The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-07
SIR FRANCIS HoDGsoN's ESCAPE.
story of the Siege of Kumassi by
the Ashentis

blhSe Dg an OilictT Vi lue Teilel CululHH Vi
Lagos constabulary. which fought its way
into the beleaguered town on April %, is
as follows:
Cape Coast Castle, July 22.-on April
is the Hausa constabulary from Lagos
landed here under orders for $50 men to
proceed at once and with all despatch TO
Kumassie, where Sir Frederick Hodgson,
Governor of the Gold Coast, then was. No
information had been received from the
Governor for some days. All the troops he
had with him in kumassie were the gar
rison Of 120 men and $50 men which ar
rived under Captain Middlemist just before
the rising took place.
Preparations were hurried on. The
Hausas from Lagos made a night march
following the day Of their arrival here.
Owing to an insufficient number of car
riers, many stores had to ne left behind
The first night the column halted at Akro-
full, and the next day was spent in sub
sidiziDg carriers. short march was
made, and in the evening the column
reached Dunkwa. Prahsu was reached on
the 23d Here We waited for the stores
which had been left behind AS they never
came we pushed on, and on the 26th
reached Monse Hill. The natives were
apparently friendly SO far. On the 9th
two deserted villages we're passed beyond
Esumeja, where we found some wounded
traders.
AT O'Clock on that day the troops were
attacked by Ashantis in front. The en-
gagement lasted nearly an hour There
were no stockades Here Mr.. Cochrane
was wounded in the shoulder while trying
TO mend the Maxim. Most of our casual
ties were caused by Ashantis who fired
from trees upon which they had climbed.
The forest was so dense that We could not
see two yards ahead of us. AS twenty-five
of cur men had been wounded, ii was de-
cided to remain at Essiagu that night, only
seven miles from kumassie. We were left
unmolested 1t was impossible 10 estimate
the losses of the Ashantis, ewing TO the
dense jungle.
ION the 18th we left Essiagu, after burn
ing it down. and proceeded on, expecting
every moment to be attacked. The march
was a slow one, owing to the d-pounder
having to be dragged by hand.
AT noon we were heavily attacked, both
front and rear and on the TANKS. The
enemy were driven off in the rear after
one and a half hours fighting, but the
position in front was very strong owing 90
a stcckade. Both of the 4.50 Maxims
damned. and ammunition for the I-pound-
er ran short. After several Intellectual at
tacks on the stockade the position was
turned at p. m. The Ashantis had all the
while been firing necessarily. Captain APP
lin was wounded slightly; Mr.. Read was
wounded severely, having a broken arm
and three wounds from slugS. Mr. Ralph
was wounded in the neck from slugs. The
Ashantis were cleared out of the stock
AIDES at IN m. We proceeded to Kumassi.
which was only two miles farther on, when
we learned that a heavy engagement had
also taken place. but that the rebels were
beaten of.
In the second attack on Kumassie the
Ashantis were estimated to number Zu,ooJ-
All the Europeans were now in the fort,
and crowds of women, traders, and refu-
gees were living in shelters around it.
ON the 30th the cantonments were re-
occupied, and the men in the fort we're
placed in sheltered trenches around the
prison The stockade was also occupied.
The dead Ashantis, numbering 100, killed
the day before, were buried: most OF the
corpses. however, had been carried away.
ION May Captain Armitage with native
levies attacked the stockade by the Wes-
leyan Mission. He was unable to take it,
but inflicted heavy loss on the enemy. We
having many wounded. The Ashantis sub
sequently evacuated the stookade, but on
May they returned and burned the mis-
sion.
"on April 25, when the Ashantis had
driven in our garrison from the canton
ments, they made manholes running
through the walls facing the fort, which
they loopholed, and from this vantage
fred safely on US The walls were thick
and quite inpenetrable.
"Kumassie was invested from April 80.
The Ashantis used TO spend half the night
in murmuring and shouting; they did this
especially on the night when Captain Mid
dlemist died, a fact which was made known
to them by spies.
ION May 10 an unsuccessful attempt was
made to bring in food. there being none
practically in Kumassie, one sheep being
killed every third day and divided among
the Europeans On May IA palayering took
place with the rebels in order TO see what
terms could be made. Negotiations were
broken of owing to the arrival of Major
Morris from the northern territories with
$50 men. He had four days fighting. but
while negotiations were proceeding he
was not attacked. Carriers going outside
Kumassie on foraging expeditions were
continually killed or wounded.
"on May q, after a bombardment by the
seven-pounder, sortie was made by the
garrison on the Krobo road and also on the
Accra road. Neither was successful. AS
our ammunition was running short IL had
TO be nursed. Mr.. Leggett was severely
wounded in the arm and eight men wound
ed
ION May 90 rations were reduced; the
Europeans were cut down TO two biscuits
and a pound Of meat. and others TO one and
half biscuits and a quarter pound of
meat. The carriers grubbed up small roots
and picked leaves until the trees became
quite bare On May "a Mr. Cochrane and
Mr.. Ralph went out before daybreak with
about 100 men in order to try and bring
in food. or TO find the camp Of the reliev-
ing column. Not finding 1t they returned.
The Queens birthday parade was attend
ed by 800 men. the rest could not be
spared from the trenches. On the 25th
instant Mr.. cochrane and Mr. Ralph. with
14o men, were sent out scouting. stock
ade was discovered and taken. MIR Ralph
was severely wounded in the arm and ten
men wounded. On the 9th instant Cap
tain Armitsge went with natives toward
the Mampon stockade and crawled up IN
observed, followed by Hausas.
Our last COW was killed on this day,
Rumors reached us Of troops on the road,
which we had arranged to sweep clear of
the enemy. The rumors were contradic-
tory.
"on May %. Captain Marshall with 22O
men. attacked Mtidu. where he found the
enemy too strong. Poor Marshall was shot
through the heart. The rains were getting
heavy. The Ashantis continued to keep
up their nightly concerts.
Mr.. Ber;hon was now busily engaged In
mailing bombs to throw into the Ashanti
camps. The first was thrown on June ).
and another was thrown on June 9. This
was reported 20 have landed in the middle
of the chiefs when palavering as TO what
forces should be sent against Bakwar. On
June II a reconnaissance was made in force
down the Cape Road to determine the po-
sition of the stockade. 1t was found nearly
a mile from Assafu, facing south. toward