Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-06
FROM THE COAST OF AFRICA.

One of the important events Of which intelligence
has been brought by late arrival is the destruction of
Lagos on the of Africa This brought to
Lisbon by the British steam frgae Samson, which
engaged in the attack the negro town. The event took
place the Goth and 9th of December The English
vessels sustained loss twenty-five killed and seventy
four wounded five of whom died subsequently, making in
all thirty killed The ships engaged in the attack
the Penelope Bloodhound Samson, and Others and
the great loss of the English squadron occasoned by
the Bloodhound having grounded a sand bank within
range of battery of thirteen guns is understood that
these hosttes undertaken in consequence of the
refusal of the king chief of that place to sign treaty
for the eectual suppression of the slave trade in his
domnions 1t accordingly determined to attack La
gos, and, after two days fighting the object
pshed, and the place nearly destroyed, immense
Der Of natives being killed The chief king has also
been deposed, and another substituted
despatch from Commodore BRUCE, commander of the
squadron dated board the Penelope, off Lagos the
ID of January, addressed the Secretary Of Admit
rally, says:
Admiralty, far respects Lagos have been most faith
fully fulfilled by the expulsion Of the slavedeang chief
Kosoko and his people the utter destruction Of his town.
and the establishment Of the friendly chief Akoye with
his followers in the seat Of power at Lagos
Their lordships aware that Kosoko very recently
rejected the proered friendship Of England and opposed
with nre ana sword the approach oil nag OF truce
ceedng to his seat of government with Mr. Consul Bee
croft, who offered to negotiate and to advise with him.
Il therefore determined TO send a strong and we'll
organized force to punish this refractory chief and hav
ing, through the energy and exerons Of Mr. Beecroft
procured the attendance of Aoye, and nearly FIVE hun
bred Of his followers the Of action ready to
take advantage of a clean sweep when should make it.
concerted measures with Capt Lewis Jones, Of the
Samson, and Capt Henry Lyster of this ship who were
both volunteers the OCCASION and entrusted the detail
and execution Of the service to Capt Jones' seconded by
Capt Lyster; and their ordships win from the
companyng reports the complete with which the
enterprise has been crowned.
II am at loss to do justice to the chyarous bearing
and devoted bravery Of these two officers Capt Jones'
Who commanding the expedition less conspicu-
for his gaantry and rmness than for his judgment
and energy; and Capt Lyster who, finding himself by
unavoidable circumstances exposed in the Teazer to be
summarily destroyed by the enemys guns made noble
rush into the midst Of armed shore and with his
undaunted followers spiked the obnoxious guns and
turned the fortune Of the day at that point 1t is be
borne in mind that our people could expect quarter
nor did they get any,"
letter written by who engaged in the attack
closes thus:
son the 2sth, at daybreak the town was found de-
serted, the enemy having left the other side of the
island in their The forces then landed and took
possession; fftyseven guns taken and destroyed
and Aktoye placed the throne, and all his with
him and thus finishes the capture Of Lagos and with IL
we hope suppression of the slave trade few deaths
have taken place from fever The stockades consisted
green cocoanut trees hence they had splnters In
each stockade trench that when shell was fred
them they jumped in the trench and hence escaped
danger. Each stockade had ditch to communicate, so
that they could reinforce retreat at leisure About
fifteen feet from the Shore in nine feet water,
quantity of bamboo stakes firmly driven in and so
cure that hundred and thirty pounds Of gunpowder
could effect breach and hence prevented any one
from landing Our total force about 400 the enemy
from 10000 to 10000"