age without a check. In
the meantime the whole column had been following in the rear as the
Rifles advanced, and were hotly engaged in repelling a series of
flank attacks on the part of the enemy. These attacks were gallantly
persevered in by the Ashantis, who at times approached in such masses
that the whole bush swayed and moved as they pushed forward.

Their loss must have been extremely large, for our men lined the road
and kept up a tremendous Snider fire upon them at a short distance. Our
casualties were slight. The road, like almost all roads in the country,
was sunk two feet in the center below the level of the surrounding
ground, consequently the men were lying in shelter as behind a
breastwork, while they kept up their tremendous fire upon the foe.

The village once gained, the leading troops were thrown out in a circle
round it, and the order was given to pass the baggage from the rear to
the village. The operation was carried out in safety, the path being
protected by the troops lying in a line along it. The baggage once in,
the troops closed up to the village, the disappointed foe continuing a
series of desperate attacks upon their rear. These assaults were kept up
even after all had reached the cleared space of the village, the enemy's
war horn sounding and the men making the woods re-echo with their wild
war cry. The Naval Brigade at one time inflicted great slaughter upon
the enemy by remaining perfectly quiet until the Ashantis, thinking they
had retired, advanced full of confidence, cheering, when a tremendous
fire almost swept them away.

It was six hours from the time at which the advance began before the
rear guard entered the village, and as but a mile and a half had been
traversed and Coomassie was still six miles away, it was evident that
if the Ashantis continued to fight with the same desperation, and if the
baggage had to be carried on step by step from village to village, the
force would not get halfway on to Coomassie by nightfall.

The instant the baggage was all in, preparations were made for a fresh
advance. Rait's guns, as usual, opened to clear the way, and the 42d
this time led the advance. The enemy's fire was very heavy and the
Highlanders at first advanced but slowly, their wounded straggling
back in quick succession into the village. After twenty minutes' work,
however, they had pushed back the enemy beyond the brow of the hill, and
from this point they advanced with great rapid