Specialkarte der Länder an der Goldküste im inneren bis Kumassi, Englisch-Afrikanischer kriecsschauplatz

A remarkably detailed map of the coast of Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast) in the late 1800s during the period of the Third Anglo-Ashanti War. The territory of the Ashanti Kingdom can be seen in green along the upper edge of the map.

The English government had purchased the Dutch Gold Coast colony in 1872, merging it with the British Gold Coast to form a single colony. After centuries of stable relations between the Dutch and the Ashanti people, the sudden transition from Dutch to English rule caused outrage, leading to an Ashanti invasion in 1873.

The British response was swift and punitive: a force of 2,500 British troops landed in January 1874 under the command of General Garnet Wolseley. Cleverly, the British moved slowly towards the Ashanti capital at Kumasi, widening and improving the road as they moved and also constructing bridges, telegraph lines, and fortifications. The strength of the British supply chain allowed them to reach Kumasi just over a month after leaving the coast. Only one small skirmish had been fought along the way, with only 4 soldiers killed and fewer than 200 wounded. 

The Ashanti had abandoned their capital when the British arrived in early February. The royal palace was burned to the ground by the British army as a punishment to the King. The terms of the eventual peace treaty imposed a payment of 50,000 ounces of gold, free trade rights between Ashanti and the British Gold Coast, and an end to human sacrifices. The victory was considered a major success for Wolseley who had completed the campaign in less than two months, avoiding the dangerous summer months when heat and disease might have ravaged his army.

Printed colour. [AFR6340]