The New York herald., 1873-12-29

Jungle, were betrayed by the pu1s OF white smoke
which, In the breezeless air, rested above their
heads after they had fred and consequently the
localities became the special regard OF many cool
ri1eman. IL may be presumed that above 100 Ash
antees lost their lives before Ahracampa while only
one white sailor and about dozen natives were
wounded OF the defenders But even this great loss
inflicted upon the foe hardly compensates for that
which was inflicted upon q reconnoitring force
that set out from Dunquah on the 4th OF November.
Colonel Testing, adjured by Sir Garnet TO be &C
tive and unceasing In prosecuting the enemy, had
left the garrison station OF Dunquah for the Asian
tee camp, situate mile beyond the barriers, with
. mixed force, consisting Of Houssas Kossoes,
Abras and Annamaboes. Testing attempted to at
tack the camp from the rear. but he was not 80
successful as he had hoped to be. The Ashantee
scouts had alre ady alarmed their people and each
warrior had Immediately FASTENED TO the bush and
taken his post In the vicinity of the abandoned
camp. When Festings force came up they found
the camp had been deserted and their presence
known and barely had they arrived at this conclu-
sion when the pellets and slugs OF the ambushed foe
came hurting among them. informing the aston
ished allies OF their presence.
DEATH or YOUNG wILMoT.
Lieutenant Wilmot, OF the artillery, received a
severe wound In the left arm as, with revolver In
left hand and o sword-bayonet in his right he was
attempting an advance against the enemy and,
by placing himself at the head or his men, hoped to
encourage the Annamaboes under his command.
The young oficer-he was only 24-fearing to dis
courage his men by going to the rear to have his
wound attended to, never moved from his post in
the van, but simply told his servant TO run to the
fort to get some lint and continued shouting to
his men to ADVANCE, plunging foremost himself
vuvf, hio cxynv hon II,
the bandage his master, young Eardley wimot,
was dead, with re bullet hole through bis heart.
The spot where he fell was soon dyed with the
blood Of his brother Qflcers, for the marksman
who had Slain young Wilmot kept his post.
Lieutenant Colonel Testing lifting the body OF the
dead officer was soon hit, and DR.. Gore coming up
to o1er his services also received o wound. Lieu
tenant Jones, not 10 feet on, received wound in
the groin. Lieutenant Patchett was SCARED with
a slug, and non commissioned officer OF the West
India regiment had pebble embedded in his neck
at the angle Of the jaw. INJECTING ghasty wound.
The cowardly allies deserted the fatal spot and the
retreat was sounded, but the BODY OF Wmot was
taken away by Testing, 80 that it might not be de-
capitated by the savages. The victory was un-
d0ubtedly on the side or the Ashantees at Dun
guah; but those who attacked Abracampa paid
dearly for 1t the next day. The body OF Lieutenant
Eardley Wilmot was conveyed to Cape Coast,
where 1t buried in the presence OF the General
and his staf and large concourse OF 01lcers.
THE ENEMY AGAIN ATTACKED.
The camp OF the enemy in the neighborhood OF
Abracampa was attacked after Sir Garnet's arrival
with reiniorcements. SO well was the attack
planned and so well was it made that the Ashan-
tee General Amonquatiah barely escaped capture.
One OF mis- wives and two OF his nephews fell into
the hands OF the British, besides his own chair in
which he was accustomed to be carried by his
slaves II reports are to be believed, Amonquatiah
is in deep disgrace with his own people, who COM
plain that they have been deceived, for when they
set out, in February, on this invasion they under
stood that they were to fight against the Fantees
but they now find themselves opposed by the white
men, whom, they say, it was never their Intention
to fight. Even the chiefs own slaves are rebelious
for they refuse to carry him any more. All these,
however, may be no more than mere camp rumors.
THE NATIVE LEvIEs USELESS.
The Cape Coast volunteers have fallen into deep
disgrace with the British authorities. They were
despatched soon after the defeat Of the Ashantees
at Abracampa, in pursuit Of the flying enemy, along
with the brave Abrahs, Kossoes swordmen and some
Houssahs. The latter, over eager to harass what
they considered to be demoralized force, hung so
close uron the skirts OF the retreating Ashantees
tnat they compelled the enemy to turn on them so
that the Abrahs, Kossoes and Houssahs were CON-
PEELED to return faster than they had advanced.
AS they returned Gney were met by the Cape Coast
volunteers, who in their fright, mistook them for
the Ashantees, and they were fired upon, by which
two OF their number were killed and six wounded.
Sir Garnet on hearing OF their cowardce, dis
armed the Cape Coast volunteers, and transformed
them into laborers and commissariat Dor.
ters. Indeed, it were q wise thing If
Sir Garnet transformed the major part
of the allies of the protectorate into pack
bearers and commissariat store carriers,
the most useful employment he could give them,
and one quite in accordance with the opinion OF all
Europeans who have seen them display their hare
valor in battle. 1t would be the most polite thing
one that your special correspondent could find it
in his heart to warmly commend the young general
for Immediately doing.
ILLNESS OF THE BRITISH COMMANDER.
Sir Garnet wolseley has paid the penalty which
dusky Africa inficts on the sons OF Europe who
tread her shores. Bis audacity in Drawing her hot
sun at midday has been punished by an attack OF
intermittent fever, but fortunately 1t has been
mild attack, just enough to restrain his energies
little and the ardor OF his military soul. Others
are sufferers as well. Two officers only however
have been buried since my arrival, Eardley Wilmot,
slain in battle, and Harry Mount OF the Control
Department, who died OF dysentery. Colonel Mac
Neil the Adjutant General will shortly depart for
Madeira Captain MacAlmOnt, Aide-de- Camp, is
invaded home. Captains Brackenbury and Char
teris have been on the sick list. Major Baker,
Acting Adjutant General vice MacNeiL has suffered
from dysentery. Deputy Surgeon General Home
has sore throat. Surgeon Major Jackson has had
the intermittent, and almost every officer who
came with Sir Garnet to the Gold Coast has been
compeled to succumb to its unhealthiness for
time. Out of % laborers who arrived from Sierra
Leone lately, AZ have been sent back as unit for
duty. These facts you may sum up and digest, and
perhaps you will admit that the Ashantee King has
terrible allies to fight his battles for him in the
shape of fever and dysentery, which attack the
highest as well as the lowest, and penetrate even
to the comfortable chambers Of Government House.
AHOY, FANTEES!
CApE On "A srTr Nov Is 1g73