From the LONDON GAZETTE, ...
The Times, 1824-06-23T00:00:00

A letter of which the following is a copy, has been this day re- ceived itt Pa;l Bithurst's office from Miajor Chisholm, addressed to. L *Pilmot Horton, Esq., dated Cape Coast Castle, Feb. 23, 1824 :_ Sir,-It is with infinite sorrow I acquaint you, for the information of Earl Bathurst, that since t had the honour of addressing,you on, the 10th instant, on the subiect of the engagement which took place near Assamacow, in the Wester Wassaw country, on the 21st ul_ timo, between a division of his, Majesty's troops and native dllies.un- der the immediate command ofSir Charles MI'Carthy, and an army ofAshantees, I have ascertained that his Excellency was severely wounded, taken prisoner, and immediately put to death by the bar. barous enemy. I am concerned to statc, that of II officers of theregulars an imili- tia who belonged to his ExceUency's division, twoonlyhavereturned here. Mr.J.T. Williams,secretary and anothergentlemanaresaid to. be prisoners, and it is understood that the other seven werc killed, either in the action or after they were taken prisoners. It was my intention to have reported in detail by the present con. veyance, but the state of my health prevents my doiDg so. Aly medical attendant gives me reason to hope tbat I shall be suf. fidmetlyrecovered in seven or eight days to write, and as I deem it nf the utmost impertance to put his lordshipi in possession of a per- fect knowledge oF the state of affairs in this a,uater, I purpose send- ing the officer next in senioritv to myself (Captain Laing, of the Royal African Colnial Corps) with my official despatches. T'he extensive knowledge of the African character possessed by this gentleman,his uninterrnpted intercoursewith our principdi allies,since thecommencement of hostilities together with his general expenr ence, qualify him well to afford iis lordship any information which mv letters-may fail to convey. 'The Ashantees, said to be fifteen thousand strong, have continued at Assamacow since the action of the 21st; but it is rumoured that- they are making preparations for advancing on 2Monday next, the Ist of M'uarch. All the force I have been able to collect does not exceed six thou_ sand muskets, and as I do not consider it prudent to hazard a general engagement. I have determined en taking up positiont on-the hank of the river Boosom-ra, to dispute the passage of the enemy, and I am sanguine in myhopes- that the measure will be attended with success. The natives of an extensive village in the vicinity of Succondee having fired on the boats of oue of his Mlaiesty's ships, disarmned several of our soldiers whe were wounded n thelate action, and Were endeavouring to effect their escape from the Asbantees, and. having moreover destroyed Succondee, it was tbought necessary by the senior naval officer and myself to attack it, and a force of oric thousand two hundred men was accordingly em_ barked on board the squadron, and the place was taken poseso of on the 17th lastant- without any opposition, and immeaiately-1i'*, on fire. I have, &, (Signed) J. CHISf4OLAI, Admg. the Govt. 3aid Mlajor Comdg. tne Troops. R. Wilinot Horton, Esq., &c. DOWNING-STREET, Jun' 17. Captain Laing, of the Royal African Colonial Corps, arrived thit nmrning at EarI Satburst's office, with a despatch from Major Chls holm, addlressed to R. Wilmot Horton, Esq., under date of ape Coast Castle, the 16th of }.