The Anglo-Asante War of 1873-1874 : a narrative and analysis

359 Pages·2005·9.72 MB·English

by  Kilby, Peter.

THE ANGLO-ASANI'Z biAK OF 1873-1874
A NARRATIVE AND ANALYSIS
by
Peter Barton Ki.lby
B. A., University of British Columbia, 1960
A THESIS SIII3iiITTED I N PARTIAL FULFfLLI.Ii3fIT OF
in the Department
of
History
EXAMINING COMMITTEE APPROVAL
Alexander Peter Kup
Senior Supervisor
Philip Stigger
Examining Committee
Brian Harrison
E~aminin~C;o mmittee
PARTTAL COPYRIGIIT LICENSE
I hereby grant to Simon Fraser University the right to lend
my thesis or dissertation (the title of which is shown below) to users
of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single
copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library
of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own
behalf or for one of its users. I further agree that permission for
multiple copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted
by me or the Dean of Graduate Sttldies. It is understood that copying
or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed
without my written permission.
Title of Thesis/~issertation:
Author:
(signature )
(name )
(date)
The purpose of t h i s study is two-fold. First, it is in-
tended t o be the narrative of a war which resulted in a radical
change in British policy on the Xest Coast of Africa. Second,
it is an attempt t o assess, i n military terms, the manner in
which the British conducted their campaign against the Asarite in
1873-1874.
The information upon which the study is based was secured
primarily from the Colonial Office Confidential Print, the Ses-
sional Papers of the British Parliament, and several edited col-
. .
lections of document s--notably those compiled by J J Crooks,
G.8. Metcalfe, and C.W. Mewbury. In addition, however, works
published by many of the participants themselves proved t o be
invaluable. Although studies published by X.F!. Claricge, U.
Kimble, and U.B.F. Ward were used somewhat extensively, secondary
materials provided l i t t l e more than background informtion.
A s an introduction, the growth of British involvement on
the Gold ~ o a s at n d the development of the Anglo-Asante dispute
is traced from the time of the first British contact vith the
region up t o the very eve of war. The study then procezds t o
examine i n detail the conduct of the campaign against the Asante.
Finally, because the official docunonts and much of the primary
source material present a distorted view of the roles played by
the various participants, an attempt is made t o re-evaluate the
performance of those participants.
This approach has revealed that much of what was written
of t h i s war was either biased or inconplcte. For example, Colo-
nel R.U. Harley, the Administrator of the Gold uoast until Octo-
ber 1873, was a man who received l i t t l e recognition for his role
i n ths war yet he is revealed as a man who acconplished much in
the face of almost overwhelming odus. Si~riilarly,t he Fanti
tribesmen, who were consistently reviled for their laziness and
cowardice at t h i s time, emerge i n a considerably better light.
In addition, the role which Captain John Glover, R.V., played i.n
the war is proven t o have been much more significant than hither-
t o acknowledged. Above all, &la jor-General S i r Garnet T,lolseley,
who is often referred to as one of 3ritain's greatest generals,
is proven in t h i s instance t o have been a soldier of far less
merit than previously supposed.
CHAPTER PAGE
.
I THE DEVELOPXLNT OF APT GLO-ASANrE IIELATIOMS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TO 1873 1
. . .
I n i t i a l European Impact on the Gold Coast 1
. . . . . . . . .
The Rise of )'anti. and Asante 3
The Asante on the Coast and I n i t i a l
. . . . . . . . . . .
Anglo-Asante Relations 6
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
George Xaclean 14
The Growth of Critish Influence on the
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gold Coast 20
. . . . .
The War of 1g63 and its Consequences 26
'I'he Select Committee of 1865 and
. .
the Continued Growth of British Influence 28
. . . . . . . .
The Cession of the Dutch Forts 37
. . . . . . . . . . . .
The Fanti Confederation 42
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TheEveof\!ar 45
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I1 STALSIUTE 48
. . . . . . . . . . .
The Asante Plan of Attack 1+8
. . . . . . . .
I n i t i a l Fanti-British Reaction 51
. . . .
The Battle of Dunkwa and Its Ai'terrnath 70
The Battle of ;ukwa and the collapse
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
o f t h e F a n t i 79
Increased 3ritish involvenent and
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Activity 82
CHAPTER
. . . . . . . . .
tiommodore C;om:lerellls Defeat 95
. . . . . . . . . . .
Colonel Harley Replaced 97
. . . . . . . . . . .
111. THE 'PROTECTORATEt CLEAKED 99
. . . . . . . .
The Appointment of Sir Garnet 100
Recruiting Efforts Along the West
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
Coast of Africa 104
. . . . . .
I n i t i a l bleasures on the Gold Coast 106
. . . . . . . . . . . .
TheBattle ofEsarnan 121
. . . . . . .
Amankwa Tiats Withdrawal Begins 128
. . . .
Abrakrampa and Subsequent Operations 135
. . . . . . . . .
The 'Protectorate' tileared 147
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IV TIIEDRIVETOKU1.iASI 150
. . . . . . . .
Preparations for the Invasion 151
. . . . . . . . . . . .
The Auxiliary ~0l~ITm.s 159
. . . . . . . . . . .
Transport Problems Begin 163
. . . . . .
The Advanced-Guard crosses the Pra 168
. . . . . . . . . . .
The Kain Eody Advances 174
. . . . . . . . . . . .
The Battle of Amoafu 1g0
Kofi Karikari's Final Diplomatic
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Initiative 192
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Battle of Odasu 194
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kumasi Taken 198
. . . . . . . . . . .
The Kcturn t o Cape Coast 200
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Treaty Signed 207
- -
v i i
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
V. CONCLUSICXS 209
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FOOTNOTES.. 249
. .
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 321
4
-
AWENDIX A Extract From Colonial Office
Orders t o S i r Garnet Volseley, 10 September,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1873.. 333
-
APFEIJDIX B War Office Orders t o Sir Garnet
. . . . . . . . .
-
Wolseley 8 September, 1873 337
-
APPENDIX C Further Instruction Fron the
-
Colonial Office t o Sir Garnet !'folseley
-
APPENDIX D Initial Letters From Kofi
. . . . . . .
Karikari t o Sir Garnet Wolseley. 343
-
-
viii
LIST OF TABLZS
TABLE PAGE
. . . . .
-
I. British Troop Arrivals December 1873 296
11. Percentage of blortality to Strength for
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the Campaign , 319
111. Total Sick, Invalided, llounded, Died,
. . . . . . . .
and Killed for the Campaign. 319
LIST OF BIAPS
PAGE
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Vest Africa "circatT 1G65. x
. . . . . . .
-
Gold Coast Chief Tribal Divisions 251
. . . . . . . . .
Post-TiTar Exploration, 1815-1821 345
. . . . .
Clapperton, Lander, and the Lower Niger 345
Sketch t o illustrate the Action at Esarnan,
. . . . . . . . . . . .
14thofOctober,1873. 122
Diagram of British dispositions a t the Battle
. . . . . . .
of Amoafu, 3lst-of January, 1874. 308
Sketch t o illustrate the action at Amoafu,
. . . . . . . . . .. . .
31st of January, 1874 183
Elap t o illustrate the operations against the
Ashan tis up t o their repulse frcnl Abrakrarnpa
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
i n ~ovember1 873. ; 346
.
9. General Kap of the Gold Coast and Ashanti 347
10. Nap of those parts of Ashanti and the British
Protectorate which foraed the theatre of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
war in 1873-1874. 348