War Office, Pall Mall 15th July, 1873.

MR. SECRETARY CARDWELL has received a Despatch and its Enclosures, of which the following are copies,
addressed to him by Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Festing, of the Royal Marine Artillery :—

    SIR, I have the honour to report that on the arrival of Her Majesty's ship " Barracouta," with a force of 5 Officers and 104 men of the Royal Marine Artillery and Royal Marine Light Infantry, under my command, it was urgently considered necessary in the threatened state of affairs on the coast that this force should be immediately landed. The disembarkation, therefore, took place on the morning of Monday, the 9th instant, with every success, although from the violent state of the surf the greatest caution had to be exercised.
     2. Upon my arrival at Cape Coast Castle, being Senior Military Officer on the Station, the command of the troops fell into my hands accordingly from the 9th instant.
    3 From what I had learnt on the passage out, through the kindness of Lord Kimberley, concerning the state of affairs on this coast, and after communicating on the subject with His Excellency Colonel Harley, C.B., Administrator-in-Chief, in concert with Captain Fremantle, the Senior Naval Officer, the conclusion arrived at was that Elmina should be the base of operations, as it was, without doubt, assailed by the Ashantees.
    4. Accordingly, on the 10th instant, we came to this place. I may here remark that the disturbed state of affairs was so great that it was then considered quite doubtful whether the road between Cape Coast Castle and Elmina was open.
    5. On our arrival, from information received, and which had been previously reported upon, we found that the inhabitants of the King's quarter
of the town of Elmina (which is separated from the loyal portion by a river) were disaffected, and had acted treacherously towards us, by affording support to the Ashantees during their invasion, by supplying them with stores of various kinds. After having gone some little distance into the country to reconnoitre, we returned to Cape Coast Castle for the purpose of deliberating with the Administrator upon the advisability of disarming the inhabitants of the disloyal quarter of the town.
    6. On the 12th instant His Excellency held a Legislative Council upon the subject, at which both Captain Fremantle and I were present. After due consultation it was unanimously decided that martial law should be proclaimed in the town of Elmina and surrounding districts entered by the
Ashantees.
    7. Upon this I left Cape Coast Castle, accompanied by a small force, by road at midnight with the document for proclamation of martial law.
    8. Captain Fremantle and I had arranged our plans, which were to surround the disaffected quarter at daylight, and after putting the place under martial law, summon the people to deliver up their arms at the north gate of the Castle.
    9. I arrived in the Castle before daylight, having had much less difficulty in crossing the Sweet River, which cuts the road between Cape Coast
and Elmina (a distance of about eight miles) two miles from the latter place, than I had on my return journey from this place, when the depth of
the water at the ford was so great that our party had to wade and swim.
    10. At 5.30 on the morning of Friday, the 13th instant, the disaffected quarter was surrounded on the-river side by boats from Her Majesty's
ships, and on the land by a force of Houssas.
    11. Martial law was proclaimed, and orders were issued to take all arms, but otherwise to molest no one, and to fire only on being attacked.
    12. About 6 am Captain Fremantle joined me in the Castle, and from that place we conducted the proceedings.
    13. We issued proclamations to the people, and held two discussions at different times with the chiefs and head people, who came to meet us, and who evidently wished to do all in their power to persuade us to postpone our intentions by various modes of deception.
    14. Before long we brought the matter to a crisis, by giving the people one hour to attend to our commands, or to have their town destroyed. This concession was attended by no more favourable results than before. Wishing to leave no stone unturned to invite them, if possible, to listen, to reason, to become loyal and obedient people, we again deferred another half-hour, at the end of which time (about noon), no arms from that
quarter having arrived, we opened fire with artillery all round the disaffected quarter, for the purpose of destroying the town. The town being in flames in several places, we discontinued our bombardment in about a quarter of an hour.
   15. About this time movements of armed men were discerned at various parts of the surrounding hills, and a report came from Fort Saint Jago (a fine elevated fortress commanding the approaches to the north of the town), that a body of Ashantees were advancing to the support of their Elmina friends. Some skirmishing in the bush and plain at the back of the town was now going on, the enemy having been the first to fire. Ascertaining personally the truth of this report, I at once determined to take the field with all the available forces at hand, after providing for the safety of the Castle and other outposts.
     16. From the moment we took the field, and any of his own men were landed, Captain Fremantle, R.N., without any hesitation, most unreservedly placed them under my orders, at the same time coming himself and adding his valuable services ; this step put matters on a good footing and allowed of no divided directions.
   17. We advanced along the beach to the back of the town, and when clear of a cactus grove and some rough hillocks of thick bush, through which dense cover numbers of armed Elminas had eluded our line of sentries, which had been augmented with all the means in our power, to a spot which afforded space to deploy ; we formed line in rear of the skirmishers and advanced in extended order to their support, continually advancing and firing till we drove the combined enemy into the utmost confusion, disorder, and rout, leaving some twenty dead behind them.
