The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-08-25
From the New York Commercial Advertiser.
War iu AfrIcu

r
: A disposition or necessity for battle ar
bloodshed really seems 10 be epidem
f throughout the world. Fighting for or
, cause or another is going on in almost ever
J quarter; and all sorts of people are takiu
| part in it. Even Africa comes in for h,
share of the general movement, hostilitit
being waged there simultaneously, OF nea
ly 80, by several parties. We have seer
for instance, that the young and feeble n
public Of Liberia has recently sent hostil
expedition into some Of the adjacent slave
trading regions; it is but little while sine
we had a partial record Of the deeds don
by combined French and Belgian force
somewhere in the neighborhood Of the Ri
Nunez; and now we have, in our latest En-
glish papers, an account Of pretty sharI
''skrimmage" up the Gambia river, between
an English detachment and considerable
body of natives; the provocation to the for
mer, it seems, being ga gross insult offered
TO the British flag in the person Of the Gov
enor Of the Gambia" Mr.. R. G. Mscdon
nell. What the nature of this insult was
however, we have not been able to ascer.
tain.
The result Of the expedition is described
in letter from an officer engaged in it,
dated Bathurst, May Is, part OF which we
find in the London Times Of July Is; the
other part having been carried over to & sup.
plement, which has not reached US. We
make the following extracts from the letter,
showing that the blacks fought with courage
and constancy:
"a rascally native King, presuming that
her Malesty's troops would not be enable
to march into the interior, offered violence
to our Governor, VINO paid him friendly
visit, and his Excellency had narrow es-
cape of losing his life. The Governor, for
the honor OF the British flag, determined on
having satisfaction, and therefore, Major
Hill, Of the I'd West India regiment. hav.
ing arrived, consultation was held, and an
expedition was determined upon. Applica-
ton was made to Sierra Leone for troops,
and to the squadron for assistance, but none
could be obtained, and We were left to our
own resources-about 200 regulars troops,
and what volunteers could be procured from
the old pensioners and militia. With
great efforts and persuasion 3S pensioners
6t to march and 80 militiamen oined the
regular troops, and these formed the whole
brigade, out Of which 80 men were allot.
ted to nan one howitzer, two six FOUNDER
field gans, and three rocket guns-the ma.
tive ponies being trained to draw the guns
and ammunition wagons.
"Havlng procured some laborers to car.
ry water, under MAJOR Hill, we embarked
on board the Dover and Albert steamers,
(lhe later hulk, towed by the Dover and
proceeded about seventy miles up the Gam
ois, where the troops disembarked and com.
nenced their march next morning MAY g.
or the interior. About midday we arrived
At the first of the enemy's fortified towns,
(Bambacoo,) and the skirmishera commenc
ID the play by exchanging shots with the
enemy through their stockade. The town
was then invested and the batteries were
placed in position, and at it we went, en-
to make q breach, but without
effect. Major Hill then sent a stOrming
party to try and force the stockade; but, al
though the men were boldly led, and went
right up to it, they could not force it, and
were obliged to retire. The fire was then |
renewed from the battery, when at length |
he rockets set the town in a blaze. Ii
burnt in all directions, and our enemies had |
o bolt for it, when immense numbers were
killed, both by the grape discharged from
he battery and the fire and bayonets OF the
We reduced the town to
reap Of ashes, destroying every portion Of
he stockade and houses.
"We found, on eIaming the means Of
defence, that we had very cunning enemy
o deal with. The stockade was about ten
eet high, with triple rows Of timber, and
here was an exterior fence, of wild cane,
bout ten feet from the interior stockade;
he fellows waited. sitting in trenches, in
bis stockade, until our men were cutting
way the outer fence, and then deliberately
delivered their fire. Had we not been able
o burn the town our loss must have been
cry great.
"Wo encamped that night OH the ground
We fought on, throwing out a strong picket,
Who exchanged shots at intervals during
he night with the rascals in the woods.
"Next day, the eth instant, we marched
or the Kings town Of Keeming. After
ONE hours, on approaching the town, we
ound the enemy drawn out in great mum.
,ers, horse and foot, in our front, and the
lush on our right flank was lined by their
nen. Major Hill halted the advance guard,
md sent a few rockets among the horse
nen, which sent them of, but the foot stood
heir ground, and We had to open on them
With grape and canister, which they stood,
howing great courage. The commander,
hiding that he must drive them from the
wood, reinforced the advance, and support.
ng them. we went right at the fellows, and
lnder avery spirited FIRE, forced them to re.
ire at the point Of the bayonet, and drove
hem, disputing every inch of ground, up a
ill, and into their town, the advance lying
Iown on the brow Of a hill, within twenty
ards Of their stockade. On making re-
:onnoissance we found the place most diff.
icult to attack, lying in a deep gorge, and
defended with double rows OF triple stock.
ldes, the roofs taken off the houses, and
very preparation made for an obstinate
lefence.
1.-The guns were put in the best position
We could find, and we fired she'll, round.
hot, and rockets into it, bringing all to
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