The New York Herald Newspaper, March 20, 1874, Page 3

COOMASSIE’S FALL Graphic Herald Correspondence Recording the Great Mili- tary Event of Africa. MARCH ON THE CAPITAL. Battles of Amaoful, Bekwah, Age- mamu, Dah and ‘Ordasu. BUsH FIGHTING. The Inhuman Sacrifices to Fetichism. ENTERING COOMASSIE. Duplicity and Flight of the King. PLUNDER OF THE PALACE. ® The City Finally Burned and Blown Up. HOMEWARD BOUND. Coomass1s, Capital of Ashantee, Feb, 5, 1874, I bave an extremely long chapter of incidents nd scenes which have transpired during the last five busy days to write, besides a summary of what the British army in Ashantee has done, and I have but tweive hours to write the whole; otherwise I shall lose @ mail, and your letter would be delayed go long that it would be hardly worth publishing alter the accounts which your English contempo- raries will give. In order to preserve your credit for enterprise I propose this time to condense as wuch as possible into the form of a narrative what account of the battles 1 tay be able to give. The 8ist of January began this interesting chap- ter with the battle of Amaoful, of which { have already given you an account. We made our quarters the nignt of the lst ult. within the town of Amaoful, which might have contained a population io peaceful times of 5,000 souls, The next day, at one P. M., a force consist- ing of 1,000 Europeans, composed of the Forty- second Highlanders, a company of the Twenty- | third Royal Welsh Fusileers, and the Naval Brigade, besides Major Russeli’s regiment of native allies, the whole under the command of Sir Archibald Allison nominally, but really under Colonel McLeod, who took the most active part, moved upon the large aud important town of Bekwah, which lay a mile to our 1e!t from the main road, The advance of this 1orcs were the Apoboes and Houssas, who crept into the outskirts of the Village with a silence as of death, and suddenly Opened upon the unguarded people with a tre- mendous tuaillade, which they maiptained without intermission ior over half an hour, two companies of the Naval Brigade in close support of them. The Ratives soon began to recover from their astonish- ment, and, 23 usual, crept into the bushes, wiaenco | they began to fire in returr with a will which threatened to intimidate tie native allies of the British. whtil Colonel McLeod ordered the sailors to change on the village, over the prostrate Hoas- sasana Apoboes, ‘The jolly blue jackets answered the command of the Colonel of the Forty-second with o rousing cheer, and vornded along the road | into the village, from which they drove the people | fying into its furthest end, While they were run- ming along the main street of the village the sailors Tan after them, maintaiuing a most withering fire, which slaughtered great numbers of the fugitives» At the furthest end of the village @ few, to @scape the volleys poured into them in the open street, fed into the nouses nearest to them, which they loupholed, and trom which they succeeded in | ying some most agnoying shots at the sailors, | killing one and wouhding some halt a dozen; but the column, advancing and spreading itself out on botn sides 81 tne village, poured a rain of bullets Into the buts that riddied them through and through, 80 that within three-quarters of an hour | the town of Bekwah was completely in tbe hands Of the British troops. A Jew minutes were given | for a breaching pause; then the village was fred trom end to end, and the work of destruction Was Seen to be complete when the torch was up- p:led to the last house, Among the curiosities sound within the deserted village before it was destroyed was asmail Albino child, halt starved, Who, betmg mounted on the shoulders of a kind. Bearted old tar, was conveyed to Amao- Tul, where, I presume, sailura, being pro- verbially kind to .their pets, he will be well taken care of until our return by that post | toward the sea, The casualties on this day on the British side did not amoun: to over fifteen killed aud wounded, Tne only European kiiled Was a biue jacket named faylor, of Her Majesty's | Steamer Active, ‘hose of the enemy are incal- | cwable, because it would have cost more lives to | have counted them than the interest in it de- | Mauded; bat there were fiteen dead bodies seen in the streets, while many were taken away by | their friends or slaves aiter they were seen to | fail, Gifford’s scouts nad an excellent opportunity | ut the enemy whiie they were congregated at the | end of the main street seemingiy irresolure whut | to do, and Lora Gifford deciares that under the | tierce fire directed ut them niore than 100 feli to | the ground; so what | am probably within the | mark when I pat the loss of the enemy in killed | and wounded at about 200, | Though Sir archibaid Allison was tue brigadier | the cool oid oficer, Colonel McLeod, of the | Forty-second, deserves the principul honors of this day. It was under his own immediate su- pervision that the brilllant assault took jluce; it was under his own eye that the affair was begun and completed. This McLeod isa quiet, upassum. ing old gensieman, with an eye which burns like @ fire-coal when in action. The next day, at the usual hour, the entire army Fesuined ite march toward Coomassie, icuving Golonel Webber, with eighty-two of the Second | West Indians, as a garrison for Amaoiul. ‘The army was preceded by Gifford’s scouts, us aell's regitaont of native allies and Hait’s artilicry, the Rifle Brigade following with its special stock Of @minunition and baggage and hammocks; then | the General and stam, followed by the Twenty-third | fusileers ond the Forty-second Highlanders, who fosmed the rear guard on this march. The tatal battle of Amaoful had caused the fagl- tives who Hed from it to leave many a bloody teace long the road. ‘the Mmghtened thousands, urged on by & Wild fear, had tramped tue uaual | barrow Fath into wu oroad, smooth road, which, 1 andor the shade of the arching branches, ap: | peared like @ delightful avenue, One couid almoat | have rewd What Jeariul thoughts haunted eacn wind ay they hustled over