Prev | Current Page 362 | Next

Henty, G. A. (George Alfred), 1832-1902

"By Sheer Pluck, a Tale of the Ashanti War"

Ammon Quatia's army, however, although still, from
the many reinforcements it had received, nearly twenty thousand
strong, positively refused to do any more fighting until they had
been home and rested, and their tales of the prowess of the white
troops so checked the enthusiasm of the newcomers, that these
decided to return with the rest.

CHAPTER XXI: THE ADVANCE TO THE PRAH

A large body of natives were now kept at work on the road up to the
Prah. The swamps were made passable by bundles of brushwood thrown
into them, the streams were bridged and huts erected for the reception
of the white troops. These huts were constructed of bamboo, the
beds being made of lattice work of the same material, and were
light and cool.
On the 9th of December the Himalaya and Tamar arrived, having on
board the 23d Regiment, a battalion of the Rifle Brigade, a battery
of artillery, and a company of engineers. On the 18th, the Surmatian
arrived with the 42d. All these ships were sent off for a cruise,
with orders to return on the 1st of January, when the troops were
to be landed. A large number of officers arrived a few days later
to assist in the organization of the transport corps.


Pages:
350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374