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Colonial Office, December 1, 1873.
THE Secretary of State for the
Colonies has
received Despatches,
of which the following
are copies, from Major-General Sir Garnet J.
Wolseley, K.C.M.G., C.B., the Administrator of
the Government of the Gold Coast :-—
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Government House, Cape Coast.
November 5, 1873. |
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Mr LORD,
DURING the period which has elapsed since
the last mail left for England the general condition of our affairs has not very greatly changed,
but it has, nevertheless, undergone a progressive
improvement from day to day. That progress,
steadily continued since our arrival, has, at the
present moment, left me in a position which, when
I landed (just one month ago), I could not have
conceived it possible that we should so soon have
attained to.
2. The first event of importance which occurred
after my last letter was the abandonment by the
enemy of his camp at Mampon, followed by its
destruction immediately afterwards by a band of
our native allies. From that time the definite
retreat of the Ashanti army towards the Prah
may be said to have commenced.
3. I therefore began at the same time to put
into execution the arrangements for following
them up ; that is to say, I began to occupy
with my few regulars successive strong posts
to the east, west, and south of the retreating army; to push strong
reconnaissances against him consisting chiefly of native levies. By these
means I have been able both to harass his retreat and to reduce the source
of supply on which he has hitherto most counted.
4. I first pushed forward from Napoleon and from Elmina all
the native levies whom I had there gathered as far as Beulah.
5. Finding that the threatened attack upon Abrakrampa, of
which I wrote by last mail, is still postponed, I am withdrawing thence the
fifty marines and blue-jackets, who, after nearly a fortnight on shore, are
in excellent health and spirits, not one man having been reported sick ; a
fact which proves once more how possible it is for European troops to be
safely employed, under proper conditions, in this country, and how much
healthier are the inland stations than the posts upon the coast. This party
will probably be embarked to-morrow on board the " Simoom."
6. At the same time I have resolved that, until the whole
Ashanti army has passed Dunquah, it will be necessary to occupy Assayboo in
strength. A fresh force of fifty marines has been therefore moved thither, a
large camp having been already prepared for them, and ample clearances
having been made.
7. Thus for the moment my posts round the Ashanti army
consist of Dunquah, Abrakrampa, and Assayboo, to the east, and Beulah on the
west.
8. From Dunquah, Abrakrampa, and Assayboo, strong
reconnaissances were, on the 3rd, directed upon the Ashanti camp.
9. Of these only that from Dunquah came into serious
collision with the enemy. I inclose Colonel Festing's report upon the
subject. I will only add to it, that more recent information leads to the
belief that the Ashantis have been completely cowed by the skirmishes in
which we have engaged them, and that they are losing heart.
10. It appears that several chiefs and captains fell during
this affair upon the 3rd, and that a council of war was, in consequence of
it, held, which decided that the portion of the army in the neighbourhood of
Dunquah should endeavour, at any sacrifice, to make the best of their way
towards the Prah.
11. It is impossible to exaggerate the cowardice and
feebleness of the conduct of our allies. They remain absolutely in the rear,
abandoning our officers and firing wildly into the air at nothing ; then a
sudden panic seizes them and they rush panic-stricken home when no Ashanti
is near them. Near Beulah a panic of this kind occurred because they came
across some dead Ashantis. From Abrakrampa similar scenes are reported.
12.I have with much regret to record the death of a young
officer of promise who fell during the action at Dunquah—Lieutenant Eardley
Wilmot of the Royal Artillery—who was severely wounded in the shoulder early
in the action, but continued to carry on the rocket practice till he was
wounded, as it proved mortally, by a second bullet. I inclose a list of the
casualties.
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I have, &c.
(Signed) G. J. WOLSELEY,
Major-General and Administrator,
Gold Coast. |
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