one another in the vayerneds that porseased them to put distance be. tween themagives aud the acene of their groat Gwaster by each artivie which encumbered the fond, Hove were finely carved stools, cotton pil- lows, thousands of loads of Tudian corn and ale Wost every inch strewn with grain baskets, palanquins oF wicker cote, scraps Of akin cartridge ; NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1874--TRIPLE SHEET. The numbers of tracks through the bush, seen on either side, indicate the reckless piungé into it, prompted by fear, and the many little camps of huts hastily constructed of plantain fromas tell too plainly of the numbers of men who hal volun- teered at the last moment to cefend their country at the call of their King. The arty strode over the ground at an un- usually rapid rate, when we consider the hun- dreds of files which encompassed it, and the num- ber of impediments the best of bush roadster to an army. About two hours from Amaofal we came toa steep precipice which led sharply down toastream, A little beyond the stream, overflowed during; some late rains, had formed a swamp disagreenble to traverse. There was adeptuof black mud, and frequent root tangles enough to delay for a few | minutes arapid advance, and beyond the swamp the road widened to about thirty feet, like & broad avenue. At this place a body of 1,000 Ashantives had chosen to dispute the passage of the brigade under McLeod, who with Ris artillery and Houssiis had | dispersed them after a brief but sharp contest. Evidences of the bloody strife lay about tia this | avenue in the shape of hunian bodies weltexing in | their gore. McLeod halted not for this episode but poshed his brigade on until THE VILLAGE OF ASSIMINIA was reached, where another tfusilade had decided the complete rout of the body of Ashantees which had attempted to dispute the passage of the swamp. Assiminia, @ small filthy village of about ia score of huts, surrounded by dense cottonwood and plantain groves, was the witness of one of the revolting sacrifices these cruel people make to their bloodgreed tetiches. As we emerged out of the village and resumed our march again we came to where @ poor young woman had newly been slain by decapitation, the body laid ont with alldue form and ceremony, the feet toward Coo- massie and the face of the victim towards ‘the ad- vancing army, a8 aM imtimation of what the in- vaders might expect. A couple of miles further on we came to amother small village, Which had been the witness of two More late human sacrifices, one before entering | the village was a young man, the one beyond the"! Village was a young woman, the same cervmony | | duly observed with each victim. The forest retained the same external aspevt of gloom aud sombreness, At one place bush and forest thickened until they presented an almost impervious obstacle to light; in another place } thinned and long lines of day brightness dispersed the gloom and caused the varied notes of song- | sters to sound more cheerlly and to enlivex the march, At about one P, M. We arrived at the villaje of Agamanma, or AGEMAMU, | Sitaate at the junction of the “long” anc the | “short” roads leading to the capital, It wasa filthy village; heaps of decaying ‘plan- tain stalks, an impervious jungle gnd forest hem- | mug the village in on all sides, almost made one | shudder to look at it. Yet it wa@ an important strategical poiut, and Sir Garnet occupied it witn a view of making it a posi, Accordingly, the regi- | } ments, as they cawe io, were set witn thelr swords to cut bush and clear camping ground for themselves. It was wonderiul how quickly the place rose in our estimation when it was relieved of the gioom and its oppressive vicinage of jungle, and afew acres of clearing gave us a view of the | bright day. On the 3d of February the army continued its | march, choosing the longer road, At tne dls tance of amile ir@m Agemamuwe came to wheire the | pickets had been posted, a few yards froin the village of Eduoku, which lad the pieasantetit situ- | ation of any yet seen, exrepting Formann'ih and Amaoful. It was on atsbuiar eminence, above which the tallest trees in the valley rose bul..a few } leet, Half a mile beyond were a few huts, fortaing a | village called Lakrabah, near where the aa vance matutained a persistent fiiing for some time witn another budy of Ashantees, in which afair about | twenty-five British were wounded, one of two | mortally, Ajew dead bodies of Ashantees lying along or close to the road denoted the struggle that nad taken place, proving indubitably that the Ashantees were # nation of warriors amd ap indnitely superior people to the Fantees. One mile further we came to THE VILLAGE OF ADWABIN, and after a four mile march we came to the insig- nificant hamlet of Day-Day-Siwah, where the troops reiresbed themselves with wild oranges and papaws. A mile aud @ quarter brought us toa scene of confusion which revealed itself to us as we approached the Dah, or-the Ordasa River. The Eu- Topean regiments were at work cutting bruzh, and preparing room to camp in the jungle. ‘Te en- gineers were engaged 10 constructing a bridge across the Ordasu Kiver—a suaggy choked up stream about twenty-five yards wide, banked wita tall, overgrown trees, and dense bush. Here we received the news of the fight which had taken piace during the day. Rait’s artillery had suffered heavily ; seven out of twenty-five had been wounded. Hume’s engineers and laborers had aiso guflered, and Major Baker Russeil’s Houssas had been suderers to some exient. The enemy, we were told, were in considerable force in our front im the village of Ordasu, and every one autici- pated serious fighting next day. That night was most depressing on the Ordasu. We had left our tents and everything of vag gage | that was not absolutely reqaired for the dash ‘upon Coomassie that Sir Garnet was now m aking at Agemamu. A violent siaking of the sorest tops informed us that a tornado was brewing; and presently it began to thunder; then the raia Jeli, | upon us poor, benigated wretches, which almoat sapped the fighting ardor of the