During the night a panic took place among the native carriers, for a native sentry on outpost duty having fired his piece about four in the morning, the carriers were terrified. One officer was awakened by these cowards jumping over him; another sleeping in a hammock was overset by them. They knocked down the piled rifles, and were running in every direction in abject and contemptible terror. At last order was restored.
On February 1 the six companies of the Battalion at Egginassie were extended to line the road from that village to Insarfu (the 42nd continuing the line from Egginassie to Amoaful) in order to allow supplies to be brought up from Insarfu to the front. On the same day the village of Becqua was destroyed by some of the other troops. In this affair the Battalion was to have been employed; but orders had been given to Colonel Warren as soon as he had assembled his six companies at Egginassie to ascertain if there was any force of Ashantees in the bush near the road between Quarman and Insarfu, and if they were found, to clear the bush with his Riflemen. No enemy were there; but in consequence of this delay, the Battalion did not reach Amoaful till after one o’clock, at which hour the expedition to Becqua had started. Part of the 42nd were therefore substituted for the Riflemen.
On their arrival at Amoaful they remained under arms in the broad street or central place until the destruction of Becqua was ascertained. Then they were dismissed; and, after assisting in burying the dead Ashantees, encamped.
On the 2nd the Battalion advanced; Lord Gifford and his scouts preceding with some native troops, Captain Cary’s company guarded Captain Rait’s guns, and Captain Lascelles’ company was in support. These formed the advanced guard under Colonel M’Leod. The Battalion followed, Captain Somerset’s company forming an escort to Sir Archibald Alison. The other regiments brought up the rear. They moved off between six and seven o’clock, and soon came up with the rear of the Ashantees, on whom the native troops immediately opened fire, but with so little effect that Colonel M’Leod halted them and brought up Cary’s company to the front. But the enemy made no stand, merely firing wildly and then flying. The road was strewed with food, clothing, and weapons, evidencing the precipitate flight of the enemy. On the march, Cary’s company still leading, the Riflemen passed through three villages and a camp all deserted by the Ashantees; though in some fires still burning and cooking materials at hand showed how short a time they had been abandoned. As a flank attack was not unlikely, Somerset’s company was extended and searched the forest paths on each side of the road. Sir Archibald Alison, as whose escort they had acted, signified through Captain Robinson, his Brigade-Major, his marked approval of the way in which they had skirmished, and of the individual intelligence of these Riflemen.
The Battalion reached Aggemamu, a distance of eight miles, about three in the afternoon, and halted there.
But Cary’s and Lascelles’ companies were pushed on about two miles and a half to the village of Adwabin, which they occupied.
Sir Garnet Wolseley having resolved to take on his forces to Coomassie as a flying column, determined to leave his baggage at Aggemamu, and to make that place a temporary base, through which his communications might be kept open with the rear. The Battalion was therefore ordered to find a captain to take charge of this post, and the duty fell to Captain Cope. At Aggemamu the roads to Coomassie bifurcate; one leading to the right or east, and one the longer, but it was reported the best road, forking to the left. This Sir Garnet resolved to follow.
‘The importance of Aggemamu could scarcely be overestimated. From it two roads led to Coomassie, by the longer of which we were about to march, disregarding the shorter or easternmost of the two. It was of course of vital importance that the point at the junction of the roads should be securely held, as a base for our flying column, and as a point of support upon which, if necessary, to fall back.’[333]
Lieutenants Bell and Hare, with native labourers, were engaged in the evening of this day, under the superintendence of Captain Home, in making a clearing round Aggemamu.