The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-12 00:00:00

THE ASHANTEES.

The following extract of a letter, received by
a gentleman in Edinburgh, gives some interesting
partictlars of the expedition against the Ashan-
tees :

ACCRA, Slat Jan. 1824.—Tn several of my former letters I
mentioned the Ashantee palaver, and that we only waited the
arrival of Sir Charles M'Carthy, at Cape Coast Castle, to com-
mence offensive operations. Be arrived about two months ago,
and after putting things in order, took the field at the head of
one party ; Major Chisholm at the head of another ; and Cap-
tain Blenkams was ordered to proceed with the Accra troops,
and to form an encampment in the Akine country. Coo-
massie, the capital of Ashantee, is nearly equidistant from
Cape Coast and. Accra (about 180 miles) ; and I believe it was
the intention that all the forces should have joined upon the
borders of the Ashantee country. We expected that the Accra
party would have consisted of about 4000 or 5000 men. Capt.
Blenkame took with him forty regulars, and two companies of
militia, commanded by Captains Hansen and Bannerman ; the
only other force he took with him from Accra was about three
hundred natives, expecting to be overtaken by the others. Lieut.
M'Carthy and myself also accompanied them. In consequence
of expecting to be joined by so many more of the natives, we pro-
ceeded very slowly, and at the end of a week were only 40 miles
distant. We remained 14 days at a village called Mampong,
during which time we were joined by several parties, who, see-
ing our small numbers, soon deserted. As it was thought we
would have entered the Akine country with 4,000 or 5,000 men,
and, as our force did not exceed so many hundreds, it was re-
commended to Captain Blenkame, that as the Akines were not
very friendly, and as Sir Charles could not be aware of our
small force, to wait his orders, which arrived, and were to ad-
vance through the Fantee country to his support. In cosise-
quence of which, we had to return by Accra, being the nearest
practicable route, where we received news which were
thought to render it prudent to remain. Sir Charles and
Ilajor Chisholm, whose parties were separate from one
another, were in pursuit of some Ashantees, and on
the 21st Sir Charles, with his small party, fell in with
a large hotly of them. The opposite parties met. The Ashan-
tees suffered severely, but our force was dreadfully cut up ; out
of eleven officers one is dead, eight missing, and two returned
wounded. Amongst the missing are Sir Charles and my good
friend Dr. Tedlie. Sir Charles was known to have received two
wounds, and Tedlie was reported killed. One of the soldiers
took two watches from an Ashantee, which were known to have
belonged to Mr. Buckle, civil engineer, Sierra Leone, and to
Mr. Wetherell, Ensign 2d Weft India Regt. Major Chisholm
not falling in with the Ashantees, and not hearing of Sir Charles,
returned to Cape Coast ; one of his officers, Capt. L'Estrange,
had died from fatigue. Upon Major Chishlm's return, Capt.
Laing was dispatched with 3000 or 4000 men, to look after the
missing, and has not yet returned. The Ashantees having
m ade their way to the water side will probably attack our forts.
For ourselves we have no fear, but I am much afraid the na-
tives will suffer greatly, the forts not being able to afford them
all protection. lam sorry to say the natives have not shown
the spirit in fighting that was expected. From the spirit they
have shown on the present occasion, it is my opinion that un-
less a large regular forge is sent out to cope with the Ashantees,
the sooner we evacuate.the forts on the Gold Coast the better.
If a force is sent out, the sacrifice of lives must be dreadful,
from the climate, the havoc amongst new corners being very
great. If the troops arrived about the end of September, they
must go to Ashantee, and be again embarked before the com-
mencement of the rains.

Killed.—James Heddle from the Orkneys.
Illissing.—Sir Charles M'Carthy, Dr. ledlie, John Tasker
Williams, Mr. Buckle ; Mr. G. A. Robertson, from Dum-
fries-shire; Ensign Wetherell, Mr. Jones, Mr. Rigdon, and
Mr. Brandon.

Wounded, and at Cape Ceast.—Brigade Major Rickets' 2d
West India Regiment; Ensign Erskine, Royal African Co-
lonial Corps.—(Ediuburgli Courant.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

O.—STATE OF THE ODDS.
11 Y.
12 to 1 agst Osmond
17 to 1 agst Don Carlos
22 to 1 agst Skiff
22 to 1 agst Skim
23 0,1 agst Silvertail.
OAKS.

12 to 1 agst Miss Jig
15 to 1 agst Barrosa.