most warlii.e, A shot now and then ringing out loud and wharp ; and the wounded, and among the heterogeneous |, Apobes or Bonny natives armed with Snyders | | armed with fintiock muskets and muzzie loading through the dark, solema forest, caused ws to | think of what was about to happen on the morrow | and what stubbora antagonists we had gn our vicinity. ‘The night was long with some, but with m2, for- tunately, it was very short, owing to the rovi- | dence which had guided me in the selection of an ample olicloth. Daybreak of the 4th broke ti vouga the jorest foliage in scams of leaden gray, toe leaves dropped distilled rain, the lower tyasnes dripped disagreeably, the mist hung thici< and seltied Jor more than au howr, untii seven k, M., wheu tt began to clear up somewhat. At haif-past 1x A.M. Major Baker Russell g.nid lis native regiment, preceded by Uifford’s scouts, ad- vanced cautiousiy up the road, It was slow prog- ress; &suai might have overtaken us, Ir: sup- port of Russeil’a regiment went the Rifle Brigade, and in rear of its reserve ammunition tollow.:d the company of the Twenty-third fusiieers. Then a long line of ammunition and hammocks, fol lowed by Rait’s artillery, moved on. ij ON THE MARCH—A BATTLE, By this time it Was quarter-past seven A. 31,, and | the stad was about to rise to jollow, when.e dis- | charge of musketry, @ mile or soinirout, ane | nounced that the battle of she Urdasu had tegun. | Louder and more de‘eaning, tue friug increased | Tapidiy, until one might have sworn two Eucopean armios of considerable magnitude were in ci nilict. ull the column was progressing, the files of men ofeitier rank looking with keen and quickened eyes into the bush on poth sides, One man } :7essed another closely, and sttli the column pri longed | Atwelf like a lengthy serpent along the ben a8 and | curves of the busn road, and for an hour longer | the ariny Was uncolling itself across the br idge of the Ordasu, While the noias of vattic grety more | and more distinct the nearer we udvanced. to the ene of the singular conflict thua iu pr ogress, ‘The anxicty wo felt and the suspense wo under. | wont wero harder to beat than actual condy 2%, You could teli such Was the feeliag uppermost i most soldiers’ minds, though they continued, of course, to appear perfectiy indimerent. The troi»ps had beon commanded not to fire until they wave tired at, and as the fring was alarmingly clo se, and seamed to run through the woods like a yeu de joie, | one fancied that the next step would ro y'eai the hidden enemy and precipitate the arw od fice | which acted ag convoy to ourselves into ‘the tury 01 the battle, By half-past nine A, M. We bad scan zely ade Vauced more than bail a mile, for the bd trie was boxes, wooden powder botties, gourds, gin wottion Bod 660888 OF OVLAY Vhidae Sov THVIAI 6 tnention, Taging Within the Compass of a iow Acres, liotWeen ths vataange 06 foo Visage add vao ahort. distande | rank to tho right, rear rank to the leit,’ shouted | the lett, the companies volleyed aud thundered as | they marched past the amouscades, the bagpipes that lay between the Rife Brigade and the ad- vancing column, Now and then the battle line extended itself with the speed of lightning along both siaes of the road, until it even approached within afew yards of the staff, and at sucn mo- | ments Sir Garnet had the greatest possible dim- | culty to restrain the soldiers nearest to him irom | firmg at random into the woods. | Ataquarter to ten A. M, when we had ap- proached to within 2 quarter of a mile to the vil- lage, Sir Garnet ordered the column to halt, and | the ammunition, the hammocks for the wounded, the provisions and regimental baggage to push jor- ward into the centre of the now captured village. This was a bold move, but, as it afterwards turned out, 2 most clever and well devised piece of strat- egy. When all the carriers had borne their loads past us, the staffaud the Forty-second and Naval Brigade pressed on, close after them, into the vil- lage. Within a very short time we were in full view of the singular battle field ana were traversing A VERITABLE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, With the insignificant village of Ordasu beyond but afew hundred yards, on the crest of a gentle emi- nence, which had been denuded long ago of its Primeval forest by the setlers ol Ordasu, when they planned it as the village site. The road lead- | ing through this valley was perhups five feet wide, | banked by lotty, umbrageous cottonwoods, under whose sombrous shades thrived the thickest bush tangle. Deep in the bosom of the woods on their left was seen & plantain grove. On our right this | bush thickened as it receded trom the roac, and presented nothing but impervious lealage wherever the Ashantees, lying flat, fired into the road. From the plantain grove iso on our leit the slugs came whistling through underbrush uncomfortably near some of us; bat in return for the iron nail so Javishly hurled at us the troops distributed their conical bullets with a rapidity that threatened an- nihilation to any human beings that might be either lying prone on the ground or standing up. The bush in many places showed the results of the storm of Snyder pellets, tor it was lying as fat as though it nad been mown with scytaes, It was uncomiortable work running this gaunt- let, pelted at from both sides with showers of iron slygs, bullets and leaden balls; and the British wounded lying on the road testified to what it tended. Some of the native allies had been shot to death, and Lieutenant Eyre, son of Sir William Eyre, an attaché of Colonel Woods' regiment, was among the dying Europeans, which proved that Ashantec slugs were dsadiy things. ‘The dead Ashantees which httered this portion of the road in front of the village, numbering about twenty, showed hideous wounds, through | which the terrible Snyder rifle had shot its fatal | missile, and no better evidences could be obtained, tfany were needed, to prove the perfection of the Boxer cartridge, The charge of powder in these cartridges is very large, and a wound made by a Snyder