}arch, 184, of which the following is atn extract:- I have the honour to acquaint yoa for the information of Earl Bathurst, since I addressed you on the 2 -d alt., that the Asba ntee army in the Western Wassaw country has remained stationary at Assamacow. In transmitting a copy of a report of the particulais of the ac. tion of the 21st of January, made to me by Caiain Iitcketts, of the 2d WVest India Regiment, and Brigade-Major to thc Forcer, and second in command on that day, 1 deem it an act or juatice to that offScer to state that the late- ir C. M'Carthy entertained a very. higli opinion of his zeal and mctrits,and that be had it in contemplation -to bring his enrvices to the favourable notice.of his Lordship, and al9e that for the period of two years Captain Ricketts served undr-nme (at the time commanding the 2d West India Regiment) in the capacities of Adjutant and Captai-, Ibavethe pleasure in stating that I had everv reason to be sutisliea with his conduct; my pro_ trActedillnegs havinr incapacitated mne from attending totheptblie duities, the charge ins- great mneasuire tfell upon 1dim as- seecnd In command, of which he aiquittad himself entiretiy to-m iatisfaction. Asihis report is confined-to the operationsof thatditi5ion tf the force under the immediite commarnd of -the lateSir C;harles:-M, .Car_ thy, Ideem it necessaaryto say. a felw ords upon the movementsof theothers, andaalso tostate as far as came tomy knowledge4 the polans and intentionls of -bli Eixcellency- - The rapid: appiroach of tlht enemy h:ving been reported to Sir Clharles MI'Carthy, by-some of the alled chief;, aLbouit Christmnas, (SEA, suppLEMiENT.) peprtsn p.,7tMti,TnJ Se- iatnIedistely male forcon.cn&trating the regular,r tie CapeCoast -nilitbi, and the unodgani part of the-inhabitants cf th: tow:n,tagethetwithiome -few oft tietieighbouringshiefs,-at qualfi, dat' f'roni Cape Cosste aboult 18isiiles. .-.- His ESO lenCVprOCeeded theria perasbi, leaving aitec-foa-few thu Castle , to snke'soae hccessaryarrxafgemefts:prevtOusly to sldpaTur A ferceof nearly two thousand men having been collected-bythe 4t'n of J m2r,a*iverhent te A-rnpefisasoo (ttche hegdlqtiarters of A= niellithe iig of- Wssaw); -oft eit left lbank of. the river 3O:n.pra, 'axis detetmint-d upon, and I was accordingly ordered to 3'in by that dav II The Dnprs5ibilitv of proctitng provisions and shelter- for thie l`n-ol the route rendered- it nece6sary to advance insmial] P-tWiie, whih. drcumstah4c, 'and the impossibilitv of procuring carres far the nrmntunition aoidi prorision%, retarded frt5solne days he departure oS his Excellencv from the amnp. On the 8th oe .'aity, ac&counts vwere received of the entrance of the enemy into w caton WVassaw, and that tlie allied forces were precipitately ret .aIna- brfore tem-: this information decided .the'immediate dc, Is?tieo rtSir CharlLs far their camp, on thebright.bank.of the river, wrih SOds parT oft'heforce as, had not already muarched for Ampen- iO:0, and he directed ne to procecd to assume,the command of the latter place, siiifying itto bebhis intention to send me instructions hmr to t on his uscataining the state of eairj in WVassaw. I hzd daily coinat rications from his Excellency, from the timc ot ixS leaving Djuquah av on tho-9th) untiLthe 16th, but t.he:con- tenrMwerecihiefly comments-upon the advance of his division, and tie fedUnrof our naies toward las in the country passed' through. I reeeliid on the '22d two letters, ore. written at five '. m. on. the 2ls-, the 00hcr the 17th, the formerarriving first at seven o'clock p. n., that of the 1ith about tt-o hours later ; the contents were otst Vressng orders 63r :ne to form an immediate junction. - The letter of- the 17th having been unfortunately intrusted to. a man 11n3eqzifntedwith ithe country, was delayed three days ,ouger on the way than nece , froxi - hich delay,- and the urgeuit na. ar.r 0 bisExceUencyvsgcommands lbojoin, I was inaduced. tofeat ibzz our 4usmqutruentnon_arrival, accordin'g to his reasonable.expecia. t'Jo7s- would reion-plv-demngehiispan3. I wasdetcrmined, there- iS3e, Soprcered by ashorter, but unfrequented and consequently had path; and having to cross the river Boosom-pra, at a distance of sasles from Ampensasoo (on the .23d), in a simple canoe, the :.te day v"s consuitad in wnsssihg, ml, party, and 1. was, therefore, umder the necs-iy of h.ing for the night at a *vllage on tlae'oppo- sire baxiL I here rercived the first . intimation of rn engagement havmng tIk-en place, but contd ascertain nothing of the result. A fer prosecating (on tbe 24th) a march of 21 miles, and havIng, at its trintion, to--cross the ri-ver again, without.a silgle-canoe, or my means for conveyance over, wve were obliged to construct rafts for sach of tha prtv that could not swVi i. and to floatu over the ammu.