Year: 1874

for their guns only fre point blank at 40 yards anu


the slues, although they may wound Will not pche-


trate deeply at over fifty. Consequently, si'ho"sn
| from the way in which they fire high' tne ram Vi
slugs which few over OF fell into the town was tre


mendous very few of the garrison had been nit ana


the only man seriously injured was saior VINO Was
| struck in the eye by spent slug.


In the mean time the enemy had suffered heavily


The heavy balls of the British rifles had searched the


whole bush and the green foliage, from behind which


the Asbantees had fred had proved but poor pro-


lection against such missiles as these whenever


three or four fellows braver than the rest had ad-


vanced beyond the edge of the bush calling upon


the others to follow them, they shot down In
| minute after they had ventured out by storm OF
| bullets while occasionally round OF grape was


fred from the little gun on the top OF the church;


or rocket went whizSiDg ont into the bush, dong,


as we learned from prisoners immense damage.
| Once or twice when the Ashantees crept up behind
| the edge OF rounded slope commanding one
! side Of the village the West Indians charged them
| boldly and drove them headlong into the bush.


Such had been the state of things before our arrivals
and it evident, by the sachening OF their fire.
| that thev knew that re6nforcements had arrived.
During the night everything was quiet and the next
morning nearly 1000 of native allies from this
town. the greatest towards probably who ever drew
breath also entered the camp. During the morning
there was a slight exchange of fire with some of the
enemy who had again crept mp the slope; but at
noon the West Indians were advanced and held this
position.


The Cape Coast men were ordered at O'clock to
advance into the bush to feel the enemy. III was
well known .that they would not fight but it was


hoped that the Ashantees would attack them in
force and would. IN the ardor of pursuit, follow


them into the open space, and so be exposed to the
fire of the white troops who lay under shelter IN


readiness to give them warm reception. The Cape
Coast men, however, were even more cowardly
than we had imagined for they absolutely refused
| TO enter the bush. The Kossos, hundred strong,


were therefore sent to drive them in These Kossos
are a singular tribe who live north of Sierra Leone.


They refuse to carry firearms preferrng trust to the
sword They great night surprises. At once the
Kossos went to their work, and with shouta aided


by whacks with the flats of their swords they drove
the Cape Coast inside the bush. Once inside,
the shouting tremendous, the Kossos trying to
drive the FaDtees forward, the latter refusing to
bulge an inch, although their drums beat and bu-
gles sounded with immense energy. At the end of
couple of hours they were still within 500 yards Of
the place from which they had started and
attack had been made npon them it became proba


ble that the Ashantees had fallen back


Capt Bronhead of the Gath Regiment ordered.
therefore, to take some of King Abras men and TO
endeavor to push forward into the camp of the
enemy. Tins be did at rum and upon entering he
was fired at by five SIX Asbantees who alone re-
manned and who after firing at took to flight.
News being sent back to the General, the Houssas
under Bieut Gordon started for the Ashantee VII
lage, mile beyond their camp. This was
found similarly deserted, and Lieut. Gordon
pushed on for another halt mile. 1t
UIou
at from the bush he retired to the village The
place itself and the whole road testified the fact
of sudden and intense panic. Furniture, clothing
and arms were everywhere stIewn about
Cooking pots were still simmering the fires,


and although no doubt the bulk Of the army had


marched early, great many had renamed behind,


believing themselves safe until scared by the wild
| shouting III the busb made by the Fantees and
| Kossos. A good many of the Fantee slaves made
| their escape IN the confusion and were brought in


some were handcufcd, Others manacled to logs, and
all were in state of semi starvation. Among them
were several women.


The next morning the native levies the Cape Coast
men, the Kossos the Houssas and the King of
Abra's men, started IN pursuit, some on the
direct line of retreat others to head off the enemy,
twenty miles distant. The Governor, with the
greater portion of the white troops, marched down
again to the coast where the sailors and marines
were at once embarked Twenty-four hours after


ward we learned that the native allies had come up


with the enernv's rear and had after skirmish of
IN hour fallen back. Many of them behaved ex-
ceedngly bad, and many continued their retreat


until they reached this place. Since that time
the police have been busy hunting up these fug-
tives. Their arms seized, and they themselves
are marched under escort to be put to work
upon the roads. The women of this town are much
afflicted at the cowardice of their men, and the


wives of some Of their principal men have, for the
last two days been going about the town calling


upon the women to show that they appreciate cf-


forts which the white men are making TO defend them


from the Ashantees by coming forward and offering


TO carry loads mp into the interior. " The men," they


said have dsgraced themselves; let us do our best
| to wipe out the disgrace they have brought upon


our town" These appeals were responded to by


two or three hundred women, and it is hoped that


many more will present themselves, for they are


much more trustworthy than the men; and az there


must be some thousands here they coald if they
| came forward earnestly and heartily, do q great


deal to relieve the British army Of its difficulties in
| the way of transport. The women work well to-
| gether; they come in as they start in compact
| body, while the men, upon tho other hand straggle


in anyhow. and not few stop Mt the roadside


stations pretend Illness and declare that il is quite


impossible that they can carry their loads any
I further.


The transport question is an all important one for
| the British army. Up to the Prah ii is intended
| that road wide enough for four men to march


abreast with comfort shall he made. Hus are TO be


erected at each camping ground capable of contain


ing 400 men, that the troops march up In par


ties of that strength day after day and find shelter
| at each hating place. Beyond the Prah which is