War Office, March 16, 1874.
THE Secretary of State for War has received  Despatches and Enclosures, of which the
following are copies, from Major-General Sir Garnet Joseph Wolseley, K.C.M.G., C.B., Commanding
the Troops on the Gold Coast :—
 

SIR,
    I HAVE the honour to enclose the following Despatches:—
   1. Colonel M'Leod, C.B., 42nd Highlanders, reporting the reconnaissance made by him and the force under his command, against the village of Borborassie, on the 29th ultimo.
   2. Brigadier-General Sir A. Alison, C.B., reporting the attack made by him upon Becquah on the 1st instant, the defeat of the enemy, and the
destruction of the town.
   3. Captain A. W. Duncan, R.A., and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Colley, 2nd Queen's reporting the repulse of an attack made upon Fommanah by the Ashantis, on the 2nd instant. My best thanks are due to Brigadier-General Sir A. Alison and to Colonel M'Leod, for the excellent manner in which they carried out the operations entrusted to them ; and to Captain Duncan and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Colley for their energetic defence of the post of Fommanah.
 

	I have, &c., G. J. WOLSELEY, Major-General.
The Right Honourable The Secretary of State for War, War Office, London.

 

Camp Quar-Man, January, 30, 1874.

SIR,
     IN compliance with the instructions received, I marched yesterday, with the force noted in the margin, ^N to reconnoitre the village of Borborassie, situated on our left flank, and said to contain a large body of the enemy under Essimanquatia, and other Ashanti chiefs.
     Striking into the bush path at 8.15 A.M., we marched W.S.W., and at 11 A.M. arrived before the place, taking it quite by surprise. The Ashantis, driven out of the village by our advance, took to the bush on all sides ; a party of them came back upon our left flank, and fired on the Naval Brigade. This attack was brushed away with a few rounds of ammunition.
    The village was immediately in our possession, but not without loss on our side. List of casualties enclosed. Captain Nicol, commanding the Anamaboe Company of Russell's Regiment, was killed leading his men, with the devotion of a English gentleman, round the right flank of the village.
    I estimate the killed of the enemy at 50.
    Fifty-three Ashanti muskets were collected.
    Twelve kegs of powder, and the umbrella of Essimanquatia were found in the village.
    It seems this old chief ran away just before the attack, and so narrowly escaped capture.
    The troops after their long march were halted in the village for one hour and refreshed themselves from their haversacks before commencing the return march. On our return the Blue-jackets formed the rear guard. Before quitting the village they broke up the arms which were taken, and blew up the powder.
As soon as ever the Ashantis, lying perdu in the bush, discovered that we had gone, they returned to the village with shouting and blowing of horns. Presently a body of them came down upon the rear guard and opened fire; the Blue-jackets calmly faced about, and poured amongst them such a fire of Snider bullets as sufficed to rid us of their presence for the rest of the day.
    The troops arrived at their camp at Kiang Booasu at 4 P.M. The discipline and conduct of the Blue-jackets, under Captain Grubbe R.N., who formed the advance and afterwards the rear guard merited my special commendation.
    Captain Wood, A.D.C. to the Major-General, accompanied me and did good service; after the loss of Captain Nicol, I placed him in command of the Anamaboes.
    I would desire to acknowledge to the Major-General the valuable services rendered by my Staff Officer, Captain Farquharson, V.C., in carrying out all the staff arrangements, which he did to my complete satisfaction. Lieutenant Wauchope, 42nd, was with me throughout the day as my Orderly Officer. My thanks are also due to Lieutenant-Colonel Mostyn, 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was present with the men of his regiment engaged.

LIST of Killed and Wounded of Royal Naval Brigade.

Killed.
One man, Fantee carrier, wound of chest

Wounded.
One petty officer, wound of head ; very severe.
One petty officer, wound of chest; very severe.
One petty officer, wound of leg ; slight.
One marine, burnt by explosion of gunpowder; severe.


Anamaboe Company, Major Russell's Regiment.

Killed.
Captain Nicol, wound of neck and chest
One man wound of head

Wounded
One man, abdomen ; dangerously..
One man, arm ; severe,
One man, back ; severe.

