The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-17 00:00:00

The Ashantee War.

Yesterday a Parliamentary return was issued of various
despatches relating to the Ashantee war. The documents
commence with an extract from a despatch from the Go-
vernor of the Gold Coast—Governor Pine—dated the 10th
of December, 1862. In this and subsequent despatches
Go vernor Pine details the troubles he has had with the
King of Ashantee in consequence of his (the governor's)
refusal to deliver up runaway slaves. The governor ex-
presses his deep regret that he finds himself involved, in spite
of all his precautions, in a serious, and, he fears, a lingering
war. "But," he adds, writing on the 12th of May last year,
"such being the case, I will not conceal from your grace the
earnest desire that I entertain that a final blow shall be
struck at Ashantee power, and the question set at rest for
ever, as to whether an arbitrary, cruel, and sanguinary mo-
narch shall be for ever permitted to insult the British flag,
and outrage the laws of civilisation. This desirable object
can be attained only by the possession of such a force as I
fear the governor of these settlements can never hope to
command, unless your grace should be pleased to urge upon
her Majesty's Government the policy, the economy, and
even the mercy of transporting to these shores an army of
such strength as would, combined with the allied native
forces, enable us to march to Coomassie, and there plant the
British flog. To a stranger the course I point out may ap-
pear a visional), one, but I am convinced that even with all
the disadvantages of climate, the expedition would not be
so dangerous, so fatal, or accompanied with such loss of life
as has attended expeditions in other and apparently more
genial climes; and with 2,006 disciplined soldiers, followed
by upwards of 50,000 native forces, who require only to be
led and insi.ired with confidence by the presence of orga-
nised troops, I would undertake (driving the hordes of
Ashantees before me) to march to Coomassie."
On Aug. 2 the Duke of Newcastle writes :—" I am not
insensible of the encouragement which the unfortunate in-
action of the troops and native allies under Major Cochran's
command may afford to fresh aggressions by the Ashantees;
but the proposal of a regular invasion to bo made upon that
nation, and of a march upon their capital, is too serious to
admit of my encouraging it. I will merely say at present
that I shall feel very averse to its adoption, except in case
of overruling necessity, and also after the sport of some
more c mpetent military commander than anyone from
whom there bas yet been an opportunity of obtaining an
opinion at the Gold Coast."

On October 12, the governor expressed his dis-
appointment. On Dec. 12 he appears to have received a
despatch notifying that instructions had been given to As-
sistant• Commissary General Blanc to proceed to the Cape
Coast for the purpose of arranging with the Governor and
the officer commanding the troops an efficient system of
transport if circumstances should seem to require such a
course. In December last, the King of Ashantee, having
for a long time suspended his operations, the governor pro-
ceeded to march a military party to the Prah in advance,
believing that this demonstration would convince the King
of the expediency of making concessions. On the 21st of
that month, Sir F. lingers, in the absence and by the au-
thority of the Secretary of State, wrote from Downing-street
to Governor Pine as follows :

