The Ashanti War (Volume 1); A Narrative Prepared From the Official Documents by Permission of Major-General Sir Garnet Wolseley by Henry Brackenbury

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1874. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. PREPARATIONS FOR THE INVASION OF ASHANTI--THE ROAD TO THE PRAH--CAMPING-GROUNDS FOR EUROPEAN TROOPS--SANITARY PRECAUTIONS--HOSPITALS AND TRANSPORT FOR SICK AND WOUNDED--THE TRANSPORT QUE8TION GENERALLY -- ARRIVAL AND DESPATCH TO SEA OF THE EUROPEAN TROOPS -- ORDERS FOR THE MARCH AND FOR THE FIGHT--THE MAJOR-GENERAL'S PLAN OF INVASION. It has already been pointed out that in the earlier stages of his operations on the Gold Coast, the MajorGeneral had a double aim in view--to drive the enemy out of the Protectorate, and to make the necessary preparations for the subsequent invasion of Ashanti by a force of European troops. The steps taken towards the first of these ends have been described in the preceding chapters; the object of the present chapter will be to state briefly what were the most important measures adopted for the attainment of the second. The points specially requiring attention may be classed under the following heads:-- 1st, The formation of the road to the Prah. 2d, The establishment of camps at proper intervals along this road. 3d, The sanitary arrangements for the troops on the march. 4 th, The establishment of hospitals, and provision for the care and removal of sick and wounded. 5th, The transport of supplies and ammunition to the front. We will deal with these subjects in order; and in doing so, will risk some repetition of what may have already been said at different points of our narrative, in order to present each subject as nearly as possible in a complete and unbroken form. All hope of constructing a railway was given up immediately after our arrival on the Coast. On the 7th October, the Major-General reported that no railway, except one on Mr Fell's principle, could be laid and worked in the time at his disposal, as the cou...