Ashanti war (1873-4). By the start of the 19th century the powerful Ashanti (Asante) kingdom, with its capital at Kumasi about 109 miles (176 km) into the interior, dominated the coastal tribes of the Gold Coast (modern Ghana). Slavery was a significant part of the Ashanti economy, trading slaves with European fortified posts along the coast; they also practised ritual human sacrifice, and had some wealth in gold. Ashanti power over the coastal tribes waned as the British, who abolished their slave trade in 1807, gradually replaced other European powers (chiefly the Danes and the Dutch) in control of the coastal forts, establishing an informal protectorate over particularly the coastal Elima and Fanti tribes.
The occasion of the war was the attempt by the new Ashanti king (Assantehene) Kofi Karikari, who came to power in 1867, to re-establish control over these disputed coastal provinces. The Ashanti mounted two military expeditions against the Elmina in 1868 and 1872, both repulsed with British help, while negotiating with the British for return of the provinces. The Ashanti were aware of British strength, but believed that the British could not penetrate deeply into the disease-ridden African bush, and that at the short ranges of bush fighting their muskets and spears could match British breech-loading rifles and cannon. A further Ashanti attack in June 1873, in which hostages were taken including European missionaries, convinced the British (who had already made earlier plans) to mount an expedition against the Ashanti.
Command was given in August to Maj Gen Sir Garnet Wolseley, the rising star of British army reformers. Wolseley selected for the campaign 27 officers who became famous as ‘the Ashanti Ring’ or ‘the Wolseley Ring’, dominating British campaigns for the next quarter-century. Nine ‘Ring’ members later reached general rank or higher, including Redvers Buller, Evelyn Wood, Frederick Maurice, and George Colley. Arriving in October, Wolseley began to raise and train local forces, and made a small but successful attack on the Ashanti encampments at Essaman. The Ashanti managed to withdraw, fighting a series of rearguard actions that lasted until November.
The poor response to his attempts to recruit local forces convinced Wolseley that only British troops could beat the Ashanti in battle, and three battalions were sent from Britain, together with further troops from the West Indian Regiment. While waiting for these to arrive and acclimatize, Wolseley's staff tackled the transport and supply problems of sustaining such a force deep into the bush, using about 6, 000 local people as porters and labourers to cut muddy roads almost like tunnels through the vegetation. By December a forward base was established at Prasu, on the river Prah (Pra) about halfway to Kumasi. With the realization that the British might well reach Kumasi, Kofi's authority started to break down. By 19 January 1874 Wolseley had established at Prasu a force of 4, 000, including two British battalions, a West Indian battalion, some British sailors, and some locally raised troops, with 7-pounder guns and rocket-projectors. A further British battalion and a West Indian battalion were used as reserves and replacements, and to garrison the staging post established on 24 January at Formena, halfway from Prasu to Kumasi. Wolseley's plan was for his main advance on Kumasi to be supported by three other columns of local warriors under British officers, converging on the Ashanti capital from different directions. Of 30, 000 expected, only one of the flanking columns, 750 Hausa under Capt Glover of the Royal Navy, reached Kumasi. By this time Wolseley's main column, reduced by disease and skirmishing to 2, 217 (including 1, 509 British troops), had fought and defeated the Ashanti at the battle of Amoafu on 31 January. Wolseley's force entered Kumasi on 3 February, and finding it unoccupied burnt it to the ground and withdrew three days later. On 13 February King Kofi's representatives agreed peace at Fomena: the chief terms were that the Ashanti would pay an indemnity in gold, renounce their claims on disputed provinces, and abjure human sacrifice. Kofi, his power broken, was deposed in 1874, and the Ashanti kingdom broke up into warring tribes and factions. In 1901, after two further British expeditions, the Ashanti kingdom was absorbed into the Gold Coast protectorate.
Bibliography
- Callwell, C. E., Small Wars (London 1906, 1990).
- Keegan, John, ‘The Ashanti Campaign 1873-1874’, in Brian Bond (ed.), Victorian Military Campaigns (London 1967, 1994).
- Lehmann, Joseph, All Sir Garnett (London, 1964)
— Stephen Badsey