- liton, &r., in ciasequence of which, from the frail materials usedin mueir cstruction, I am sorry to say a great deal of ammnunitionwas lo- tand damaged. OLn- .snthe river, se heard that Brigade-M1ajor Ricketts was .ymti ' ,anlde in the adjoining village. On seeing atnd ascertain- .ng 'idhirb the disastrous issue of the action of the 21st, and also hat the small phrtv I couxrnanded was totally unable to cope with he enemnv, or aifbrd any assistance to the party of the late Sir rles 3M'Carthy, frorm their complece disperatal and knotwing the leatile feeling entertained -by tfie inhabitants of Elmina towards. tli, ui be'ing Zlso app.rehensive that the Asbantees, flushed with their eent vicrry, writulo advance apon Cape. Coast Castle by. rapit nt-cires, I ifeterrined upan retiring on it. I regret exceedingly to tatc, that Capta-n John l:Estrange, of the Royal African Colonial Z-erps,dia-tn the march, From excessive fatigue, -and that all the-of. jeers G the p-art,and nearly the whole of the men, were laid up on =rrival aCtape Coast, froru the effects of the thtigue and pri- ains andergone by them; and I an sorry to say,of the fornier all,. 'cept e two, coatinue still invalids, and--o:: -the- liter -numbers have Tha most numerous body of our forco was encamped at a place `21d YacoOmassie, in the Fnntee country. It consisted of the rne of that nation, of a few regulars, of the Annamaboe militia, md of some unorganized natives of that town, the whole under the Z=nmaxd of Capt.in Alexander Gordon laiing, of. the Royal:Afri: ills Excellency having issued orders to Captain Laing to ndvance =d meeace the Assin country, with a view of bringing them over D ur causc, he had aeccording7ly proceeded about thirtv miles, vhc3 reporrs readtea hir from the officer in terAporary- command at )spe Cas:t, of the result of the engagement of the 21stof January, I ehs~ of the unfirvourable disposition of the Elminas ; in conse- .- nce of which he nmadc the best of his way to CaPe Coast Castle, vie e I trAr him on my arrival, with a considerabe portion of his A fourth division, under the conimand-of Captain Blesakame, of he Royai Afirn Colonial Corps, was on its vay to Akine, a corm. r bardering on Ashan_ee, for the purrose of inducing the enemy o withdraw a part of their force from lVestarn -tassaw- butan un- avorG. disposition being shiown by the Chiefof the Aquapim nmrtrY the nz:tive chief under Captain Blelkarne's command ex. sed their wishes for his return. Under these circumstanues, he anctcanside it prudent to endeavourto prosecute His Excclleney's- Tsisea, and fel: bark upon Accra. B-ing fully sensible that this communication falls very sho-t of .-hm ht be expected from the importawice of the subjects it et.. s, mnst, ins escase of Its defects, beg leave te say, that it has seen dictted t from a sick bed, and in consequence entertain an est hope that its imperfections may bcoverlooked. As intimatecl in mn letter of tile 23d ultimo, I intrust Captain r"' f ei. the conve-ance of it, and I entertain the most cornfident ops that the extensive information he will be able to afford of tile -resent 7ta e of Kis 3IajCst,y's poesst inn h'-->, btt- _ ruu_ri=t Justincatin formnr sending an oflicer of hl8 zeal, cxpe- lane, axid abilitims rvun rIIis staCion in se critical a period. When dispositions on the part of the Asbantees were made in tugat 3last year for attacking oursettlenments at various points, 1 _eclned it necessary to despatch Captaim Laing into the Fanteec [xinnir, zad requiring at thb time (ther- being no military officer a7able) another officer to take charge of the canmp at I3auah, 1 es induced to accept thepro rered serviecs of Lieutenant King, of xis Mzujesz'ssloop Drirer. wrho, I understood, had frequently -v-ed sihre; and I havc the satisfaction to state tbat fromr the zdive a-d determined movementsa of these two officers, the enemny i rere deterred from proecuting their original intentions and _retircd a Ash,aztee; since which period Captain Laing bas been frequently. n the command oflarge bodies of our allies and discharged his atics alewavs tm the satisfact;on of his Excellepey the late Coln- aa-der ofthe Forcsandsryself, and to.theadvantage of his Ala- i~ csv- sct-va.e. 1 ha-re great satisfaction in acquainting you that our relationswith ,:i~ana and the other Dutch seteletnenis, vhave of late undergone a isot favourable chsnge, which is solely to be attributed to the ar- -.] rlawn dxc Netherlands of anewv Govcrnor,his ExceUencyMajor I i owe it to the gentleman to say that be has evinced a most fious desire totallyto cadicate alhostile feeling which was gene- '--ad awmongst the }D)tch subjeLts on thie coast towards all the in- a-an. os ofr a.settlements. bvtheinfluenceoftheAshantees.and be imbeele conduct of his predecessors. To re-rotve all doubts froin the minds of the natives respctfing -par. he is determined to a2t, he paid me a formal complimentary SLsa on the 14tb inx.t, and has also zealously entered into a nego- ..non with the enemy for the liberation of 151r. *Vlliams" and heTerprisanersin thir hands. H.s ExceUl-mcv Malor de Richediei, Governor.in-Chief of his ,an'ib 1%ajestvs setdeilents on the coast, has shovn liis respect ,d Ahandship lor ou Goverrnmenttiby 2CtiViey taking a part in the a-ar. Ile las sent all the force he could collect to our aid, aind is ,en-ged collectingastrong frcetoproceed through Akina to- a-ieds A,.?ani~e with anvew of diverting the enemy. Tae conmand of this bodv he wvill tide in person. = c-'t say too much in favoarof the disinterested zeal and active I exertiors odGaprain Bov en,tommandiEiut his .1rejesty's sloopDri-ier. lin tbe ronth af May last year. this officer, while under cruising _s in the Bight of Benin, with considerable prospectsrof making -fze-s, received ih?inmation that his blsajestyts ship Bonn, ordered herc bv tihe late Sir-Robert 3fends to- &c-operate wltb the land ser. lcc a suEcred s3 ma:ch from sickness that she was unabJt to ren- x-r = .v effiecroal assistance. He instantly repaired to Cape Goast, ad a;a?d it to be hisintention to remain until things wore amore ple5qsin aspect. Wh.lc at anchor here, observing the siccly state of the officers of t?'r garrison, ie voluntarly landcd a paty of his men, put the:whole rf tie guns in the lest pcssible brder, and personially superintended tie care-rac of the soldicrs at the use of some ship guns worked with I rlso beg leave to bring urder the notice of his Lordship the con- a.c eof.noting Captsin lVoolcombe, late of the Owcn Gkidbtowcr' and ,,- oieoth orn?, -ahose ucaiiity and cordial co-aiperation Iam in. &cz M toink prevented the inhabitants of Elnuira taking-a part in thewar ramnixst as. nis zcal, and that of his officrs andl men, cannot be too highly p a, m sc rischerfulness w;ith whiclh they undervent the at- .d:ant rngues a'f interepting supoplies by day and night forwarded av ,-3m-to the ernemyS, in wvhich labours Lieutenant Scott, ol hiis I:ar$sbri Sxitingtr, shared.