bullet is always hopeless of cure, if it isin a vital part. Just as we were ABOUT TO ENTER THE VILLAGE, and were pressing close upon the heels of the carriers, @ volley from the bushes created a | momentary panic among them, and your corre- spondent, among many others, was simply borne to the ground by overwhelming numbers; but the earnestness with which tho British returned this salute restored confidence even to the untutored minds of the Fantee carriers, ‘. Shortly aiterwards we found ourselves in the | lttie village of Ordasu, among the dead, thé dying | humanity hutdling on the ground to avoid the slugs. The bushes seemed filled with smoke, the air with sounds of musketry; the ground was red With gore, and Ashantee missiles pattered every- where, against mud wall and thatcn, against human faces and hands, against our clothes, startling our ears and hurrying the flow of blood in our veins. I thought, as I saw the crowds of unarmed men filling the interior of the huts and their open courts, and crowding every inch of space on the ground in the streets of the village, What an admir- able chance offered itself to a daring and resolute enemy, armed with equal weapons, of retrieving all past losses by a simultaneous advance from the bushes and crushing the invaders at one blow. A FEEBLE ENEMY. But the British force fortunately had no such | enemy to cope witu. This enemy was bold enough | in the bush tangle; plucky enough, too, consider- ing that they knew Iittle or nothing of the art of war after the manner of Europeans. They coula be sufficiently stubborn to stay hours in the bush lighting, but they had no spirit to make an ad- vance against such withering fusillades as were directed agaltnst them from over 1,500 Snyders. ‘The diderence that lies between 10,000 flint musket shots and 1,600 breech-loading Snyders was im- measurable, By the volleys that were dred from eitner side one felt inclinea to believe that 1,500 | Were more than a match for 10,002 Ashautees Enfleids. Ofcourse the battle would have lasted much longer if natives were arrayed against na- | tives, Africans against Africans; both parties would have been well content tohave fired at each | other for entire days from the bush, as was tne | case ut the siege of Abracampa, about which | British correspondents wrote so much when they | were hard up jor news items. Butit is the res: lute advance of a fring body of Europeans which soonest unsettles the equanimity of such foes as . Ashantees, At hail-past ten A. M. we were enabled to per- | i ceive what tact Sir Garnet had shown in pushing | his baggage before him into Ordasu, | tees had retired irom the tront gradually along the | right flank, and were precipitating themselves on | ‘fhe Ashan- | our rear, harassed continually by iar-penetrating leaden cones ejected irom Snyders. We felt in- | ciined to chuckle quietly over the batted enemy, as, plunging into the road lately travelled by tue convoys, they found the road emptied of passen- gers and goods. We felt inclined to laugh when | they boisterously shouted their deflances or yelled | out their intentions in chorus by note of war horus. The ammunition carried by the faint-hearted car- riers was sale in the village, environed by hun- dreds of voiloyiug Snyders, and there was nothing | leit for the dizappolateda enemy but to proceed as his aghting humor impelled him. A bush fight is a singular thing to describe; tnere | a@re no lights and shades in it; there are no rapidly | shifting scenes, no stirring episodes to dilate upon. It might be summed up in a sentence, for it is sim- ply promiscuous fring at anything bearing sem- blance to a humun figare that may be seeu stirring or supposed to stir in the bushes, A pistol duel in the dark ig just as interesting. The correspond- ents sec nothing; they hear plenty of noise. It is; the noise in the dark bushes which they have to | write abont, i ‘The interchange of masketry in our rear lasted until a quarter to two P. M., when sir Garnet or- dered the Forty-second Highlanders to advance along the road to Coomassie. Su Arciibuld Allison ‘was, of course, the Brigadier commanding the ad- vance; but Coionel McLeod, of the Forty-second, was the odlcer iu immediate command of the regi- ‘ment. Sir Archibald was more of alooker-on upon the exciting scene of the advance. The conduct of THE FORTY+SECOND HIGHLANDERS on many elds bas been cousiderably belauded, i but mere laudation is not enough for tue gallantry which has distinguished this regiment when in | action, its bearing has been beyond praise as | & model regiment, exceedingly well disciplined, | and individoally nothing conid aurpasa the stand: | ing aud gallantry Which distinguished each mene | ber of the Forty-second, or the Black Watch, They proceeded along the well amoushed rosd as if on parade by twos. “The Forty-second Will flre by companies, front Colonel MeLeo!, “A Company, tront rang fire! | Year rank fire!" and so on, aad thus vomiting out twoscore of bullets to the right aud twoscore to playing, the oneers rising trom the throats of the lusty Scota until the Jorest raug again with the dis- | cordant medley of musketry, bagpipe music and vocal sounds, Rait’s artillery now and then gave tongue with its usual deep roar and crash, god with an em phasia and resuit which must have recalied to the Minds of the Ashantees memories of the bloody Qeld of amAGMi, Whéve Captain Rat wud bis sade | being perforated by t alterns, Knox and Saunders, signalized themselves | conspicuonsly. BRAVERY OF THE HIGHLANDERS. But it was the audacious spirit and true military bearing On the pare of the Highlanders, as they moved down tke road toward Coomassie, which challenged admiration this day, Very many were borne back frightiully distigured and seriously wounded, but the regiment never halted nor wavered; on it went, until the Ashantees, percciv- ing it useless to Nght against men who would ad- vance heedless of ambuscades, rose from their coverts and fed panic-strickea towards Cooma: whenever they show el Scots, Ind themselves to the hawke: fit words the unqualitied adwiration