War Office, December 1, 1873.
Secretary of State for War has received Despatches, of which the following are
copies, from Major-General Sir Garnet J. Wolseley, K.C.M.G., C.B., Commanding the
Troops on the Gold Coast:—
 

SIR,
    I HAVE the honour to inform you that although the condition of affairs has not changed much since the date of my last despatch, No. 62, 31st ultimo, our position has gone on improving daily.
     That despatch had scarcely been sent off, when I received intelligence of the complete evacuation of the enemy's camp at Mampon, and of its destruction by a party of our native allies. I at once ordered an advance of a force, consisting of Cape Coast and Aquafoo natives to Beulah, and commenced to strengthen that post, with a view to intercepting the enemy's communications with the western districts, from which he had hitherto drawn his supplies.
    The Ashanti commander, Amonquartia, having declared his intention of attacking Abrakrampa, I have therefore, as reported in my last letter, left 50 marines and blue-jackets there.
   You will, I am convinced, be glad to learn that last night's reports show all this party in good health, although they have been ashore since the 25th ultimo; another proof being thus afforded that white men are far healthier in the interior than in garrison, either at Elmina or Cape Coast
Castle.
   From the statements of the numerous prisoners taken daily by my reconnoitring parties, and the fact that the enemy has cut war paths through the bush close to Abrakrampa, it is evident every preparation has been made for attacking it. Until the retreating Ashanti army shall all have gone north of Dunquah, I consider it necessary to hold Assayboo, and I have to-day occupied that village with 50 marines and a howitzer, and the King of Assayboo's men, fortifying it and clearing away the surrounding bush. If the enemy makes no offensive movement and leaves the neighbourhood of Abrakrampa, I hope to withdraw the bluejackets and marines by the end of the week, when shall re-embark them.
    Yesterday strong reconnaissances were made by the native levies under English officers from Beulah, Abrakrampa, and Dunquah. That from the latter place alone became at all seriously engaged. I beg to enclose a copy of Colonel Festing's report. I regret that one young Officer lost his life, Lieutenant Eardley Wilmot, Royal Artillery, a fine promising soldier. He was badly hit early in the skirmish, but, like an English gentleman, continued in the field at his post, until subsequently shot through the heart, when he died almost immediately; several of the officers were hit, mostly slightly: enclosed is a list of the casualties.
    The native levies behaved most disgracefully. Some whole tribes ran away, and no exertion on the part of the English' officers could induce them to face the enemy. Hence the number of officers hit, for they had to expose themselves in their endeavours to get the natives to advance, or even to stand their ground.
    The reconnaissance made from Abrakrampa also came upon the enemy, but not in great force ; yet there also the native levies, even those that have been tolerably drilled and disciplined by our officers, ran away.
    The experience of yesterday proves, undubitably, if further proof had been necessary, that it will be impossible to make these Fanti levies face the enemy, and that a severe blow can only be struck at the Ashantis by English troops.

I have, &c., (Signed) G. J. WOLSELEY. Major-General.

The Right Honourable The Secretary of State for War War Office.

SIR,
    I HAVE the honour to report for the information of the Major-General Commanding that I moved out with a force (strength as per margin ^N ) yesterday morning a little after daylight to make a reconnaissance in force.
    We took the western road from Dunquah, and marched along a track leading to the south-west. We soon fell in with the enemy's scouts, who fired upon our advanced guard, and retreated. We pushed on until we arrived close to a large camp of the enemy, who quickly gave us battle.
   We advanced and engaged them for about a couple of hours, during nearly the whole of which time the engagement was very hot indeed, and the bush very dense.
    Having put their fire down, and hearing tomtoms sounding towards our rear, I moved with the intention of preventing any attempt which might possibly be made to outflank us. Not finding this the case, but that the enemy were evidently in retreat, and having expended a large portion of ammunition, our men also being very tired, I returned to camp.
    From a prisoner who has come in this morning from the Ashantis, I learn that we did considerable execution amongst them, and that they have in consequence broken up their camp this morning, and are retreating through the bush to the Prah. He says that one rocket falling into a group principally of chiefs and captains, killed six of the number.
    I regret very much to have to report the loss of Lieutenant Eardley Wilmot, Royal Artillery, who fell shot through the heart, in the front of the action. This officer was wounded earlier in the day, but gallantly remained in action with his men until the end.
    I must repeat the great difficulty, in fact almost impossibility, of getting the native allies to fight; they remain behind firing away their ammunition at nothing, whereas two or three tribes ran en masse back to camp at the commencement of the battle.
    All the officers behaved most admirably, and of those engaged only three remained unwounded. List of casualties enclosed.

I have, &c., (Signed) F. W. FESTING, Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Marine Artilley, Commanding Outpost.

The Chief of the Staff Head Quarters.

Return of Casualties in the Engagement near Dunquah on the 3rd November, 1873.

KILLED.
Lieutenant Eardley Wilmot, Royal Artillery, and 1 native.

WOUNDED.
Lieutenant-Colonel Festing, Royal Marine Artillery, severely in left hip.
Lieutenant Jones, 2nd West India Regiment, severely in left hip.
Lieutenant Patchet, 2nd West India Regiment, severe contusion of right fore-arm, and slight wound of abdomen.
Surgeon-Major Gore, Army Medical Department, severely wounded in the dorsal muscle, bullet extracted, and contusion of right fore-arm.
Corporal Taylor, Royal Marine Artillery, severely.
12 men, 2nd West India Regiment, of whom 10 severely, and 2 slightly.
50 Native allies, badly wounded.
1 Fanti police, slightly.

 

(Signed) ALLAN N. FOX, Surgeon-Major.