    18. The enemy on this occasion at first kept up a well supported fire and held their ground, and at one time even threatened our flank, but having observed this movement, it was met by a corresponding change of front and advance, which concluded the effect already described. This took place near a village called Amquarida. A flag was captured by two men at the same moment, a Marine Artilleryman and a Houssa, which, to
appease them, was divided equally, each man being satisfied with half.
    19. The enemy having totally disappeared, we collected the forces and returned to the Castle.
    20. Soon after the men had been broken off to take a little rest after their many hours of constant employment, another report came from St. Jago Fort, that the Ashantees were advancing from a northerly direction upon the loyal quarter of the town. Having personally satisfied myself of the truth of the report, and that the Ashantees were in great force close to the garden outpost, the general assembly was sounded, and the available forces marched up to the outposts, after providing for the defence of the bridge, which is the regular approach to the Castle. From Java Hill everything could be kept in hand, and I was enabled to watch matters and collect forces under cover while the enemy was unconsciously advancing close by
    21. Most of the boats of the squadron had returned to their ships, but those of the "Barracouda" remained. The men from these boats were immediately landed under Lieutenant Wells, R.N., and placed at my disposal. .Mr. Loggie, Acting Inspector-General of Police with the Houssas, a very dashing body of irregular infantry, armed with the Snider rifle, was then-directed to advance, supported by Lieutenant Quill, R.M., with a force of Royal Marine Artillery and Royal Marine Light Infantry, and-some of the 2nd West India Regiment. They engaged the enemy very determinedly, but their number was small as compared  with the Ashantees, whose force was estimated at between two and three thousand.
    22. At this moment the Ashantees were holding their ground with the main body, which was assembling en-masse (the two steel 7-pounder guns ordered for us, but which had not arrived from England, would have now done great service). They tried with great dash to turn our right flank, but at this opportune moment Lieutenant Wells, R.N., with his small-arm men met them, at the right spot, checked them, and thwarted their intention. Those who had attempted this feat now fell back in haste. Seeing that our flank was secure, and that the enemy had staggered from the rapid fire pouring in from the Snider on all sides, I directed the advance of the whole line, which drove the enemy back with great loss. They continued their retreat in an orderlike manner, keeping up a hot fire, and showed a remarkably steady front from time to time, although their ranks were being continually thinned. Our advance continued to the edge of the thick bush, at a distance of about three miles from the town. Here the Ashantees made one more stand, as a final attempt, but it was of no use, they were mown down. After a short time they gave up and rushed away in full retreat, confusion, and precipitation, leaving about 200 dead on the field; amongst whom were four out of their six Chiefs, the nephew of the King of Ashantee (the General in command) being one.
    23. As it was becoming dusk and I wished to preserve intact, if possible, every individual of this little force, I here sounded the halt and returned to the Castle.
    24. This engagement took place near a village called Achimum.
    25. I beg leave to express my best thanks to Captain Fremantle and to his officers and men for the great assistance they have rendered in these
engagements, and may I venture to add my admiration of the personal gallantry displayed by him when cheering on his men within pistol shot of
the enemy.
    26, 27. I have already reported the services of Surgeon-Major Rowe and Mr. Loggie, of the Police, to His Excellency Colonel Harley, C.B.,(being Colonial officers) ; but I must repeat that, as a first-rate leader of that stern body of men, the Houssas, it would be impossible to excel Mr. Loggie in courage and dash.
    28. Lieutenant Allen, Royal Marine Artillery, had general charge of the artillery of the Castle, and deserves much credit for the manner in which he prepared the batteries with the very poor means at his disposal.
    29. Lieutenant Quill, Royal Marine Light Infantry, skirmished his men with -great alacrity, and merits much praise.
    30. Surgeon-Major Rowe, who acted in more capacities than those of his own profession, rendered valuable assistance on all occasions.
    31. Surgeon McDermott, R.N., was most indefatigable in giving help to those in need.
    32. Lieutenant Bourke, R.N., had command of the Naval Brigade, at the first engagement, which rendered excellent service.
    33. Lieutenant Wells, R.N., who was out on both Occasions, particularly distinguished himself by the spirited manner in which  he 'brought, up his men to the support of our right flank in the second engagement.
    34. The Services of Captain Turton, 2nd West India Regiment, were unfortunately lost to us, he having been down with fever.
    35. A flag, a Chief's stick, and  many arms fell into our hands at the last engagement. The arms are old flint-lock muskets - one of them which is in my room is marked 'London' and has the Tower Proof upon it. There is also a girdle containing two knives from Sheffield.
    36. An Ashantee deserter, a very intelligent young man, informs us that the men we attacked were considerably more than three thousand.
    37. In conclusion, may I venture to hope that, as hitherto we have preserved the loyal portion of the town, destroyed the treacherous quarter, and given a lesson to the Ashantees which they cannot easily forget, we have so far demonstrated the advantages there are in British protection, and the responsibility incurred by those who are faithless and inimical, in such a manner as to merit your valuable approbation, as well as that of
His Excellency Colonel Harley, C.B., Administrator in Chief of the Government on this Coast, which we have received, and from whom we have
had every assistance.