wich the conduct of the Forty-secoud kindled in all Who saw or beard of it. TOM ADAMS, One man exhibited nimself eminently brave among brave men. His name was Thomas Adams. Itis said that he led the way to Coomassie, and | kept himself about ten yards abead of his regiment, the target for many hundred guns; but that, de- spite the annoying noise of iron and leaden slugs, the man bounded on the road like a well-trained hound On a hot scent. This example, together With the cool, calm commands of Colonel McLeod, had a marvellous effect on the Highland battalion ; 80 much wo that the conduct of all other white regiments engaged on this day pale before that of the Forty-second, * Frequently during the hot and rapid march into Coomassie the Highlanders saw emerging from the bushes severai score of fugitives, who found their movements accelerated by the volleys they re- ceived OW such occasions. Village after village along the road heard the disastrous tidings which the fugitives conveyed, and, long betore the Highlanders approached the place where the King had remained during the battle, the King had decamped because of these reports. FUNERAL OF LIEUTENANT EYRE. Soon after the departure of the Forty-second from Ordasu Lieutenant Eyre was buried, Sir Gar- net and his stam standing bareheaded during the ceremony. About one P, M. Sir Garnet heard the news of the panic which had overtaken the Ashantees, aud he numediately ordered the baggage to proceed alter the advance. Half an hour later the cheers of the Ashantees ceased, and a solitary note of a horn was the last we heard trom them, as the dis- appointed enemy who attacked the British in the rear were also flying precipitately from the disas- trous and fatal battle field. ‘The column then moved op. Major Baker Rus- sell’s and Colonei Wood's regiments of native allies, who had acted as advance in the morning and were the last to be engaged, now acted as Year guard, in conjunction with the Naval Brigade. | Dead Ashantees, extended on the ground 1n all postures, were the only evidences of the strile the Hignianders had undergone and the only ovjects of interest which we encountered until approaching KARS!, WHICH 13 THREE MILES FROM COOMASSIK, we meta fag of truce with Jour Ashantee hos- tages and a Fantee interpreter, The hostages turned out to be mere slaves, whose retention was of nO value as @ guarantee jor the King’s conduct. The Fantee interpreter informed Sir Garnet that the King had fled, and that his army was leaving Coomassie. Beyoud Karsi we stumbled across a very late sacrifice to fetichism, stretched with its 1eet to Coomassie and the head toward the invaders. We had become accustomed to tnese horrible sights and the army puhsed on without a pause. DETERMINED TO DE IN COOMASSIE THAT NIGHT. At twenty minutes to six P, M. we were on the edge of the Louvin marsh which imsulates Coo- massie, and the smell which greeted us was as that of avast charne! house. The crossing happened to be @t the place selected for the reception of the dead, a statement which the sight of noating skulis confirmed, At ten minutes to six we had crossed the marsh, and at six P. M. precisely the General and his staff were entering along a broad street, about Sity yards wide, lined with the curiously embellished houses which { have described were geen at Formannab, the capital of the Adansi Kingdom. Entering Coomassie street grass grew in the middie ol the street, but the greatest part or it indicated considerable traffic. The houses—archi- tecturally fine, considering that their builders were Ashantees—stood a few feet apart from each other, with the same mode of bullding prevailing in each, though the plaster designs over the fagades dif- fered very much. The fronts consisted 01 a lofty central portico, supported by two pillars, flanked | by wings without porticos, but elaborately orna- mented with plast: The following plan of front Wil pest illustrate the style of ARCHITECTURE in vogue in Ashantee:— po ie = | ‘vue porticos were ad raised four or five teet above the ground on a platiorm of baked clay, while steps of the seme material permitted their owners to mount to them irom the street. Behind these porticos were the habitable portion of the houses, which, in the houses of the nobility, were ranged around several courtyards, Ag the regiments advanced up the street the Ashantees crowded irom the back dwellings to gaze on the many wuite faces wiich had dispersed | their armies during tne last five days and had so disturbed the soul of their King. So many of them | appeared in the streets armed with guns, though manifesting no hostility, that instinctively the officers proceeded Jo disarm them—a proceeding which Sir Garnet seemed to sanction at first; out when he saw the numbers of natives in che streets he ordered that they should be let alone, Turning to the leit we passed up to the main street, which was algo about fitty yards wide and about half a mile iong, where the Forty-second Highlanders were drawn up in line, a marvel to the hundreds of Asbantees, who gazed on them | most curiously. The tnodensive demeagor of the conquerors pieased the natives greatly, and several cume voi- untarily forward to proffer light services and to | greet them. ‘The troops coatinued to pour in, with carriers by +> @ thousand, ranging themscives along the main street ag ast as they arrived, and it was noticed | that as it grew darker the Ashantees were retiring from the city with arms in their hands, Some generals wouid, of course, have placed sen- tries at every avenue leading out of tue capital, with orders to permit none to leave, but as many as were pleased to enter to do so; but Sir Garnet— go it appears to me, at least--is governed by ideas contrary to those which raie most men. only hope sincerely that everything Sir Garnet does will turn out for the best, and that we shall all know by and by what guided him in nis ac- tions. No correspondent with a proper amount of pell-veapect Wili Venture to distur) a commandiug general's temper when his interests require him tobe patient and unassuming in his demeanor, and