portion sat down
whilst the remainder kept up a hopeless fin. The Babas were
ordered to keep their panties, nateg the eanny's move as
• mere feint. By this time the loss on oar side was from
10 to 15 killed, and about 40 wounded ; the young men
would not be kept inside the walls ; they rushed out is
arena, and determined not to allow the enemy rest. fired
ma them, which had the effect of musics them to another
=Blsin the open field, the Egas telling bask, but
oentatis from the wall pouring out, the Egan prase
ea
the enemy, who fmght bravely, the Eghts oatfiankieg
them on the right and laft, and shouting victory. The
Dahoesiaaa retreated is sernet, having vainly attempted to
sand twice. Over the Mlles nurse at Aro they nine •
and and repulsed the Febea, eapturiag three men, when a
party of Egths who bad left their patios from the kija
to joie iu the pursuit came up, sad noted fire ma therserdW
Dahontians' army, which made them retreat in speed
over the field, leaving the direct road. The three Egba
' menwere recaptured. The Egbee followed the Daboasigae
in hot pursuit. When near theca the Dawning fired
their two omen to cheek their pursuers (loving part.
only fired it twin before the wall of Abbe:hate, doing se
iajary at all to the wall or men), the Egbas still pursuing
the enemy beyond Ihns. The two cannons were cap-
tured ; the vent boles of both were broken A wonders.
hie 'amber of captives and storm were taken ; the bohe-
mian king's attendants, wives, end his owe thug, were
sutured. The attack nu the walls lasted no longer than
one and a half hoar. Our Ices le the whole ts about
forty killed and aboat one hundred groaned. The °yahoo
were not compelled to go to the walla. The Egan that en.
gaged this enemy fought bravely, and were cheered on by
the women, who were very amideoes in their etteatin to
solid y the thing of the rasa with egidi, corn beer, mid
earns. The longs on the nem 'e side could not be len
than 1,060 killed, three tho and at tires, two canscas,
I end is short fully one-helf of the army is ion.
Thu ended the long threat reed invasion of the Damon
Upset on Abbsokuts. He failed in proving Mama the
king of the blacks. To God be all the praise, who
is His tender mercy bath see halal= Abbsokata in her
' tine of cad, when Imam by earthly Meade. Truly Gad
tepardeth the prayer al lie people.