- Cape Coast, Feb.26b. S:,_-n coipiiange with your direction; that I should detail, a, ,wm iis;Thly =an, all the particulars that may have occurred ti s of the army which marched froni Djuquab, under tC := fEae cra nand a of his Excellency Sir G M'Carthy, as well u,s rr%ances as nay hzve rallen under niy obeervareon. re- : tre 4fiJe -ctas Mwhich took place on the 21st ultimo, in the la_. ~crur;iry, between the -aid division and an army of ~~atc?es I snae the honour to stg-e6 thit I marchbd fron D3,I=qh it seven o'cleck O the moriieicf tfthe gth, with one corn- zv of *-a Royal Afrtcan Coini:il CL-rps, eightv strong; oneconi- p Ors g ol intcerS, 63 strong;-three conipanies of mr,ilitia, 170 s.. oce of 318; besides 200 Commendas, 200 -of ' o.5 es ,d-1t co"pan ot natives of Cape Coast, about *10 Zg ,mjLknv a total of 440, which were ordered to followus; s.~, eri} Wh ps which tuarchetiunder myomninand, made a Ea,.soo, a ; fltge distact about 17 miles fronm our camp at tns 7sfseplace at wlhich we were directed to halt. Him t ii~cv nei1xavir-, -arched oni by Iiimself, we overtook him about :3if u-nv; the rued.. oTrather tract, was exce3sively bad, ificonse- -- u;h:lC, ,c did- not arrve till a iate hour m the evening at ;t.n:sno, oa;ch fatigued. 1 e retnitned nt l3ansoo the whole of the next day, the 10th, *.,n frr Lhe Datiaiv force to join which they did not do until Tale n *>-2; Tne nest rceningj the ltli, hs EBxcellency mnarclhetl Bu-i-.~ -,t' combined force of regulars and militia, and desired. r waU remai: till every thing was sent fortvard. This IHfound foc gr=nst dicrultv in accomPlishiig. ns I could not gct carriers, the I ,a u-o had rought the things fron- Djoqual 17ahiog rpn away. > csrbcrdOee o>zblged t- send a party of the rear-guard to press c7t:y =crsen they eold find, women as. wl s nsMent andat'er a -~'~deab!e dshy, we succeeded in getting a suhicient number of ,ril pceede ; b7at a numnber ef thetn, -a they.found op findg thear loads into the w6ods and ran off WVe arrived. fla - a o the banks of the B10osom.pra. called Im1n, late in ~ creg sr that$ daf, 'avX ing inarched, la miles, where we re- riail till s o'deck the next miorning,the 12t5 when .w6xnarched 5 3 ; 2JL a ,c? about 17 miles lowrer dowvn on the banks of the ~e ndsnin.^COItlou ffiCew June 17.-It has been ascertained t::S3 tb et7AtiO of Er, 'W ulliat hasbeen effectedi - - ~~osoisipra, hami( ~ whih, from- the exteel a state, ot the sath,Z4 ij,4reiquinrlj.bliged-to -pass swaimps which toik \ss suclsbgc hiNrltn,'aV!ove o rikees; we>OAid nlot uartve ut till 'er~ lateiat t'i y9eYtly Oersor, txcessivily fktigaed~;- the na- tii~e force a. thiis time-ze ~p-a;eonssdlerable'dsstatcein,-our rear. About 7 o click bjli-llrnn of tb~ 13tfl,*eornirenced1crois-w ing.the river~. ~oo i-.pra about 20yr il" n-mlcne .(0ight.in nsuxa~e;Q), whiciWP, co6ld only. darrY tidomn it a tiMei be;. 'ides the p 6u vho, jaddled.; acgs oa Ids %hp c6mpa'n-of -regulat-si uner the co iiand of"Enskil E~~skine, &rdased the-'rsyer, his :Ex.. Ieleny,ss oadne of t e' jfiet thiat brad posed'oveir; -roceeded -with th% oWthei n-tch, id~Wards'Assameow,i in the WVassawv cosn- try, di't Mhu20 mils from the-~river -.Topcve-,i'e'scnip'tionDof thisy,gad.ifbekind my:ability- ~uffi66 it to say, thart ii n myopinibq I thifn-Vimpossible tha~t thete catn beg any tning wors'e in the shave oApafi;we had fo cross- nu~ier ius smaklijiveri, so of, htrhiei fr birextee&ph s *l a-th& 'numerts' sowlamnpy places ealdto reaich a.salvig cile GiAh,7 that nighL. -where, we' slept. Tue next tiioriningi, the 1.4tht, hi:- Excel~ lency proceeded. in advance withi tbe~ com4anv of the ~Royal Africats Colonial Corps. and desired I vwdssd bririj up thLe rear;, we did not find tdis path so bad aif wivas expeeted, -and wve arrivedi at: Assamacow,at about hialf-past two in the! iflernoon; wbefe we halted and remained five tlavs" waiting.forthe native fo*ce to conie up we four,d Mlr. Briandon, the .Ac~ Ordniance'Storekreeeer (Cape Ca),atthis place, whecre heai arived sevrldasbfoect amuition, &c.. haviog corne,in~ the Colonial schooiner, -to Soiccon. dlee,.ten hours miarchi, cci Assaiutacosv, which was truly wblcorri now to us,.as -our mnen (thi egnaszrdnlta bail only twenity rocinds l~ach riiafi, a great Ieazlof- whlicb, from the badness ;f the'paths,the ciossing-of rivers' und the rain *hidci fill'o rr.ourr-sarcb, wds dai. rnageti, and whlich WS -iirtlmediat6l( Teplaceti ~ at- th1is lplae We fon rovisions veryt scarce.