The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-03
CAPE COAST CASTLE. Feb. -. 1877


qaent and shane.-CHARLEs SUMNER
CAPE COAST CASTLE, Feb. II, 1874
We were in Coomassie at last! On the night OF
the 4h of February the British army was bivouack-
ing in line along the main street OF the Ashantee
capital. The palings and wooden boards and
heavy, cumbersome doors, cut OF cottonwood
buttresses by Asnantee artisans were eagerly
possessed by the British soldiers and laid in blaz.
ing pyramids along the centre OF the street. sur
rounded by social circles Of British soldiers and
sailors, who were relieving themselves, after a
hard days fight and march, by chatting light
heartedly about the great event which had term-
mated the campaign in West Africa. Those
who had arrived IN Coomasse earlier than
others, ana had seen the weary promenade or
the stan in search OF quarters for themselves,
and knew py intuition that every one would
mostly be left TO himself. had fastened to secure
quarters for the night on the clay verandas of the
pretentious Asnantee houses which lined the main
street on either side, and which gave somewhat
ornate and picturesque effect to the capital, and
from the level OF these clay verandas we looked
down upon the fre-iit street and scenes OF confu-
sion, wondering what events would follow
arrival in Coomassie al the King would only
come in,n thought we, ito sign treaty OF peace
with the General we may be able to return home,
conscious that the expedition mad done Its work
well and successfully
STREET SCENES AFTER THE CAPTURE.
As our eyes glance up and down the crowded
street, which is sixty yards wide and about hall a
mile long tney rest upon other forms than those
OF British soldiers and sailors. Fantee laborers,
or Bonny and Apoboe warriors. They are forms
OF AshanJees who are passing and repassing, arms
their shoulders, and tasteful native cloths
ABOUT their waists and 10 our left along cross
street leading to the Bantamma, there is a SEEM
ingly endless file OF them, all armed, passing BY
hardly any of them stopping to more than cast
curious gances at the novel aspect or the main
street OF their capital this night, and to wonder
at the sight OF so many pale-faced men in pos
session OF Coomasse. These armed men thus
hurrying away by Us are the Iugitives from
the battle grounds around Ordasu, and
there is not one sentry posted to stop
them, to disarm them, to ask them whittier
they go and what they do With guns in their hands
in conquered city when the conqueyurs are SO
near them. They may be counted by the hun
dred. The warriors are armed with Enfield rifles,
double-barrelled shotguns, long Danish guns, and
almost every man carries a long, broad knife, and
on their heads the greater number OF them carry
heavy loads OF something covered with mats. As
it grows later We notice also that the crowds OF
natives which we witnessed on our first entry into
Coomassie were dwindllng away; that many who
seemed disposed to prefer friendship at first were
now Withdrawing somewhere out OF sight; that
almost every native seemed to be on the move
with his most valuable household goods on his
head, without so much as a token OF farewell in
friendship. Like sheep following one which had
found means OF egress, they seemed to be hurry
ing away in one direction. All this occurred,
seemed TO occur, without anybody OF the staff ap-
parently taking heed OF it.
REMOVING THE TREASURE
The gentleman with whom messed exchanged
views with me on this matter, and singulary
enough the same line Of thought had been followed
by each OF US. Had Sir Garnet posted sentries
around the capital TO prevent people from leaving
with the wealth o. captured city on their heads
before something definite mad been determined
upon as regards the lutureY II not, why notY
Why were between 1000 and 5000 men permitted
TO leave Coomasse with in their hands to be
source Of trouble and anxiety to Sir Garnet and
Lis army on the Return march Was tins omission
part OF Sir Garnets policy II could hardly be
called a predetermined policy as tic first order he
issued his arrival was 10 disarm ana DESTROY
every weapon but he had rescnded the order
when he saw the Forty-second Hignlanders
drawn calmly up IN line. Had 1t struck
him at that moment, as being unnecessary, that
the Kings submission was almost a certaintyY
fatigue as the cause OF this omission Fatigue
A general determined TO win success when IL Is
almost within his grasp should never plead
.aatiQueu as an excuse Tor dereiction and gross
neglec: OF duty. star bound TO assist their
general at the very eve OF perfect victory should
never be permitted TO plead 'Tatiguer as an ex.
cuse Tor not urging with their advice and assisting
By their actions the General at sucn moment
Tue army would have responded 10 the com.
inand cheerlully. There were line officers in
plenty whom ! could name who would have
marched their men 10 their posts to guard every
outlet from the city. Some ofncers nave suggested
that Sir Garnet feared that such precautions
would nave precIpitated a street conflict at night
such a suggestion is puerlle and unworthy OF men
who had been victorious in every engagement
with the Ashantees. The enemy was too severely
punished, too much cowed, even after their bush
experiences, to think OF rsking themselves in an
open street fight, where their slaughter would
have been work Of but few moments. We, seeing
the signs OF this exodus OF armed men at night
and arguing thus could not understand what Sir
Garnet meant by permitting so many OF the
enemy to leave the city with the means to Dght
again and harass his return to the coast
MILITARY COMPLIMENTS TO THE HUMgLED CROWN.
About eight p. NJ. q bright light being thrown bv