LIST of Killed and Wounded.

 FIRST ENGAGEMENT.

Private Charles Louie, 2nd West India Regiment, killed.
Ordinary Seaman J. D. Jennings, severely wounded.
Private H. Pethers, Royal Marine Light Infantry, slightly wounded.
Private David A. Eccleston, 2nd West India Regiment, slightly wounded.

Forces engaged :—
From Garrison — 7 Officers and 310 men.
From Boats — 20 Officers and 180 men.
Total Present— 27 Officers and 490 men.
Total killed in this engagement, 1 man.
Total wounded in this engagement, 3 men.
Total of the enemy killed, about 20.

SECOND ENGAGEMENT.
Private W. Gouge, Royal Marine Light Infantry, killed.
Acting Inspector- General of Police J. C. Loggie, severely and slightly wounded.
Private Mouhan Baddhi, Houssas, severely wounded.
Colour-Serjeant Masters, Royal Marine Light Infantry, slightly wounded.
Private Mahomet Kennine, Houssas, slightly wounded.

Forces engaged :—
From Garrison— 7 Officers and 256 men.
From Boats — 8 Officers and 62 men.
Total Present— . 15 Officers and 318 men.
Total killed in this engagement, 1 man.
Total wounded in this engagement, 1 officer and 3 men.
Total of the enemy killed, about 200.

F. W. FESTING,
Lt.-Colonel, R.M. Artillery, Commanding Forces, West Coast of Africa.
Forces Engaged :—
Royal Naval Brigade.
Royal Marine Artillery.
Royal Marine Light Infantry.
2nd West India Regiment.
Houssas.
Volunteers (in second engagement only).
King of Aguafoo and men (in first engagement only).