erell had been obliged to return
to the Cape from the effect of his wound--was anxious that his men
should not remain upon shore, orders were sent up to Major Russell to
march the marines and seamen down to the shore. Fortunately, however,
an hour or two before the men were to start, the news arrived that the
Ashantis were advancing to attack the camp.

A breastwork had been thrown up round the village, and the church was
converted into a sort of keep, platforms having been raised inside to
the level of the upper windows, through which the marines and seamen
could fire at the advancing enemy. When, from the noise in the woods,
Major Russell became assured that the news was true, he sent a messenger
to Cape Coast for assistance, and prepared to repel the attack. The
Ashantis advanced with great bravery, but were driven back by the rapid
fire kept up upon them from the breastworks and church, and presently
fell back into the woods again. They, however, continued to beleaguer
the place, occasionally showing in great masses.

Directly the news reached Cape Coast every available seaman and marine
was landed from the ships, and at seven in the morning the column
started. The distance was about 15 miles, and the heat tremendous. An
hour's rest was allowed at a village where the road for Abrakrampa
turned off from the main line, and at the end of that time the great
proportion of our men were sufficiently recovered to continue their
march. They made a long detour, so as to avoid coming down by the road
by which the Ashantis would naturally expect them to advance, and in
which they would have been engaged in a fight in the thick of the
forest. They therefore arrived at Dunquah without firing a shot.

It was then late in the evening. The following morning the black troops
advanced into the forest, and reported that the Ashantis were in full
flight. The garrison then sallied out, and found that the village
occupied as the Ashanti headquarters had been deserted, and that the
enemy had left. They still, however, lingered in large numbers in the
woods near, for a party of Fantis were fallen upon, and many were
killed.

The force of bluejackets and marines, together with the 2nd West India
Regiment, now advanced towards the Prah, the Ashantis hastily
retreating, and no more fighting took place.

Thus the invasion of the protectorate was defeated, and the invaders
driven across their frontier, with a loss admitted by th