" With reference to your despatch, No. 92, of Oct. 12, in
which you state your views in regard to the expediency of
organising a force to attack the Ashantees, even supposing
that the hitter should not take the initiative, which you
consider the more probable, and suggesting that another
regiment should be sent to the Gold Coast, I transmit for
your information an extract of a letter which, by my desire,
has been addressed to the Wat-office, explaining the ground-
on which I have recommended that your application should
be complied with, and I have to request that you will guide
yourself by the principles therein stated. In case the ex-
pected Ashantee invasion takes place, my hope is that you
and the officer in command will be able to inflict so severe a
Punishment upon the invaders as will remove the disastrous
impressions caused by their impunity when they lately
ravaged the protected territory, and will deter them from
any future aggression. But should no opportunity be found
of striking such a blow without entering the Ashantee ter-
ritory, you are not to regard yourself as absolutely prohibited
from doing so under any circumstances, and from advanc-
ing, as far as the utmost consideration of the safety of the
troops would permit, for the purpose of obtaining reparation
and securing the peace of the protectorate."
On March 11 the governor refers to the commencement
of rains, causing some sickness in camp. On the 3d April
the governor received from Lieut.- Colonel Conran various
medical and other reports, just arrived from the camp at
Prahsue, respecting the state of the health of the troops
there stationed, " which," says the Colonel, "I must con-
fess appears to be very alarming," He consequently pro-
poses to recall a large portion of the force to Cape Coast
Castle, leaving three companies at the camp to garrison
that place during the rainy season. Another reason for this
movement was the non-arrival of the Tamar transport,
which had been sent to the West Indies for reinforcements.
About this time Governor Pine's health seems to have
become impaired, and, active operations against the Ashan-
tees having been suspended, he embarked on board the
Rattlesnake Lir the purpose of taking a cruise. On the 9th
April her Majesty's troopship Tamar arrived at Cape Coast
with a reinforcement of upwards of GOO troops, which had
long been expected.
On the 23d May this year Mr Cardwell sends orders in a
despatch for the removal of the Queen's forces as rapidly
as possible to the healthier quarters on the coast. It should
be said that Governor Pine had expressed in April to Col.
Conran his doubt with respect to the practicability of keep-
ing up the detachments remaining at the camp as a guard
during the coming months. Mr Cardwell's despatch is as
follows :

"Downing-street, May 23.
" Sir,--I have received with great concern your despatch
of April 7, informing me that Governor Pine had been com-
pelled to leave Cape Coast for the purpose of taking a cruise
for the restoration of his health; I earnestly hope that he
may return, restored in health and vigour, to the duties or
his office, rendered by recent occurrences so full of unusual
anxiety and labour. I much fear, though I have not re-
ceived from Governor Pine or from you any official informa-
tion on the subject in detail, that the effect of the rainy sea-
son upon the health of the officers and men has been already
very serious. In his letter to me of April 6, Governor Pine
enclosed a correspondence between himself and Lieut.-Col.
Conran, from which it appeared that Lieut.-Col. Conran
had found it absolutely necessary to send away from Prah
camp and Swadroo all the troops, except three companies,
whom ho proposed to retain to guard the accumulated
stores and ammunition; while Governor Pine doubted the
practicability of keeping up the detachments which Lieut.•
Colonel Conran proposed should remain as a guard during
the coming months, and suggested that he should meet
Lieut.-Colonel Conran in consultation on the subject. This
proposal does not appear to have taken effect, in consequence
of the necessity which arose for Governor Pine to leave the
colony for the restoration of his health. Under these cir-
cumstances, I feel it to be my duty to instruct you to take
measures, in concert with the officer in command of the
troops, for handing over to the native chiefs, whose interest
and duty it is to defend the frontier of their own territory,
the stockades which have been erected to guard the passes
of the River Prah ; to remove to the coast such portion of
the stores as, considering the difficulty of transport, it may
be desirable to remove ; to give to the friendly chiefs such
stores as it is impossible or not worth while to remove, or
such as may be especially useful to them in their defensive
measures; and to bi log down the whole of the Queen's
forces as rapidly as possible to the healthier quarters on the
coast, Instructions will be sent by this mail from the Sec-
retary of State for War to the officer in command of the
forces to the same effect; and liberal powers will be given
to the officer for the disposal of stores belonging to the
department of the Secretary of State for War, in order
that you may be able to soften any disappointment which
may be felt by the chiefs at this necessary withdrawal of
the Queen's troops. You will, above all things, take
especial care, in concert with the officer in command, that
no stores of any kind are left in such an exposed state as
to be likely', fall into the hands of the Ashantees, and so
afford them a cause of triumph. This remark especially
applies to guns of all kinds, and other military stores. It
appears that the number of troops upon the coast will now
be more than double the number for which the buildings
will afford accommodation, and that the removal of a con-
siderable number will be necessary for their 'own health
and for the health and comfort of those who are left be-
hind, Immediate arrangements, therefore, are intended to