SOME DANISH ACCOUNTS OF THE 1815-16 ASANTE MILITARY EXPEDITION ON THE GOLD COAST
By R. A. Kea
University of California-Riverside
Below are translated extracts from three documents relating to the 1815-16 Asante punitive expedition on the coast. The documents are to be found in the State Archives (Rigsarkivet), Copenhagen. The original spellings of proper names has been retained.
Document I
[State Archives, Copenhagen, Generaltoldkammerets Archiv 1760-1848 (Vestindiske og Guineiske Sager). Sager til Guineiske Journaler 1778-1859. No. 1497: 1817. Letter from J. E. Richter, dd. Christiansborg, 2 August 1816, to the State Customs Department, Copenhagen].
Last year, the 2nd of August, a strong army came down from Assiante; its purpose was peaceful and it intended to sell some gold and ivory, which they carried, to the Europeans here on the coast for goods, but they were attacked on the road by the Akims as well as the Aquapims. After an hour of fighting, the two combined forces were totally beaten by the Assiantees, following which the victorious Assiantees encamped in Aquapim on the hill Abodeh. An embassy of four princes, a speaker (Taler), and some principal men (store mand) came to Christiansborg... with accusations against interim governor Schiønning, namely, that he had spoken violently and insultingly against the king, therefore they demanded an enormously great sum of 2,000 rigsdaler, which they wanted governor Schiønning to pay to their king; they used haughty words towards us and intended to frighten us with their army, which was encamped in the neighborhood, but governor Schiønning continued to deny the accusations and insisted that they furnish proof, which they could not rightly do. In consequence, their claim and tone fell day by day til at last we contented them with 160 rigsdaler Assiantee price, though not as a fine for the alleged accusations, but, according to the customary manner, as a present to the King. Still this embassy has caused a great deal of expenses because of the many princes and principal men to whom one cannot give trifles.
Some weeks later, an embassy was sent from the commanding general of the army to the Ningo Negroes with demands for large sums, because of their behavior in 1811 against their countrymen, Assiantee merchants, whom the Ningo had seized and had handed over to the Aquapims who were the Assiantees' enemy. This embassy came into the fort to greet the commandant on behalf of their general and informed me why they had come to the Ningo Negroes. Such greetings from important men always involve expenses.
After they had encamped about five months and had stolen from and plundered all the coastal Negroes, they decamped and marched to Fantee, where they continually advanced completely victorious over the combined Fantees, Akims and Aquapims whom they pursued to Cape Coast and Elmina; they captured the most important of those cabuseers who did not kill themselves. At Cape Coast and Annamaboe about 8,000 men, women, and children fled out to the open sea in their canoes, and the governor into his fort. Finally, the governor at Cape Coast had to take the Negroes' conflict in hand and arrange the peace for them as the Assiantees had declared that the Cape Coast Negroes must pay a considerable sum of gold, amounting to 2,000 rigsdaler, to the Assiantee King...
As the Assiantee army had freed itself from it enemies on the upper coast, it came here again... and pitched their camp right on the Accra Negroes' farming place called Oniase, about two miles from Accra and this town. They are still there and eat up all of the coastal Negroes' corn, yams, cassava, gobbegobbess (a kind of bean), pessiange and baccotiti which they had sowed and planted for their year's provisions. Hardly any coastal Negroes dare go up and do anything to earn their living with their own labor, for the Assiantees, straight away, take it from them and the coastal Negroes dare not oppose this. In about four months from now we will all come to a time of hunger for bread [and] titi, because the planting time for... the whites' New Year's harvest is nearly over and no coastal Negro has dared to go to plant and sow as long as the Assiantees lay encamped in their corn fields. The army has now decided to go down to the Crobbo and Adah Negroes in case they will not... pay the claim which the Assiantees will lay on them because of the injury which the Adah Negroes and the Crobbo Negroes had inflicted on Assiantee merchants in order to steal their goods, and they had killed several of them.
The war will, thus, come to the environs of the fort, Fredensborg. God liberate us from this nasty pack of thieves. It is unheard of... how unjustly they deal with these coastal Negroes on whom they impose fines for quite preposterous reasons, and the coastal Negroes come often to us whites and pester us for loans with which to pay their fines to the Assiantees. The latter are now on the way to entering into peace with the Aquapims, but their first cabuseer, named Quau, and a second cabuseer named Anim, and, also, two brothers of the former were killed by the Assiantees. In addition, the Aquapims have paid to the Assiantees nearly 200 slaves and more than 1,600 to 2,000 rigsdaler gold price. The Aquapims with their leader, who is now cabuseer after Quau, named Adoe Danqua, came to us and asked us to pay a large sum to the Assiantees on their behalf on the grounds that they serve us Danes and have gage from us; but, unfortunately, we ourselves were without means, and had little to give. Still, in order not to completely refuse these negroes we paid about 250 rigsdaler, a sum which they had outstanding on their gage. They were not all satisfied with this, but we could not spare more. The whole of Aquapim country now lies under Assiantee domination.
