The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-20
Correspondence Describing tho End
OF the War.

The HERALD correspondent with the British
forces in Ashantee forwards us full and
graphic correspondence, which we publish
this morning, completing the history of the
second war in Africa, ''all of which he saw
and part of which he was Whoever will
carefully and thoughtfully peruse this vivid
and truthful narrative of the operations OF the
gallant little army commanded by Sir Garnet
Wolseley will find in it the lesson of q CAM
paign which adds many new chapters to the
history of savage warfare, illustrating the con-
| spicuous daring and bravery OF the British
soldiery when called upon to meet concealed
enemies, and proving that England has in
deed generals TO whom may be intrusted with
national confidence enterprises of scarcely cal
culable difficulty.
Sir Garnet Wolseley went to the Gold
Coast of Africa simply instructed to cap
ture, reduce and humiliate the entire
Ashantee kingdom. He was harassed with
the usual and always perplexing supervision
of the War Office, instructed by sapient field
marshals who loaded the columns of the Times
with the plans for his future operations, and
he was even saddled with railway, and daily
reports of the movements at Woolwich pre-
public was led to believe the expedition
would return with nothing short of the con-
quest OF continent Sir Garnet sailed, how
ever, with his troops, and, although it was his
Ill fortune to be Frustrated by fever at the
outset Of the campaign, he was not long IN
approaching the difficulties and opportunities
of the situation. His operations up to Janu-
airy 81 have been hitherto recorded in these
columns, and now we shall briefly glance at
the closing days of the war, which finally
ended by the entry OF the British
troops into Coomassie, the flight Of the
King, the sacking Of the palace
and the destruction of the capital. Our
correspondents narrative, though written
hastily and necessarily condensed, pre-
sents clear view of the march on Coo
massie One week from Coomassie found
the British in Bekwah village of some five
thousand souls, which was captured only
after brisk and continuous musketry fire di-
rected at the habitations by the Highlanders
and Fusileers. Lifelike pictures of African
jungle warfare are painted by our correspond
ent with admirable touches of the pen, espe-
cally that of the little Albino child who, like
Theodores son of Abyssinia, may become
living souvenir Of the campaign. The terrible
sacrifices to fetichism, ominous indications
OF the temper of the Ashantees. with their feet
toward Coomassie and their CHASTITY faces
turned toward the invader; the groves Of In
dian corn, the quantities of grain, shady
groups Of cottonwood and the native palan-
quins, all bring to our minds the severe,
gloomy, yet picturesque, country passed
through during the many days engaged
in fighting q determined and ambushed
foe. The battle of Ordasu, which was the
last serious struggle at any long distance
from the capital, gives a fair idea of the
character Of the campaign. Of this conflict
our correspondent says, after giving thrilling
account of the loud and effective fusillade
against the Ashantees: Shortly atterward
we found ourselves in the little village Of
Ordasu, among the dead, the dying and the
wounded, and among the heterogeneous
humanity budding on the ground to avoid
the sugs. The bushes seemed filed with
smoke, the air with sound of musketry, the
ground was red with gore and Ashantee mis-
siles struck everywhere-against mud wall
and thatch against human faces and
hands, against our clothes, startling our ears
and hurrying the flow of blood in our veins
The Snyder rifles were, however, too destruc-
tive and rapid in execution for the old Dutch
arms of the enemy, and ten thousand fintlocks
were not equal to fifteen hundred breech-
leaders, with every advantage of position in
favor OF the former. The account of the battle
of Ordasu is one of extreme interest. Even after
Lieutenant Eyre had fallen, and the English
thought themselves in possession Of the town,
panic seized the English soldiers, which for
moment threatened serious consequences;
but there was rally, and Sir Garnet, by
happy piece of strategy, dispersed the crouch
ing enemy in all directions. As the line of
march was taken up toward Coomassie the
Forty second Highlanders the heroic reg-
rnent of the expedition, led the van in splendid
martial spirit, maintaining the same disci-
pline that would be exhibited on an English
green, Notwithstanding that they were
harassed on all sides by the fire of the bush
whackers. Thomas Adams, common sol
der, led the way and maintained it to the
capital, and although the target for many
hundred guns he was always in advance of
the command. AS the Highlanders moved on
Karsi post within three miles of Coomassie,
they mad bitter struggle with the persistent
Ashantees. Very many" says our corre-
spondent 'were borne back frightfully disfs-
ured and seriously wounded, but the regiment
never halted, never wavered on it went
until the Ashantees perceiving it useless to
! fight against men who would advance needless
/ of ambushes, rose from their coverts and fed
panic-stricken toward Coomassie, perforated
by balls whenever they showed themselves to
the hawk-eyed Scots" 1t is not unnatural