-Drigor i, at Assamacow,- w;, were ji forme that 'h.-W~saws astd flinkaras w-er& retredtiftg he-fore the Ashaatees-, adfd were ioi distress for proyisibn~., 'Sir Charles, th'erefort, immediately on the arrival of part of our nat-ve .force, despatched. Mr, Tasker Williams, the Coloaial Set~etary'ad. Adjutant-General of Mlilitia, with 12 volunteers,toassure the as. sa~,;s anid..Dinkeras that hie. would, in a day or twvo, march foriward- with the force tunder his~ousnihnd 'to-joir. them, and thai he e3xpect_- ed thi division of the a-my undler MAljor -Chisholm, and( niunferous parties of native-s, wouldisoon foria a Juncte6io *ith us, aind thin -wex should have suffiibritn force to meet thre Ashiantepos but 111r. WiV~ liams found tbemi retreating,'and it was -with -the greatest difficulty be persuaded themn (they, having trdss6d itle-hmalljiver Adoenman- son1) to halt on its bank, anid niake some-~preparation for defence till Sir Charles shoutld joini with his force-: - this was on the RQtht, on theomoring of' whiich I arrived-with'-the ,c6nmpany of the Uoyal African Colonial Corps; thie company of volunteers, and-the three comnpanies of niliitia, alivady alluded-to, having, by direction of His -Excellencv, niarched lrornAssamarcowor-thel19th. On mywavtothe- -Wassavs'and flinkeras, I inet- is very great numuber of women and nhildren, and, sor aui I to say, men: I asked the men vhj thiey where goin, ? t~helytold we they were going to look for provi. s~ion,0 ad oud-o return ; on my arrival on the bordeis of t-he - frsi iver Adoomanso, on thernorning of the-2bt, haviiglbeen. from -the extrerne bad -araj of the path-, the mutd in some places - reaching to die middIleofour bodlies, obliged to sleep one nizlitin tliet bush fromn Assamacowv o this river, I shiould suppose, is diatant, about 24 mles. - -Shortly after my arrivali with the t1aops, Mr. Williamns, Adju.tanst- -.General of militia; informed nie that,he could not get- any of the 'peopl toctebush fur the camp. I accordingly wvent to the chites' of tts1eW1VOCsasawse -and Dinkeras, and told tlhe-D the flecessity there was for the bush aboitt the plate, initended for a camp, t.o be cleared, a%nd whichi oughit to be done immediately .they prmised to sen'd people over to the opposite bank of the river, - 4where we expected- the Ashiantees to attac k us9, and to haive -all the wood cleared ininic- dliately; s,hortly after this the Wassaws mustered. thetir force, ehid were inoviagoft' with every thing theyhadi. liniquired where theywerec -going,? Theyv iaid th7y - were going to- clear the wood on the~ othier side of ibe river. I topped where they 1usd to cross over, for a considerable time, to see if tbev really inItended to go over;. but at last I -could plainly see their-intention wias to retreat; - I -therefore -put a strong guard&of mnilitia to prevent their doing~ so till Sir Charles should st-rive. I then sent for-the chiefs or e4nen, enid. askced them what they- intended to do, whether. they listended to fight or not?P They said. they intended to fight. - At this mo nient an alarm was given that the Ashantees were advancing, and ev-ery one went to his station, where we temainoed for about five hours, exposed to a most tremendous showe-rof raini; it being by this time nearly darkc, anOt as it is a-rule.with the Ashanteces never to fight at night, we called in the troops, leaving sentries where necessary ; immtedi-. ately on tie alarm being given, I desratched a muessenger to his Ex- cellency to request lie would send all'the assistance he could ; at thiis time it wvas supoosed .his Excellency, was at a croo'm withi two huts, about four or fire miles from us. Both officers and i6nc slept thits night Without any covering, as there wasi not timie to eiect butt, and the men were-much fatiqiued -next marning. the 21st, hisExcel.