Document II
[State Archives, Copenhagen. Diverse Arkivalier fra Guinea 1703-1850, Raadsprotokol 1815-1816].
Entry for 13 July 1815 - commandant Flindt [of Kongensten, Ada] reports that rumor has it that the Assiantees are on the Akim border and that there is a contagious disease among them.
Entry for 20 July 1815 - commandant Flindt reports that there have been messengers in the fort form the Akim king and the Aquapim cabuseer and they state that it is true that the Assiantees are approaching and that they intend to tear down the Danish forts and seize the governor and the commandants.
The 24th of July 1815 the commanding fort chiefs were notified by circular letter, C. Schiønning [of Christiansborg, Osu] - Today the news was brought here by a fugitive Assiantee that the Assiantee army has had three battles with the Akims and Aquapims, drove them back, and, also, forced them back to Aquapim Mampon.
Entry for 25 July 1815 - commandant Flindt reports that there
has been a messenger from
Dusay and one from Ahoh who informed Adah town and the fort that Aquapim
Quau has sent two messengers to them in order to let them know that it is
not only the Assiantees' intention to defeat the Danes and their Negro towns
but also Accra and all of Augna.
Entry for 27 July 1815 - commandant Flindt reports the following: The whole Adah town has agreed to send two messengers to all of the Danish river towns in order to fix, jointly a meeting in the field between Tofrie and Kukoy for the purpose of deciding where and on which islands in Rio Volta they will camp in case the Assianthees come; partly to avoid what happened to them when one group pursued the other, and partly to be dispersed so that they can give each other information on where the Assiantees might make their first attack. And that this time they will have safe and secure places to take their wives and children. There has, also, arrived a messenger from Assiutalie cabuseer Bolle who informed cabuseer Cabo and me that as soon as he hears anything concerning the Assiantees' approach, he promises to give us information about where it might be.
There is nothing to fear from Augna that they should assist the Assiantees with their canoes in order to drive them [i.e. the Adas and others] from their islands. For Augna knows and is convinced that as soon as the Assiantees, with the aid of their canoes, set foot on the other side then the whole of Augna will become booty for them. This cabuseer Acollisay and all of the Augna grandes themselves told me.
Entry for 29 July 1815 [C. Schiønning's reply to the above]: One cannot expect the truth from the Aquambus and the Augnas therefore they are not to be trusted. On the 23rd of July there was a battle between the Assiantees and Akims at Mampong in Aquapim.
The 29th of July commandant Flindt's letter was forwarded to commandant Richter [of Fredensborg, Great Ningo] with the request to vote on it, and also forwarded a copie of the... answer.
Entry for 30 July 1815 - [commandant Richter:] Who can trust the Augna Negroes? And besides if it should happen that everyone should be transferred from the fort then the Aquambus would certainly be forced by the Assiantees to assist the latter with their army and canoes in order to convey the Assiantees to the islands.
On the 31st of July the following circular letter was prepared for the commanding fort chiefs. C. Schiønning:... I learned that an embassy from Assiantee has gone to Acra... several messengers escorted by two lieutenants and about 200 men were sent to Acra by the King of Assiantee in order to fetch his gage. . . and open the road for trade and peaceful meetings in the future. The Akims and Aquapims had attacked them while on their peace mission, and they had only defended themselves and were fortunate enough to defeat their enemies; that they had with them all of the Accra [and other] Negroes whom that rapacious Opoccu had stolen on the coast...; that Opoccu Fraefrae was severely punished for his bad behavior; that the leader of the entire mission is Amanqua Bahin, one-armed; that they still pursue the defeated enemy into Fantee; that these messengers have presented the Dutch town with an Akim prisoner and a jawbone and the English town an Aquapim prisoner and a jawbone... The Akims' and Aquapims' losses were so great that they cannot be described, and the prisoners numbered in the thousands; that the army, or most of the men, were still far from here, but it is not known where.
Entry for 4 August 1815 - commandant Richter reports that six Acra messengers arrived from Crobbo and Shay; they had collected gifts from them for the Acras so that they might speak to the Assiantees on their behalf. A pair of messengers said that they themselves will go to the camp.
Entry for 5 August 1815 - Circular letter to the commanding fort chiefs, C. Schiønning:... I know nothing more about the Assiantees than... that a group of about 200 men were here at Acra with no other mission than to greet [the town] and to buy provisions. They departed today. They promised gold and assured us that they have the most peaceful intentions towards the coastal peoples and ask for nothing more than a free and open passage for trade.
Entry for 8 August 1815 - assistant Kiaerolp reports that Augna and Bakay [of Akwamu] are working hard to conclude peace with Ejbeseme [Agbosome]... in order to get Ejbeseme off their backs so that they could assist the Assiantees when the latter request it.