the pres’ representatives on this expedition have all been exceedingly considerate to the Wen- eral and his stat, kuowipg, as they did, that though the Generai is Very adabie and kind, he did not show adesire to answer any questions pro- pounded to bim concerning his imtentions or his reasons $0, wondering at this neglect of Sir Garnet, we, who had been in Abyssinia and haa seen Lord Napler conduct itiinself after a very dit | ferent fashioa, could ouly wonder and wait. Toward eight P, M, the reginionts Were assigned to quarters along the main street, and eaca soldier made Limsell a8 Comfortable as circumstances per- raitted, Later on & messenger came from the King to jearn of Sir Garnet what terms were ow dee manded of him, to which BRACKENBUAY, MILITARY SECRETARY, whe commanded to givedn answer vy Sir Garnet, Gapvala Brockeubier ise perdoh Wie Wee ted Sith: d, Ly only wish 1 had enough time given me to frame in | One can | Self higtly gitted with diplomatic ability, and hag conducted himself all along after the fashion of diplomatisis—reticent and attentive, impressive in bis language and bearing, and low-toned in all his conversations with Sir Garnet, as if there were newspaper specials in every breath of wind, | Brackenbury gave the messenger to understand | that the Governor wished to treat tae King in a manner befitting bis royal rank; that he had posted sentries all round his palace to prevent nis men despoilng tt, aud to keep it ready for him when he would consider it con- vement for bim to come; that he hoped | | sincerely the King would come to see the Governor; | that the English and Ashantees might be that a proper treaty of peace might be | between them; that he hoped the King would the necessity of sending proper hostages to the Go | ernor,-not as prisoners, but as pledges of his good faith, and that a suitable, bat not over heavy lu- demnity to the Assuiy would be paid by nim for the injuries they bad sustaied during the invasion of their country. Governor by coming to Coomassie was only obeying the instraccions of the Que he had Kept his word. If tue King would not make & peace treaty it would be the Governor's dis- agreeable duty to burn Coomassie asa reminder in luture of what was to be expected trom the Eug- ; sh should he incur their displeasure again, | CONFLAGRATIONS IN THE CAPITAL, Before midnight the sleeping army was uwakened out of the rest it sorely needed by fires springing Up in diferent parts of the city; but I did not seg that the stam disturbed themselves very much about the conflagrations, though the prisoners were ordered by Major Hunn to do what they could tosave the town from burning. as numbers of plunderers were roaming about with lighted torches it was supposed that these fires were Mghted by accident; but, as it was afterwards con- clusively shown that the houses were fired by the retreating Ashantees, who, having been permitted to load themselves with everything that was valu- able, had used the torch out of sheer spite. Even this conduct did not seem to strike Sir Garnet as being peculiar, nor any member of his diplomatic | stam About midnight, as the guards went ‘about to endeavor to detect and appretend the incen- diaries, they came across a youthful recruit of the Police force, Who, just relieved from duty, was Tound 10 @ house in the act of carrying some cloth away. ‘This man the guards look to stern old Colonel McLeod, who had distiuguisied himself so well 1n each battle With the Ashantees und who Was now acting as military commandant of Coo- mussie. Almost before he heard the particulars ofthe youth's capture he condemned him to be hung on the spot, as an example to all whe might be found engaged in the same forbidden act. The unfortunate boy awakened the entire city with his cries, for the men commanded to perform the ugly deed were so bervous and so ignorant of tue work that they Jad hauled him up toa branch without pintoning his arms or his feet. For more than half an hour the untrained bangmen bungled at their work before they finally succeeded in it, ‘The next morning a prisoner was brought before the same stern judge, who had, while on guard at the palace, deserted his post and given his gun to hold to an Asbhantee until be returned from a loot- ing tour, and Was afterwards found with his haver- sack full of valuable things. The stern judge or- ‘The morning of the 5th of Fepruary, avout twelve hours alter they had entered Coomassie, the wounded, numbering about eighty Europeans ana native allies, were sent out of Coomassie under a strong convoy ou their Way to the sea, aud it was rumored that i! the King did uot come to see Sir Garnet the entire army would commence its | return march homeward. About ten A. M., how- ever, Sir, Garnet was iniormed by messengers from the King thac His Majesty King Koffee would surely arrive that aiternoon. THE KING. Meanwhile everybody stroiied about the streets “loot” that was reported to be in Coomassie. King’s palace aud some other great cilety’ resi- dences contained valuable plunder, but there was | Dot wuch care taken to guard it against the con. scienceless rascals who always accompany am in- vading army, It was observed too that there were very Jew Ashantees in the city compared to the thousands wo bad furtively ered us on our first are rival the previousevening. There were not many guns, nor was there much gunpowder. 