- cellency arrived with about 200 ol? Appia's people and 40 of the na- tives, of Cape Coast; the Comnmendas havinig halted on thie way: I atcquainted hini with the mnn-ner the W'lVssaws had behaved. After he had taken a little rest, he o3emi for the chiiefs of the WVassaws and- Dinkeras, but before he had got half through the palaver the alarma was given and every persen repaired Ito -hi Oration. hlis Excel,. lency then went round with me to-see how the mren wett posted.- About two o'cdoc the Ashantees, ten thousand in numnber, marched up to the opirosite bank of the river, when the action com- mencc-d on both'sides, with dletermined -vigbur on both sidles, and'- las ed till nearly ha lf-past foulr o'dclc rwa1,j qe_ou o'clockthat the feU& Tjrfma -aing been previouslv issued-tbo ~j~~n whcW [mmediately-went to the Ordniance S(orelicepjer.' ~ Brandn, whl ad . received his Excellency's positive ord(er' alwas t hav foty ounyds for.--each mnan, p acked up in kegr -and whih ws away toaccoxnpany him~. but he acquainted mecimthe- only had with,lsir-one:5Malkeg of-ballandofimeof powdar,.which was imediatey-issud to te men, betwich,tit ayhe supod, nlidnotlastver -lng. he nemypereivng that our fire -haod be-- tom slckr, tteptd t crsstherivr,and succeeded ; they hed freuenly ttepte th sae tingbefre,but were repulsed with eren slaghte; thy atthe ame ime-enta very, considlerable sficceeded in doing4, f rom- their superior numes tewOle nowbe. came one scenieof-toifus-ion, the enemy liaving inter-mixed wit!)s lh my retreat 1 observed lils Bxcellency a cernsideraible distance be- fore me : soon after whiclh someguns were fired from the direction in wvhich he was going, and there was a genieral ruish back of the peo- ple who wvere following him, but aftet Whicil I saw no miore of his Excellencvy; thei- people -took different directionis, and a number of the wodoided mien followed me into the thickest parts of thec Woods, through whichi, with the assistance of a WVassawmnan, who undertook tot a rewvard to guide us, we travelled the whole of that nighit and hialf thie next day, freqluently going a considerable distan,ce through stream of- water, fbr -the purpose of hiding our. track. - When w,e3got- into the wooGd leading -to Assamacow,.and proceeded about five miiles, a party of the enemy was repoirted so be before us; we therefore retreatedland got into another path leading to the same place, but we hadnot proceeded above thrTee mites, wlhei we hadi again- to retreat, as a party of, the enemy was just before us. Just about sunset I for-tunatelIy felI -in with a. party of 11Vassaws, who were in search of thieir wivse ana,children, whom the Ashan- tees had taken ; they; saidl they were going towards the Buosom-pra, and nhiat they -would conduct mne o ver to it. Wre,. liowever, slept in,- the wyoods, and- about thiree o'clock in. the 6morning we commuenced' dur march. We.observed a -numnber - of infatnts lk-ing in -fthe busi' gasping for breatth, the Ashantees. baying taken their motbexs to curry thieir plunder, and.obligedi them to throw their childreni away we, oweer,recvere a unipr- lite womren. and kiled about tweny ofthe nem. lufortn-.ielylosW my itoes in the miud oii the.22d an ha-to trael he hol ofthe 23d wvithout shoes, a dis_. tane f aou 30mies.-Jsha sy nthng f hehardships I un- found use on the 24th. ~ ~ ~ t i w Ili oi -Before I closetihis, I conesive it my dtitty to state, that the cofitluct of shje comipany of the Roy-al Africain Coloniial Corps,the voluniteers, ant inilltia, wis highly creditable : in short-, they behaved bravely. It was renotted.,that Quasbie Yaceoom'a people (the Wa&sawsj left the field 6nrly in the action.