War With The Ashantees.
The Times, 1824-08-04T00:00:00

(From last iaht'es gazete.) Despatches, of which the folowing are extracts, were this day re ceived from Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, commanding Hi -Ma jesty's trcops on the westem coast of Africa, addressed to the Bar; Bathurst, R. G., one of hiiS isajesty's Principal Secretaries O? State EkTRACT OF A DESPATCE FROht LIEEUTEXNANT-COLONEI 'StJTHERLANfl, DATrD CAPE COAST CASTLE, 28T? MAY. 182-4. On ihe 19th instant I went to the camp (bush or jungle). to see theposition occupied by our force, and left Major Chisholm (whose exertions have been most praiseworthy tlhrougheut) in conimanl there, with directions to continue cutting pabhs towards thc Ashan tees, ivbose fighting post was about five miles distant; returnini myself into the fort, to superintend and hasten our preparations, anr to forward supplies of ammunition. 20tth.-I ordered everymar,, it ell enough to do d-uty, to be toarchec to camp, being anxious to attack the enemy as soon as possible, hav. ing leaert *hat the King of Ashantee was rapidly advancing with ter thousand men, ,o form a junction with the body who were opposed to us. .The forts were this day garrisoned by seamen and marines from the squadron, who were landed, with the utmost promptitude, by Captain Prickett, of the Owtee Glendower, the then senior officer for the purpose. 21st.-_N.ajor Chisholm succeeded, after very great exertions and fatigue, in cutting paths to the enemy's position about one p. n., when an engagement immediately commenced; the enemy fought bravely, keeping up a heavy fire from bush so thick that he coald only be seen at intervals, and making several zttempts to turn the Major's flanks; but finding himself baffied at all points, after fight- ing for five hours, his fire ceased, and he retired from the field, as we afterwards ascertained, with great loss in killed and wounded, whilst ours, as will appear by the annexed return, was trifling in both. The advantage thus gained might have been productive of the most beneficial and decisive results, had it been in Mifajor Chis- holm's power to follow it up; but neither threats nor persuasions could prevail on our Fantee allies to advance a step in pursuit of the enemy; on the contrary, most of them fled previous to the first fire, others soon followed, and as Major Chisholm at last found himself abandoned by all, except the officers, regulars, and militia, and a few brave native auxiliaries, not composing in all near hail our forces, he very prudently retired, without the slightest molesta. tion, to a position rather on this side of that which he occupied pre- vious to the action; and the Ashantecs two days afterwards re- turned to the groune from which they had on that occasion been driven. I cannot close this communication without expressing my obliga tions for the cordial co-operation and assistance rendered to me by Captain Bullen, C.B. R.N. (and before this a.rrival by Captain Prickgtt), and the officers of the squadron under his orders, and in particular to Captain Bowen, of the Drivcr, whose exertions fot five months last year, in mounting and equipping the guns of this fort, drewv forth the warm acknowledgments of the late Commo- dore Sir Robert Mlends. I must also particutlarize Lieutenant King, R.N., first of the Driver, who commanded a division of our forces in the field for se- veral months in 1823, and being a volunteer, was slightly wounded in the affair ef the 21st instant. From lMajor Chisholm, Royal African Colonial Ligbt Infantry (with whose cdvil government I do not mean to interfere), and all officers, military and civil, I receive every support, although their duties are, in consequence of their very limited number, very fa. tigaing and laborious. It affords me much pleasure to add, that alpjor Ch sholm, who is really a most deserving and zealous officer, represents the regu- lars (2d West India Regiment and Colonial Corps), militia, and some others, to have conducted themselves with very praiseworthy steadiness in the recent engagement. Return of the Regulars, Militia, and unorganized Forces, showing their strength prior to the action with the Ashantees, on the 21s) Mlay, 1824, and their losses in killed, wounded, and missing, on that day:- Cape Coast Castle, Nlay, 1824. Efrective, prior to the action.-Regulars, I major, I captain, 2 lieutenants, 3 ensigns, I quarter-master, 2 assistant and staff-sur- geons, 12 sergeants, 10 drummers, 211 rank and file. Mlilitia, I captain, 3 lieutenants, I ensign, 1!1 sergeants, 446 rank and file. To- tal, I major, 2 captains. 5 lieutenants, 4 ensigns, I quarter-master, 2 assistant and Btaff 8srgeons, 31 sergeants, 10 drumnmers, 657 rank and file. fiZed.-Regulars, 1 rank and file; militia, 3 rank and file- total, 4 rank and file. Wounged.-Regulars, I tsergeant, I drummer, 18 rank and tile; militia, I captain, 3 sergeants, 51 rank and file.-Totai, I captain, 4 sergeants, I drummer, 69 rank and file. Mising.-Regulars-I sergeant, 7 rank and file. Alilitia, 80 rank and file.-Total, I sergeant, 87 rank and file. The unorganized native force consisted of 77 chie.fs and 5,187 men, f whom 84 were killed, and 603 wounded. Names of officers wounded.-Captain Wlillian, .iutchinson. of the militia, dangerously; Lieutenant King, Royal Navy, slightly. EXTRACT OF A LETTEIR FROI ItEUTTENAANT-COLONEL SUTHEILAND, DATED CAPE COAST CASTLE, 3isT atw-, 1824 :_ lHerewith I have the honour to transmiit a duplicate of a de. Bpatch, undier the date of the 28th instant, forwarded by kis Ala. jesty's ship Driver. Since then the enemy has made no movement of importance, but the army under the King is said to have formed a junction with Lhat at Fettue yesterday, and I suppose he will immediately under- ake something, his united force being stated to amount to 16,008 nen ; and as the sains have now set in, he will not certainly remain inactive. I am inaking the most strenuous exertions to collect a force strong enoughI to cope with the enemy, and whenever I succeed so far as to render an attack on him prudent, I shaU endeavour to lrive him a little further into the interior, if' I cin do no more. In the mean time, I learn the small pox and dysentery are com- miitting sad ravages I iriis camp, and thcse are likely to bc assisted by want of provisions and the present inclement season. I - WAR WITH THTE AS7IANTBES. COLONIAL.OPT'CV .r.T, R1 MM