War 165 



savage between them. He was all right directly, and 

 very grateful for a little ship's biscuit, which arrived at our 

 first halt. 



" Aith February, Wednesday. — The engineers and sailors 

 built a narrow bridge across the Dah last night, which we 

 crossed at 7 a.m., and immediately became engaged with 

 the enemy." 



A very hard day it was, too, for us. We were in front 

 as before, and were engaged directly we were over the 

 bridge. We had flattered ourselves that the heavy rain 

 might have rendered their powder damp, or prevented their 

 guns from working freely, but they had very simple covers 

 made of antelope skins, that were perfectly water-proof, 

 and that answered their purpose admirably. There was 

 one position that was held by one of our companies for 

 more than an hour, and which was desperately attacked 

 by masses of the enemy. 



" Before reaching Ordahsu, we were a long time halted 

 at one place, as the Ashantis made a most determined 

 attack on Lieutenant Taylor's Company, on the right flank. 

 A thickly wooded valley ran up to the top of the ridge, 

 and the Ashantis came up in masses for a long time. 

 Our men were lying down on the crest of the ridge, firing 

 down upon them, and we did not get a man hit, although 

 their fire was very heavy and continuous. All their shots 

 went over our heads. The men fired their seventy rounds 

 away, and I brought up a fresh supply, and they fired most 

 of them too. Their shoulders and cheeks were very much 

 knocked about by the recoil." 



"Tired 20,000 rounds to-day." 



" My pony was struck on the saddle-flaps by a bullet." 



" Sergeant Armstrong, the master cook, was following 



