The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-07
THE RELIEF OF EUNASSIE
Colonel Willcocks' Report of the
Battle With AshantiS.
He Arrived Just in Time to Prevent
the Massacre of the Besieged-Thc
Defence Could Not HAVE Been Much
Longer COMMUNICATIVE Troops
In the Garrison Were Exhausted.

The relief of Kumassie, besieged by the
Ashantis. was effected by the column under
command of Colonel Willcocks, on July 10.
Though the news of the fact that the siege
had been raised with heavy loss to the
Ashantis was published soon after the en-
gagement Colonel willcocks' full and for
NAL report of the march through the
jungle and the battle with the savages pre-
sents some unusual details. 1t follows:
'Bekwai, Friday, July 2O.-Just returned
from Kumassie which was relieved on
July 10. after two days running fight,
ending in successful attack and dislodg-
ing the enemy from four stockades within
one mile OF Kumassie.
"Enemy's position perfectly selected and
prepared on high land and completely hid
den by almost impenetrable bush. / had
spread a report that l would attack Kokofn
to the east of Bekwai on July Is, and sew
eral thousands of the enemy came from
the direction of Kumassie for the defence
of Kokofu; but on that same day sudden
ly marched to Pekki. fifteen miles 10 the
west of Bekwai.
The march lasted nineteen hours. going
through the worst paths and jungle that
troops ever marched in. Incessant rain
prevailed
''On July IA reached Ekwanta. Cap ain
= Eden. West African frontier force, and
Lieutenant Edwards, Sierra Leone police
force, carried the village OF Treda with
the bayoIet. The village was held by 600
of the enemy. Following casualties re-
ported: Four native soldiers wounded.
"Enemy's force extremely surprised at
the bayonet charge. Enemy fed, leaving
behind great many goats, sheep, etc.
Rear guard attacked at midday, but the
Maxim guns soon silenced the enemy's
force. One native soldier West African
frontier force wounded.
ION July Is 1 left Ekwanta at dawn
through roads in an indescribably bad con-
dition. The guns were moved with the
greatest difficulty, but at the same time
all kept up.
Rear guard attack at 3 o'clock in the
afternoon repulsed by Major Beddoes, West
African frontier force.
AT 4:30 O'Clock in the afternoon Major
Meliss, West African frontier force, and
Lieutenant Edwards Sierra Leone police
force, leaders OF scouts, were heavily fired
on, and both of them were slightly
wounded.
Major Wilkinson, Inspector General of
.
ing advance guard. brought up all the field
guns under Phillips, West African frontier
force, and also three Maxim guns, as it
was evident that we were now In the face
of the enemy's entrenched position.
Il gave orders for the infantry to ex-
tend TO both TANKS. Entangled bush had
to be cut before any men could possibly
penetrate After twenty minutes infantry
had extended sufficiently, facing north, ard
two companies facing east toward rising
ground. on which side the enemy kept up
heavy fire, although the four Maxim
guns were busily employed against them.
About twenty casualties had now taken
place, and, having full confidence in officers
and men, / determined, Notwithstanding
the enemy being posted behind, 10 advance
with the bayonet. The bugles sounded
cease firing They were promptly obey
ed. and the charge could not have been
beaten in elsa by any soldiers
Il am proud OF the Yorubu native SOL
diers, West African frontier force, who
formed the bulk of the charging force. and
any misgivings as to their qualities which
may hitherto have been felt by those who
only believed in the Hausas are vanished.
Their gallant conduct Is the admiration OF
every officer present at the fight.
THE bayonet charge absolutely paralyZed
the enemy, who at once ceased firing and
fed away IN thousands. leaving behind a
great many mangIed dead in the stockades
and the bush. showing the terrific havoc
caused by the 75-millimetre guns, news
of which will. 1 hope. spread over all this
country.
81 have destroyed the war camp Of the
commander in chief of the Ashanti army.
situated near the main road, and / entered
Kumassie at 6 in the evening.
Terrible scene Of desolatiou and of hor-
ror; stencil sickening. Nothing but burned
down houses and pUtrid bodies TO be seen,
the latter right up TO the walls Of the fort.
Garrison delighted beyond words. Native
soldiers most of them too weak to stand.
British officers thanked God for relief. as
a few days more would have seen the last
of the defence.
Il left Kumassie on July II. leaving be-
hind $50 native soldiers, under Captain
Eden Lieutenant Mayne Medical Officer
Thompson. and Sergeant Desborough, R. A,
all West African frontier force, and ample
supplies OF ammunition and of food for sew
en- weeks, long before which / Will have
REINFORCED the detachment with force
sufficient to feed Itself from the surround
ing villages, etc.
Il brought away from Kumassie the old
garrison, most Of them in hammocks. and
also a great many refugees, women and
children. Before departing from KuInassie
/ had buried heaps Of rotting corpses,
which must have been lying near the fort
for weeks past. had also cut short bush
and the grass which was growing up quite
close to the walls Of the fort. The work
was sickening In the extreme, but at the
same time all ranks helped bravely
In my opinion the garrison left behind
ct Kumassie was altogether UNEQUAL to the
task OF holding the fort. and nothing less
than the fear of the Ashantls to attack
could have saved them, notwithstanding
the strong fort. l have never seen any
thing so grewsome as the vicinity Of the
fort.
Il expected with my LOO unarmed ma
tive followers and the sick and wounded
some difficulty in coming out; but the en-
emy's being completely dispersed on July
IS seems to have frightened them, as they
did not fire a shot for the twenty FIVE
miles march. which took three days, owing
10 two days excessive rain.
81 cannot end without bringing TO notice
the soldlerly qualities of officers and men
under trials / have personally never pre-
viously known in my long experience OF
Jungle warfare. their cheerfulness under
every form Of discomfort. their yalor
against the unseen and unknown numbers.
and on half rations. The native soldiers
were without any blankets, yet always
CHEEKY They are deserving OF high praise.
Amongst those whom | shall bring TO
notice. the following were conspicuous on
July Is:
Major Henstock. West India Regiment
chief Of staff: Major Wilkinson First
Northumberland Fusiliers; Captains Hol-
ford Seventh Hussars. d. A. A G.; Nc
CiintOck. r. f.. West African frontier
force. ID. A. A. c.; Eden, First Battalion
Oxford Light Infantry. w. A. f. r.:
Wright First Battalion Manchester Regf-
ment. w A. F. F.: Lieatenants Phillips. r.
A. W A f. E. Edwards Sierra Ienne