SIR,
   I HAVE the honour to report to you for the information of His Excellency the Major-General Commanding, that in compliance with instructions received from him, I this day proceeded, in charge of the troops, as per margin, ^N to destroy the village of Becqua.
    The force was divided into an advanced guard and main body. The advanced guard was under the command of Colonel M'Leod, C.B., 42nd Royal Highlanders, and consisted of the Naval Brigade, a gun and rocket trough, Rait's Artillery,
Russell's Regiment, Lord Gifford's Guides, and a detachment of Major Home's Engineers. The main body, which I retained under my own direction, consisted of the 23rd Fusiliers and 5 companies 42nd Highlanders.
    I entrusted the entire arrangements for the attack on the village to Colonel M'Leod with the advanced guard, merely following myself with the main body in reserve.
    Colonel M'Leod's arrangements, met with my entire approbation, and the attack on and capture of the village was effected with his usual ability and vigour.
   He executed it entirely with his own force, and I did not require to support him with any part of the reserve.
    I enclose his despatch in which the full particulars are given.
   When the village was fully in flames, I occupied the entrance and eastern portion of it with the Detachment 23rd and 3 Companies 42nd Highlanders. Through these I withdrew the whole of the advanced guard, except Rait's Artillery, which I retained.
   When they were well clear of the village I filed off 23rd, Detachment Rait's Artillery, and 3 Companies 42nd.
    The Ashantis in small numbers beginning to drop in to the village, and threatening to harass the rear guard, I kept a Company of the 42nd concealed behind some houses at an angle of the main street. When a considerable number of the enemy had entered and were crossing the street, I wheeled up the Company and dispersed them with a few volleys, I then withdrew quietly from the village, and my return to camp was entirely unmolested by the enemy.
   My best thanks are due to Colonel M'Leod for the very able manner in which the capture and destruction of the; village was executed. In addition to the Officers mentioned in his despatch, I must- mention the perfect satisfaction afforded to me by the way in which the dispositions for the evacuation of the village were carried out by Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable S. Mostyn, Commanding 23rd. Detachment, and Major Scott, 42nd Highlanders, who had the particular direction of the withdrawal of the rear guard.
   My best thanks are still further due to Captain Robinson, my Brigade Major, Captain Russell, my Aide-de-Camp, and Lieutenant Fitzgerald, my extra Aide-de-Camp, for the indefatigable way in which they earned out the staff duties.
Colonel M'Leod encloses a list of the casualties in the expedition.

SIR,
   I HAVE the honour to report that this morning, at about 8.30 A.M., this post was attacked in considerable force by the enemy.
    The attack continued until 1.30 P.M., when he was finally driven back. The force ^N at my disposal here consisted of half a company of the
1st West India Regiment, 1 company (Mumford's) Russell's Regiment, a few convalescents, and Captain North, 47th Regiment, Transport Officer. I have to report that great exertions were made by the Officers, especially by Captain Grant, 6th Regiment; and I have also to report the good behaviour of the 1st West India Regiment, and also of the men of Russell's Regiment under the circumstances.
     Captain North,. 47th Regiment, was, I regret to say, severely wounded, when leading a reconnaissance to discover the enemy's position before the commencement of the action.
    The convalescents afforded most valuable assistance. Annexed is a list of the wounded.
    The greater part of this village was destroyed for the purposes of defence.

P.S.—Lieutenant-Colonel Colley arrived towards the close of the attack and took command, but has requested me to report what took place.
 

LIST of Wounded.

Severely.
Captain Dudley North, 47th Regiment.
Private Macarthur, 42nd Regiment, convalescent
3 Privates (Mumford's Company) Russell's Regiment. (may be 8 Privates? )

Slightly.
Captain A. W. Duncan, Royal Artillery.
Corporal Barnes, Army Service Corps.
Private MacHenry, 42nd Regiment, convalescent.
Private Chapman, Rifle Brigade, convalescent.
Private Masco, 1st West India Regiment.
Private Crutchley, 1st West India Regiment.
Private Coggin, 1st West India Regiment.
Private Barnet, 1st West India Regiment..
Private Campbell, 2nd West India Regiment.

CHIEF OF THE STAFF.
   ON arrival at Ahkankuassie last night, I found convoy of 90 men j they had been delayed by being fired on on the road, losing one carrier killed and three wounded.
   On arrival here this morning I found this place warmly attacked on all sides ; the Ashantis had penetrated into the long, straggling village, which was not in a state of defence, and set it on fire ; we have now cleared the greater part of the village, preserving the Hospital and the Store enclosed. A good many slight casualties—Captain North severely wounded, a sailor dangerously, Captain Duncan slightly, many of the black troops and native levies slightly. Difficult to judge of the number of the Ashantis; they attack on all sides, and occasional ones creep boldly into the village, but generally keep under cover of the thick bush, which in places comes close to the houses. The firing ceased about 1 P.M., but on a party going down for water an hour later they were hotly fired on. Post carrier in with an escort, fired upon, but without effect. I shall probably make a start to-night. No chance of moving any convoys from here just at present.

(Signed) G. POMEROY COLLEY.
Lieutenant-Colonel.