1 believe about twenty kegs comprised the entire quantity | discovered. Evidently there was some misunder- Standing or bad management somewhére, but it Was bot until the alternoon that the General or bis statf seemed fo waken to the fact that all was Not asit ought to be, Orokoko, the King's messenger, entered the town about two P. M., and informed Sir Garnet that the King tatended to come, but half an hour later he was aeen giving arms and ammunition out from some house to his followers to carry away. Theconseguence of which was that Uro- | Koko was arrested, along with Mosemajura, a great chief who was accustomed to travel to | Coomassie with 200 followers in his train; and three other chiefs were also taken prisoners while in the city under very suspicious circumstances. The Prince of the Royal Body Guard narrowly escaped capture, and, had efficicat precautions been taken, I doubt not the King himsel( would have been made aprisoner. After Orokoko’s capture Sir Garnet made up his mind that the King would not come, and laterin the day this was confirmed by tne re- Port of @ special messenger, PLUNDER. ‘The palace during the night was entered those detailed to collect the plunder, were packed up into aixteen bundies, to be couveyed to Cape Coast, where they will be sold at auctiou. the Whole booty taken down may be worth £1,500, or produce that sum. Amolg this booty ure seven masks of plated gold, Worta, according to official | | estimate, £280, or $1,400, | THE PLACE BLOWN UP. ‘Lhe moraing of the 6th the city was fired and the palace blowD up, aad the troops marched out of Coomassie onthe road home, Atter a march of 13% unles we have arrived to-night (the 6th), when { concluded my letter, as it is to be COL senger, the Hon. F. Wood, aide-de-camp to Sir Garnet, to the coast, Whence he will embark hnmediately jor England, Ihave not attempted to describe the city and what [ saw there—the King’s palace, the Golgotha, , the curious treasures, or the scores of scenes and incidents worth recording—because | have no time, We are now about to march each day ior the coast. | | | | vassi, the 9th Quiza, the l0ta Acroiom, lith As- suman, 12th Prahsu, and by the 22d we expect to | be at Cape Coast Castle. I bave contented myself with the brietest record of events which have oc- curred within the last week, into which everything ol Vital interest on this campaign has been com- pressed, I have no time to make reflections upon the measure of success which nas | attended this expedition, or upon the amount of praise that ought to -be lavished upon the General who commanded it, From tbe above briei epitome of events you bave suit clent knowledge of what hus transpired to enabie , # you 10 pronounce & pretty correct verdict upon it. U Siv Garnet bas not been so success/ul in the Ashantee campaign a8 Sir Robert Napier in the Abyssinian campaign a great many excuses may be made for him, to whiou I shall direct your | Bttention in My next letter, There sone thing f may Say LOW, and that ia that few oftice: which the expedition bas terminated; a iceling | somewhat akin to depression hav taken possession | of our minde—a ieeling that ull bas not ended os it ought to bave done, Unrefective eulogists will | spring up vy the hundyeds naturally to defend | him, and without doub: he will be 7@e@ and hon | ored as a successiai Ge: 1, di Sir Garnet's or- | ders were to burn Coomassie and defeat the Asnuus tees Sir Garnet has obeyed them to the letter, but | the Asuantee power is Bot by any means crushed. ‘dhe mere Lurning of Coomassie and the kiling of | Aout 2,000 Ashantees in the five battles cannot, im imy opiniod, compensa BiRad ivr the lows of | i,0eno00 abe the Killing ont dldabiliag of Bde 6: Med ol England; he had said he would come and | dered him to be punished with three dozen lashes! | and searched every house to discover the vast | The | and the most vaiuatle things, in the opinion of | $7,600 im gold; but there must be eager bidding to | veyed early to-inorrow morning by special mes- | On the 7th we reach Amaotul, on the sth AkKan- | outside | | Of the staf teel at ali elated at the manner in | jes che 1083 of over two score of valuavle men by disease. Thanks to the Troops. SPECIAL GENERAL ORDER, by Major General Sir ¢ B., K. C., M. G ommanding Her Majesty's forees in Western Atrica, Coomassi&, Feb. 5, 1 | SOLDIERS, SEAMEN AND Alas OF THIS piTioNany Forck—Aiter live days? very hard fight. | ing, under tryimg conditions, your courage an devotion have been rewarded with complete j cess, I thank you,in Her Majesty's n or your ga d good conduct throughout these operations. In the first phase of this war nantec army was driven back from the Vantee co! oO ita | OWn territory, Since then you have peuetrated | far through a dense forest, deiended at many | Points witu the greatest obstinac You have re- peatediy defeated a very numerous and most co) as enemy, tig 1g om his own ground, 12 | Well selected positions. British pluck apd (ue did ; Clpline common to Her Majesty’s land and sea forces Lave enanle i to overcome ali GH | culties and to seize upon the my's capital which now ilies at our w y All the peopl European and native, une justly held captive by the King of Ashautee ar@ | mow at liberty in camp, and you have proved wa this cruel and barbarous people that F nd iat | able to punisti her enemies, no matter what thee strength in numbers or position be. Maintain on your recurn march to the couss the | samme admirable conduct that you lave hitherto | evinced, and England may be sUy proud of | having such soldiers, sailors uid murives as { au of having had the honor of commanuiug you throughout this campat, Major General. PEBRCARY 7, 1874 Butler has arrived at Amao‘ul, his Akims boving deserted ina body, Arny has arrived at Amsolule siz LAMB TON LORRAINE. | The Banquet Vo Be Tendered Him by tat and Navy Club-What Happened to the Reception Committce Yesterday. ‘rue Army apd Navy Club, with the intention of expressing thew admiration of tue couduct of Sif Lambton Lorraiue, tue commander of Her Majesty’ ship Niobe, on the vecaston of bis prompt inter: lerence on behaif of the Vurginius capti at Santiago de Cuba last November, appointed 4 comas Inittee to Wait upon the British sailer ou Wis ex: pected arrival ip New York from Bermuda, and ui« vite him to be present at the club on the occasion \ of a banquet which was to be tendered tn lis honor, | The committee of reception and arrangements | appointed by the club to carry out the idea werd | Commodore Barry, General Lloyd Aspinwall | General M, T. Mestanon, late President oi | Cuban League; Colonel Hidt ant colonel Me | The plan of reception was to take the Q | urter | master’s steamboat Heury Sati and bring ah | Lambton Lorraine ashore at Quarantine irom the Bermuda steaiwer, aud teuder hima bountitul tos