Battle of Amoaful

Battle of Amoaful
Part of Third Anglo-Ashanti War
A British illustration of the battle
Date 31 January 1874 Location West Africa Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Ashanti Empire
Commanders and leaders
Sir Garnet Wolseley	Bantamahene Amankwatia   †
Strength
1,509 Europeans and 708 natives [1]	Estimated at 15,000–20,000 [1]
Casualties and losses
16 officers and 174 men killed and wounded [1]	Estimated at 3,000 [1]

The Battle of Amoaful was fought on 31 January 1874 during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War when Sir Garnet Wolseley defeated the Ashantis after strong resistance. ^[2] The attack was led by the 42nd Regiment of Foot. ^[2] At Amoaful, one combat post-mortem pays tribute to the Ashanti commander: "The great Chief Amanquatia was among the killed. Admirable skill was shown in the position selected by Amanquatia, and the determination and generalship he displayed in the defence fully bore out his great reputation as an able tactician and gallant soldier." ^[3] Lance-Sergeant Samuel McGaw was awarded the Victoria Cross for action during the battle. ^[4]

References

1. Beckett, Ian (2009). Wolseley and Ashanti: the Asante war journal and correspondence of Major General Sir Garnet Wolseley 1873-1874. Stroud: History Press for the Army Records Society. pp. 311–312. ISBN   978-0-7524-5180-0.
2. Ashanti Wars Heritage History
3. Low, Charles Rathbone (1878). A Memoir of Lieutenant-General Sir Garnet J. Wolseley. London: R. Bentley & Son. p. 174.
4. Lance Sergeant Samuel McGaw Archived March 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Black Watch