- - -Annexed is. a:return-of our loss in killed, wounded, and- -missing. Thea enemy's loss mnust hiave been' very gre'at, asi one of our balls, -from their crowded- state. niust have killed and w~ounded two or threecat a rine. The forc' we had-enigaged .(Lclutlinig thle Diahe- ras aindW~assawsq) did not amotuntto two thousand. The Commen - dnas were not ins the action. I havel. &c. (Sigpied) H-. J. RICK VTT ,- Captain and Major of Brigade. Mlajor james Cilasholm, R. A. Col. Corps O)omt. Cape Coatst Castle. Return of the Killed, Wounded, aind 11iasingof thieReguLar and M4i- litia Force in the ac~tion with theAshantEes, on the 21st of 'janu- ary, 18924, in the WVest Wassaw country. - KILLED. 01/i cer.n-Captairi Ileddle, Roa-il Cane CoGast Mlilitia. AMen.-Number not ascertaines{ (siee returr, of missing.) IVOUNDED. I O~ers.CapainRicett, 2 Wet- India Regiment, Brigade Mnsiorto he-Foces slghly.EnsgnErskine, Royal Africani Co- O~fficers.-i3 -Excellency Brigadier-General Sir C. Ml'Cartly, Conmmanderlof the Forces; Ensigni Wetherill, 2d W'est India Jte- ginient; Dr, Beresford Tcdlie, surgeon 2d West Indlia Regiment ; T.S. Buckle, Esq. Colohiial Engineer, and Colonial Aidle-dc-Camip to his E~xcellency ; Captain Jones, Royal Cape Coast._Militia ;-Captain Iado t oyal Cape Coast Mlilitia; Captdin.lRobd2lson, Roviti Vo- lunteer- Company; Mr. bllrantdon, Adtling Ordnance Storekeepe'r..-. (Suppose&Lto hiave been killed.)- A5fem,-2d. West India. Regiment,.ordlerly .to the Brigade Major, 1;Royal Afri4an _ooia ops, 41j Royal Cape C6ast Militia,- 81;- Royal Voluinteer comnpaniy, 54 Total, 77:-(Stippised to haive been -killed or lost in-the woods.)- ---- Tlhomas Aldritt, Bradley, Staffordshire, snai,ufacturer of earthen. vare, July 12, 13, August 3. at the Talbot Arms ann, Rugeleys solicitors, Messrs. WJIlls, Watsois, Bowver, and Wlilis, Tokeniounsc- $-ar-d. William Bowver Penn, Datehet, Buckinghamwshire bloocseiler, June 26. Julst 10. August 3. at the Bankrupts' CQurt, Basiugball-street: so- licitor, bTr; Yewvd, NOWr North-street, Red Llon-squate. - - - GeOrge Hall, Lothbury, hat-manufHictuters June 26, July 3, August 3, at the Banlrup' Court. Iaslnghsll-street. solicitors, Messrs. Bor. ,radaliesnd Ashmore, lCing-stttet, Cheapsilde. EbenezerBirks, Sheriela,-grocer. Jtili2,-3,-August3, at theTon. tine Inn, SheBield n-iiollcitor. Mr. Rodgers, Canterbury-square. - - Heury Vliliinss- Hicks, ConnavilhtNMews, Edgivare-road,- horse- dealer,Junie 26,- JulylO, August 3, at the bankruprs' Courr, Basing- -hall-street: solicitor, Mr. Brill, L'ncolnkm-In-hields. - -- - - - DIVIDEtnDS. - July15. S.- Fereday, 2ttingslil-park. Staff0tdsbire, Ironimaster.- July 16, T: Standen, Lhncaster, slater.-July 20o. itL Corstt arid n. Lee, Seulcoates, Yorkesire. icrrchants.-juty 10, J. 8aket-, Bati, tallor.-July 13, J.. Willis, Finsbury-square.,'-nerebant.-July 13, IV. Gooch. Harliw, Ossex, wine merehant.-July 16, W. Prosier,- Bir- mingham; butider.-Julyl9,G>.Bailev Poekilngton, Yorkshire. spirit. merchant-Jul 14, -D. Sanders, _. Sasord. law.-st4tsioner.--uly 16, R. Croai, BrIdlington. Yorkshire, bhvrnist.-July 14, P. Qutrk, Liver. nool, cnrs-merelant.--July 17, J. W. Hone, Brixton, drape.-4uly 17, R. lllt r. Patern os ter-row, booksette r..-Jul- 13, B. HT, Payne, Stroud, lKent, brewer.-JuiY 13, Sir O.Harria Chatbam-placei merehant. duyi, Mn.3ereth Brit.ot.qu4rjlmimholder..-Ju1P a3, Iu Herbert,fLon w m n._ Y- -1} - ; - ddley, Sparrow-ecorner, linpric45 'ch.erneongr il 7 J iunot ratP tlrd,re, iEti SCtERTrlieC^n-wobb gtnited. untess cause bc siown to the otsr -. - , i 7,,'' on.or betbre July13. 1 ...-- _ . ;- -XV Dixon, iort.smouth, taUoro.-eC^.arsi,Bet9t, f3goKlw m news lr%One. street bor !dedehrS' J. IilaW,- Netv: Kent ruda,t grocer-.1 Lee-md- P. -I.Mkcc, Liverpool, liqOuor-mtercbtaot.-tw ht;o,2I,tlh Heehclhatreet tbnber. r oerschdnot,' . .T. Renrtr9yn, ltyrI Plneie.pprmaus. Strand, merchhnt.- ' o From tae LONVDON G4ZEPTTE, Tuesday. Ju1te 221 DOWNING-STREET. JUNE 16.