The Ashantees.
The Times, 1824-08-19T00:00:00

Extract of a letter receivcd froiinthe Gold Coast, giving some de. tails of the action with the Ashantecs on the 21st of ay last:- " At break of day (2 1st of M1av) we were all on our legs- armed rap-a-pie, at the martial (though not most inviting) air of Turn cout the whole.' About 11 o'clock we marched with 4,500 men (which, as nearly as I could calculate, was the number of our whole force) to ettgage the Ashantees. Thie attack commienced now with tremen- dous volleys froin right to left. Our troops in tIe centre gave way in thie first onset of the battle, but they soon advanced again, andstood their ground like lionms. Lieutenant -, with every eftective man of the 2d WYest lndiai Regitnent, was placed as a reserve4 immedi- ately in the rear of the parties engaged, and ucross the main path this posthe and his men maintained witi great firitinessthe wboleday. " Here we came regularly into action under every possible local disadvantage. The Asbantees occupied a higli, thickly wooded steep hill, and we wvere in a clearel tarm directly undler themii. On the roal to the Pa Demba Farm, the plain of rock which looks IIke a meadow on the ridht hand, will give you soime idea of the ficid of battle ait Fetue. Captini -, of the Militia, was s.verely wound- etl iit both arms in the comomencemnent of time aflair, anti every ten minuites after this, there was somebrsly going to the rear with a broken head or leg. We fought until our amrimunmition was expend- ed, and the sun threatened to leave us in tite dtrk. Upon the whole, we rather gained giounti on thetavages; adtt fronm subsequent accounts, it appears that thev oever before got buch a regular thrashintg in, a 'bush fight.' This they acknowledge tiemselves; for we have had some of them taken alivc, and received sotie men who deserted fr-In their cainp, that were taken by them in Sir Charlis's action. Our bullets did great execution amongst them, I assure voni. " In consequence of the circunstat,ce before nmentioned, respecting ammunition, &c., we could not follow up. our success; tor, in additioni to those reasons, we afterwards fousd out that no less than 2,000 of our towardly allies scampered off during thie tight, and left 2,500 men to maintain the unequal cointest ! There was bit one alternative, and thc Alajor gave orders to retire to the camp at !anrdm&nhi11 -iI K'Ns1 tkXWa I MaG %vM to 'At"tZ)e .o you *zn iPAnruan Utiel ox battle. Severed heads staring you in different directions; son,e brought to the commanders as trophies by the men who did the deed; hallooing and shoutting on both sides whem firing at one an- other- the shrill notes of the native horrs; the warriors ahnost nalcki, creeping ftron one atmbu sh to another to have a shot at the enemny, &c. giYC a curious and aw:ful effect to the conflict. i Every day's account tallies with the preceding Us to our hiaving. given them nuchl the worst of it. The numubers of their killed atnd wounded are, I ans told, vefy great. So much for the battle of Fetue. I am quite gratified at having witnessed the thrashing they got, and still more so at haLving lent a hand in it mnyself; Captain - lef thie, two days age fbr Accra, to try to bring op forces fromn that place, in oider that we may be enabled to attack the Ashantees agaitn. Wln. ther he will succeed or not, Hfeaven cnows; or whether the natives here can be rallied oni again to glory, is equally doubtful; but I will keep my letter open tili the last, and give a'l the news afloat." TIlE ASIIANTEPS.