emselves of
several thousands, before the arrival of a single soldier from England,
solely by the naval forces, aided by the one black regiment upon the
spot. The West Indians were placed in garrison upon the Prah, and the
bluejackets returned to their ships.

In December the 42nd, a battalion of the Rifle Brigade, and the 23rd
Fusiliers arrived. It was found, however, that it was impossible to
provide transport for so large a force, and the 23rd were therefore
re-embarked, together with a battery of Royal Artillery which had also
come out. Two hundred of the Fusiliers, however, subsequently re-landed
and marched to the front.

On the 1st January the disembarkation took place, and the 42nd
Highlanders and Rifle Brigade marched for the front, the Naval Brigade
having gone up a week previously. On the 20th the bridge across the
Prah was completed by the bluejackets and engineers, under the command
of Colonel Home. Lord Gifford, in command of a party of native scouts,
first went forward, and was followed by Wood and Russell's native
regiments. These pushed forward without opposition, and gained the
crest of the Adansi hills. The King of Ashanti was now seriously
alarmed, and sent in three German missionaries and a French merchant,
whom he had retained for some time as prisoners.

Short as the time had been that the force was on shore, already large
numbers were suffering from sickness, and out of the total European
force of 1800 men, 215 were already unfit for duty.

Without opposition the force arrived as far as Fommanah, a large village
30 miles from Coomassie. Here letters were received from the king,
asking for peace. Sir Garnet Wolseley, however, demanded that hostages
consisting of leading members of the king's family should be given up as
proofs of his sincerity. The king, however, who was in reality only
trying to gain time, took no notice of the demand, and the advance
continued.

At the village of Borborassie, a few miles farther, the Ashantis offered
their first resistance. The place was carried with a rush by the Naval
Brigade, a company of Fusiliers, and some of Russell's regiment.
Captain Nicol, who led the advance, was killed.

Information was now gained that the enemy was posted in great force near
the villages of Amoaful and Beckquah, and here a battle was expected to
take place. Owing to the number of garrisons left at the various posts
upon the road, Wood's regiment was now reduced to