pitality during nis stay tn this city. Allday Wedues: | day the reception committee patientiy paced the deck of the Henry Siniti, Which @as moored of | the Revenue basin at tne Battery. Yescerday mori. | ing they returned to their post, but the dense log caused them to Unk that there Was ho chance of the Bermuda steamer waking ber Way into the | harbor, and several took their departure. Hardty | had they leit the Henry Stith Wien a telegra Was received that the steamer Canim hod passe | Sandy Hook and Was mnaking ber Way up tue bay Unrough the fog. At one o'clock Generai L. Aspin< wall and General McMahon resolved to go down the vay OD 2 Voyage Of expiorativa to And the Canima. These gentlemen were the only two tert to do the honors, ali the others having deserted, As soon asthe Henry Smith reached Governors island the og grew so dense that the two repre sentatives decided to abandon the expedix tion, in the belie! that the Canima would arrive earty this morning. A HERALD REPORTER'S VOYAGE OF EXPLORATION. Subsequently a HERALD reporter lound his wag’ down to Staten Island, and, alter taking a boat, commenced. the searca for the Canima, ‘The banw Was a long one, but iortunately nad a successiih | termmacion, lor the vessel Was found, Clambere ing on deck, the reporter found the Captain, and the lollowing conversation Look place: — | _ XEPORTER—Have you brouguy Sir Lambton. Loraine, 01 tue Niobe, with you ¢ CAPYAIN—NO, sit. He Will be on bere in a shor’ time, und itends coming witn me, Lt belleve. Thanking the Captain ior bis courtesy, tae rer porter leit the vessei and came ashore. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Resolution of the Investigating Come mittee to Carry Their Inquiries Far as Suspicion Shail Prompt—Governos Cooke’s Contract for Furniture. WASHINGTON, March 19, 1874. On the assembling of the District Investigating Committee to-day the Chairman, Mr. Allison, ane nounced that the committee had made a rulingig substance as follows, namely:—Tnat they will, im their discretion, issue subpanas duces tecum ta compel the production 01 private papers, provided | there be nrst filed with the committee au ufidavid of some person, or a proiessioual written state+ ment of counsel, averring to the best o1 nie knowledge the existence of such papers, ald showimg that they are materia evidence im the iuvestigation with which such commite tee are charged. The committee will ted decide as to the advisability of issuing the sub- pornas usKed for, it was vivo aunounced that te comunittee wiil not be restvicted to suca charged WU Specitications as the memorialists aay choos¢ to subinit, but will take suck xction and send lor SUCh Persons Aud pupers as May be necessary aug proper to secure a tuorouzh and impartial investi- gation of all matters embraced in the resolution of the Senate und House of Representatives creat ing the committee. A desultury examination of the school fund question then ensued, in which Varnous Memberg el tue committee, the counsel on both sides and Governor Sheplierd cugaged 10 argumentative | conversation, but nothing new was elcited and | the committee took a recess. AFTER RECESS. | After recess the committee examined William Bailuutyue to ascertain under What authority ha | provided iurniture ior the District schools. He testiiied that ue made the bargain and completed te iurpiture ugder a verbal order of the Schoal ‘‘rastees of the old Corporation of Washington, such having been the practice at that tine. Sub» | sequently, before the furniture was delivered, the new Disirict government having beew established, ne procured from Governor Looke 4 written oruer, | Wiese Mongeit entirely secute under the verpal ; Ctuer Of the GH mw-noritios, [OF WHOL Ue bad | mearly iultiied the contract. { The committee then adjourned until to-morrow. THE KINGS COUNTY SUPERVISORS, a Bilis Rejected—The Penitentiary Labore No Orders for Groceries Where Liquop is Sold@A Man Talked to Death. The Kings county Supervisors had a leagthy sex ‘ sion last night in the County Court House. The , Fimancial Committee reported adversely to the | payment of the claim of Mr, Johu N. Taylor, the | sermer Comptroller of the Park Commissioners | His bill was for $283 66, which was ve per cent } collection fees for the assessment Jevied against the county on the Parade Ground ior the beneilt re | cen roi the krauklin avenue suprovemeae | Yhe County Treasurer Was Ordered to pay the a® sessment only. | ‘Poe commattee reported in favor of the payrment | of the bills uf the Charity Commissioner's, anoun® Ing (oO $45,217, but rejected one o! 366 or asbestos | teiting. ee resolution Was ndopted authorizing the Soe nent 1 New York papers lor proposals i eNO AGT 1b tae Kings county Penitentiary, the | jabor to be supped by Jou male anu ov iemale | prisoners, and tie contract to coumence in July next, to be ior live years. The receipts ior whe ) Jabor last year amounred to $40,000, \ A Tesoiution was adopied tu the effect that ne | orders shail be given uereaiter for charities om any | Grocer wuo sells liquors, ‘A resolution Was oliered requosiing the meta pers o! the Legislature to drge the passage Of am act reposung Lue act ior the erection of tae Phare teenth Kegiment armory. Altera lengtay devate } at was tavied. Walle supervieor Clancy was speaking earnest; upon the temperance question & Luise Was hear the louby. Supervisor Hil arose Gud said buat one wen bad already been talned to aewtu. Supervisor vianoy sdidest did wot doit, Tsaw nao drop while supervisor Richarusoa Was } speaking. | Itappears that one of the auditors had cles yp abu rolled of tue bench, Waicl Caused mUce merument. WESTERN TRAVEL INTERRUPLED, Usada, March 19, 1874, The Union Pacific train irom the West, doe } abthree o'clock, will not arrive till midnight a | later, om account of tue bridge over Loup Pork, | tWo ‘miles west of Cojumbus, having been Weak ened wud Made UbsAle by ‘he yoiNg Ot Of the ise | Vhe bridge is bemg repaired wad strengthened Us @ Quarter Of w Mile of Loe Uniom Pacillt Fecspzaba ibe is Washed Tavray at tie ean Hiatie duver te sunbiag oun | t | | ju