Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-12-11
THE ASHANTEE WAR.

THE ASHANTEE WAR.
The First Battle-Captare Of Essoco.
mcvv-TAreo Towns Dcstr0yed-t&00t
eT the savaGes-Rumored Intention Of
Castle.
The following news has been received
in London:
CAPE COAST CASTLE, October o.
Five villages, harboring Ashantees.
have been destroyed. Our loss is two
killed and twenty-four wounded. An
attack on the enemy's camp is in pro-
g1ess to-day. The Ashsntee retreat Is
cut of. Our forces, after thirteen days
successful bush fighting, have destroy
ed four villages. The operations were
conducted with secrecy, and a complete
surprise was effected. CYL Macneil and
Privates Walsh and Broderick are Sc
verely wounded. Capt. Freemantle
and Forbes, and q seaman, Howard.
with twenty negroes, were slightly
wounded, and two negroes were
killed. The Ashantees are attempt
ing to withdraw, oarryingprisoners and
plumber across the Prah. At midnight;
on the 18th 1913 marines from the ST.
moon, Is West India privates from the
shore, Gen. Sir Garnet Wolseley and
staff, embarked ON board Her Majesty's:
ships Barracouta and Decoy. and pro-.
ceecled to Elmina under cover of night.
This body of men, reinforced by 46
officers and men of the Barracouta,
landed at Elmina, where they were.
joined by q party of 1875 Houssas. The.
Ashantees of the towns of Ampenee,
Akimfoo, Amquana ION the
coast), and Ashamau Assamou I'm
land), having frequently harbored and
supplied the Ashantees with arms, ETC.,
we're the ones proceeded against-a
large body of Ashantees being reported
to be in the vicinity of these towns. A
party of men from the Barracuda gar
risoned Forts William and st. largo at
Elmina, the Simoon's men and batter
teries Of the Naval Brigade garrisoning
Cape Coast Castle and its forts
The Argus and Decoy moved up
the coast and anchored eli
the Cossel Reefs, the steam launch
of the Barracouta and the paddle
box boats of the Argus going inside
of the reels, from whence their guns
were fred with great effect. On the
three f1rst-named towns, at 8 a. m on
the 18th, the Argus opened fire at 2, 600
yards range. Immediately on landing
the expedition on shore marched of:
about four miles and half in north.
east direction, exchanging fire with the
enemy as they went. The 6eld-guns
having been got into position under a.
smart fire. most of the casualties hap
pened here. The town of Essecomew,
Essumbuno on the new map, (more
properly Essamon,) was taken and
destroyed. The enemy were in large
numbers in the bushes. Their loss
must have been considerable, but
the bush was so thick that little could
be seen of them. That town having
been destroyed, the expedition struck
off at right angles for the westward,
for the coast at Ampenee and Akin
foo, and, taking the enemy there in
the rear, drove them towards the sea.
The Argus and Decoy landed their
crews, sheltered under the reef land I'M
der cover of their ships' fire),
thus forming second naval
brigade. The whole force clos
ing in, the enemy was routed
with great loss, but the numbers of
their killed is not known. The places
being destroyed, the General, Capt.
Freemantle, and staff embarked on
board the Decoy, and proceeded to
Cape Coast Castle. the navy brigade
and army marching back to Elmina.
The naval brigade and marines being
all Except wounded) embarked before
midnight, the Argus returned to FL
nina, the Barracuda to Cape Coast
Castle. The naval brigade is ready to
land at the signal The steamer War
rec has arrived and gone to the Volta,
where Captain Glover's expedition is
getting into splendid condition. The
report that the Ashantees had broken
up their camp at Mempon and COM
menced to retreat has caused consider
able excitement here. On the morning
of the 26th Sir Garnet Wolseley march.
ed out with the marines and naval bri
gade, with the intention of cutting of
the retreat of the Ashantees. His des.
tinati0n was understood to be Dun,
quah. According, however, to anothe,
report, the Ashantees have advanced,
and are within few miles of the town,
while Sir Garnet Wolseley has reached
Accraful. All the troops from Elmins
and Cape Coast are in the bush, and
severe fighting is hourly expected.
Intelligence had reached Accra at the
beginning of October that the King Of
Ashantee had assembled all his fight
ing men, and was marching straight OF
| to Capey Coast Castle. Another army
was advancing through the Akin coun
try ON the Cheble. A third army fol
lows that of the King, as reserve. Il
this information is correct, all the ar.
rangements for Capt. Glover's advance
from the Volta will he upset. Cape
Coast Castle itself is almost unprotect'
ed, most of the West Indian troops
being absent on detachment at tho va.
rious forts on the coast, while, as to
the Fantees, they are almost useless as
auxiliaries, having been Thoroughly
cowed by succession of defeats.
Life in q Monitor,