The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-19
General wolseley's Despn tch.


General Wolseley's Despatch.
The following despatch has been received at the
Colonial once in London
CDR GARNET woLsELEY TO THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY.
HEADQUARTERS, CAMP AGIAAMA, Feb. 2, 1874
NY LoRD-Your Lordship is aware that on the sd
nit received from the King OF Ashantee letter
eouched IN terms Of unconditional surrender.
The King had, with great art add care, succeeded
IN lmpressng upon the white prisoners.
liberty. condition OF his entire naDility to fight
again and his entire determination not to do so.
would trouble your lordshlp unnecessarily II
detailed all the minute circumstances which were
contrived for the deception OF these gentlemen.
vas resolved not under any circumstance to con-
aratiOn against u.s. until had substantial guar.
antees Of the fidelity OF the King in his professions
the white prisoners and the evidence supplied by
them, made up my mind that while It
70 places mse n Try knas way
should not be justified in pressing him too
closely, or in assuming an intention OF treachery
ON his part. feel, therefore, that this news was
OF so much importance that your lordsnip would
wish to receive it by the most rapid means pos
nble and. as you are aware arranged with Com
modOre Hewitt for the despatch OF the steamer
Aatin, IN order to communicate this intelligence.
were required Ior the accumulation OF stores, |
was able without risaing any delay to the general
progress OF operations 10 make an effort to con-
cl'late the King by promising to move slowly dur
Ing that time.
must frankly confess, my lord, that in so far as
Ashantee moDarch's most solemn promises had
Sne smallest value was nopelessly IN error. have
good reason 10 congratulate myself that did not
allow my military movements to be affected by
anything oil the kind. Tue whole negotiation was
one treacherous plot on the part OF the King, in
tended to give him time to collect his army and to
lure US to the destruction which he still firmly be-
heved that he was able to innict upon us. He had
Ingenousy continued TO dismiss the captives be-
fore the army had Ialry arrived at its des
and he hoped TO convince me by the distinct ev-
dence which they were to supply that no military
COOmaSSle:
Dut, while he was assuring the caprIves that even
II ( entered Coomass.e and stood in the market
place he would not resist me, he was preparing
Place Tor his army, from which, when the time
came, he hoped to surprise me on the march For
thls purpose he was gathering his army from all
SIDES upon position OF considerable mili.
tAt strength, at Amoaful village some
my Intelligence Department, aided by the
information obtained by Mr.. Dawson's boy, iur-
nished me with information as to the gathering OF
The army. Soon it took place. l therefore, as
stated IN my deter accompanying the dispatches
after q most severe contest during which the re.
elstaDce OF the AShantees, thanks largely TO the
lmpenetrabJe character OF the bush, was OF kind
altogether more serious than could have believed
possible. drove them from all their positions,
and inflicted on them complete defeat with very
The Kings plan, however, must have been long
and most carefully prepared, Tor at the same time
nOunced persistent series OF guerilla attacks was
directed upon very considerable portion Of our
line OF communication. rms Is stu continued,
though the strength OF our posts and the arrange
ments which have been able to make Tor the
general security Of our line have SO reduced the
effect as to render this merely inconvenient. On
The LIST directed force under orders OF SIR Archi
bald Allison to attack and destroy Baqua, town
Of considerable size mile to the west OF Amoaiul.
THIS was Indispensable TO the security OF our ad-
vance, as we inQ that unless either hold on
or destroy village which we nave once attat ked
the Ashantees believe that we have been unable
10 hold 1t, and return TO threaten our movements.
The complete success OF THIS operation enabled me
to-day to follow with AL my available force in rear
a
resistance has been opposed to the advancing
troops. The enemy. though at some points in con-
siderable numbers has everywhere fed before us.
Tomorrow again advance ana unless resist
ance Is more considerable than any present indi-
laiI TO enter Coomasse. G.. j. WULSELEY,
MAJOR General and Administrator, Gold Coast.
Desperate yalor OF the Warrior Natives.
A correspondent writes from the field The
Ashantees fought ike demons. They were present
In enormous numbers, pouring on our gallant
troops by thousands, yelling and screaming
bideously. Although our firing told on them
immensely they had TO be driven from
point to point, and even when pushed out
OF the successive villages returned TO the
attack. In the thickest parts OF the brush they
climbed the trees IL order 70 ME more enecrually
upon our troops. The order OF advance rom In
sarIul was as follows. The attack was made in the
form OF square, through the middle OF which ran
the main road, and the line extended about 800
yards either s1de. The Forty second regiment,
preceded by Lord CLIFFORD and his scouts, formed
the front line with two Rats guns In the centre
GordoD's Houssas in dense corner or jungle. IL
really seemed a. II nothing but the aiure OF their
Ammunition would drive them out. Now at one
point, now az another along the hill crest they
poured down crushing voleys. Life they counted
AZ no price only a white man could be killed.
IL was the same desperate obstinacy we had seen
~ Aorakrampa. They climbed trees TO IRE with
more deadly eject but the mass Just lay down
anu sn0t I'LL snot themselves or short OF aInmUni-
NoD. SIT Archibald Arson, bTgadier oi the white
aoo OPS, declares ne never came under fercer tire