The enemy’s army being very numerous, and the allied force composed of various native tribes (some of them little better than an organized rabble), it became necessary that the navy should render the most effective co-operation, and that with all possible celerity. Accordingly, Sir John Phillimore anchored the Thetis to the westward, and the Swinger gun-brig to the eastward, within grape range of the beach, so as to command the approaches on each side of the castle, which was garrisoned by two watches of his ship’s company, and 16 volunteers from a merchant vessel, whilst the troops marched out to meet their savage enemy: the officers, seamen, and marines landed were all placed under the command of Mr. Andrew Drew, first Lieutenant of the Thetis. The boats of the frigate, gun-brig, and merchantmen, were also armed, each with a brass field-piece, put under the direction of Lieutenant William Cotesworth, and sent to act along the beach, or with the castle, as circumstances should require. The gunner and carpenter of the Thetis, with their respective crews, laid a platform and mounted guns on Phipps’s tower, which important post was entrusted to the charge of Mr. Roswell, master’s-mate, having under him a midshipman and 8 sailors. These and other harassing services called forth the exertions of every individual engaged in them, and they were performed with that zeal, discretion, and regard to good discipline, which render all our naval co-operations so effective, and which so properly, on such occasions, become the theme of commendation of all who witness them.
From July 4, the day of Sir John Phillimore’s arrival at Cape Coast, until the 11th of the same month, daily skirmishes took place between the Ashantees and the British outposts; on the latter day, the enemy made a general attack upon our position, about three quarters of a mile from the shore; the engagement lasted, without intermission, until dark, and terminated with their total defeat; their loss was computed at 2000 men, and their whole force appeared to be disorganized; they broke up the following day from their advanced positions, and commenced a disorderly retreat to Coo-
