It is exactly one hundred and ninety seven (197)years ago today, January 22nd, 1824 when the Ashantis defeated the British in the Battle of Nsamankow as part of the first Anglo-Ashanti War in a series of Wars between the two Empires
How It All Started
The British Governor, Charles McCarthy was killed.
It all started when an exchange of words arose between an Asante trader and a policeman, the abusive words altered by the policeman was reported to the Asantehene Osei Tutu Kwame Asibey Bonsu.
Immediately, messengers were sent to capture the policeman and behead him. This resulted in an open confrontation between the Coastal States and the Asante Nation. It developed into an actual war between the Asante Nation on one side against the British and the Coastal States.
The war, known as the Battle of Nsamankow was won by the Ashantis. On the night of the 20th, still without having joined forces with the other three groups, MacCarthy's force camped by a tributary of the Pra River.
The next day, at around 2pm, they encountered a large enemy force of around ten thousand men; “believing” that the Ashanti army contained several disaffected groups whose chiefs were willing to defect, MacCarthy instructed the band to play " God Save the King" loudly.
The Ashanti responded by approaching closer, beating war drums, and his beliefs were swiftly dispelled. Fighting started shortly thereafter; the two sides were separated by a 60 feet (18 m)-wide stream, which the Ashanti attempted to cross by felling trees for bridges.
The British at first shot the Ashantis who tried to cross the exposed tree trunks.The British forces bearers bringing the supplies up in the rear, which included most of the gunpowder and ammunition, mostly fled after hearing the firing in the distance.
MacCarthy, along with Ensign and his secretary, attempted to fall back; he was wounded by gunfire.
The Ashantis killed and beheaded MacCarthy. MacCarthy's gold-rimmed skull was later taken to Kumasi as trophy.
Ensign Wetherell was killed whilst trying to defend MacCarthy's body and Williams taken prisoner. On his return, he related that he had only survived through being recognised by an Ashanti chief for whom he had done a small favour, and was spared;
he was held prisoner for several months, locked in a dwelling which he shared with the severed heads of MacCarthy and Wetherell, kept as trophies of war.
The battle was fought on the banks of River Pra.
Today, the Ashanti Kingdom survives as a constitutionally protected, sub-national traditional state in union with the Republic of Ghana. It is also the second largest region after Accra. The current king of the Ashanti Kingdom is Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Asantehene. The Ashanti Kingdom is the home to Lake Bosomtwi, Ghana's only natural lake. The state's current economic revenue is derived mainly from trading in gold bars, cocoa, kola nuts and agriculture.
Credit :Ashanti Kingdom
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