Entry for 12 August 1815 - Circular letter to the fort chiefs, C. Schiønning: The messengers whom the Assiantees' army commander Amanqua sent down to Accra from Abodie have gone back... they say that Amanqua with his division is marching with all haste to Agona where a second division of the army has recently... met with misfortune and losses. A third division will invade at Avee and join with Acotim and Aquamboe, a fourth at Vusah behind... Elmina, a fifth at Apollonia...
Entry for 19 August 1815 - Circular letter to the Council. C. Schiønning:... The Fantees and other people [are] gathering in Acra at this time in order to trade with the insolent Assiantees.
The 2nd of September the following circular letter was forwarded to the Council. C. Schiønning:... The Assiantee army, which has encamped at Abodee, sent down their trade to Acra consisting of gold, ivory, and slaves, not to sell but to keep until the army, which has broken camp, returns. It has gone to Fantee in order to pursue the Akim and Aquapim cabuseers... An old Assiantee, Banihinni, the former servant of governor Aarestrup [1772-77], is at Labodee, and he has with him a little ivory and slaves. Rumor says that these terrible warriors are very angry at the Ursu and Ningo Negroes and also the Danes... This much is certain that general Amanqua and associates have sent messengers to Accra, Thesing, Ningoa, Temma, Ponnj, and Prampram and forbade them from going to Ursu, Labodee, and Ningo.
Entry for 9 September 1815 - Circular letter to the commandants. C. Schiønning: The Assiantees have cut Sacummo at a place called Dinzu, and intended for today that an asaffo from Acra, one from Ursue, one from Labodee, and one from Thessing meet at Sacummo in order to catch fugitive Akims, Aquapims, and Agonas who might possibly take this road, as the Assiantees have completely beaten the united army. They have still not heard anything except that the Assiantees have left, and from this division of the Assiantee army they have heard nothing about the battle. On the other hand, according to rumors, a second division of the army fought at Anemabo.
Entry for 7 October 1815 - (Christiansborg) - of the Assiantees nothing definite is known except that Amanqua's division will return to Acra tomorrow.
Entry for 21 October 1815 - (Christiansborg) - Amanqua is at Abodee with the remainder of the army.
Entry for 11 November 1815 - (Christiansborg) - The Assiantees are still here; the commanders of the army are at Abodee. Have heard nothing from Fantee except that they are definitely preparing to defend themselves against attack.
Entry for 14 November 1815 - Commandant Richter wrote: the Assiantee army commander Amanqua has sent ten men to me, and they said that when general Oppoccu was last in this district he had an unsettled dispute with the Ningo Negroes, so he now sends his speaker, Okjelli, in order to resolve the matter in peace and friendship. The speaker said that he had orders to negotiate with the Ningo Negroes in the most peaceful and friendly manner provided they came to an agreement about the conditions which Amanqua stipulates. Amanqua will, probably, place Ningo under tribute...
Entry for 21 November 1815 - (Christiansborg) - Five Acra messengers who returned to Malphy from Ningoa to receive five benda cowries which the river Negroes promised the Acras in order to avert a war with the Assiantees... The Assiantees' enemies were in Aquapim and have killed some marandeurs, as a result nearly all of the Assiantees who were at Acra quickly departed last night for Abodee.
Entry for 23 November 1815 - commandant Flindt reports that the
Assiantees' enemies have come to Aquapim, and have begun to do battle with
them...
Entry for 23 November 1815 - commandant Richter reports that the
Ningo Negroes have finally come to an agreement with the Assiantees to whom
they will pay twelve cabes.
Entry for 1 December 1815 - commandant Richter reports that the Assiantees are still at Ningo, and will have twelve cabes, four cloths, and a goat from the Ningo Negroes; hereafter no Assiantee may speak to the Ningo Negroes about this matter.
Document III
[State Archives, Copenhagen. Diverse Arkivalier fra Guinea 1703-1850. Brevbog for Kongensten 1815-16.]
To governor from J. N. Flindt, dd. Konggensten, 19 November 1815: Perhaps, if I now had my salt at Accra, it could be profitably sold to the Assianthees for gold; although I hate these thieves here, yet I have nothing against their gold... provided it is good.
To same from same, dd. Kongensten 23 November 1815: Concerning the five Accra messengers sent to Malphy I shall take great pains to find out what their continuing talks with the Malphy and river Negroes might concern... I have notified the Adah grandis and the eldest lieutenants that the enemies of the Assianthees have come to them at Aquapim and have begun to fight with them.
To same from same, dd. Kongensten, 30 November 1815: The Assianthees'
enemies were at Aquapim and had killed some marandeurs, because of
this nearly all of the Assianthees who were at Accra and here in the town
departed last night and hastened to Abodee... I must confess that I do not
understand the word marandeurs but conclude, after the previous "had
killed some marandeurs" that the enemies had killed some of
the important (forneme) Assianthees... In these days a great number
of Assianthees are said to have deserted the army for Aquamboe. Amanqua
is said to have sent a message to Agotho that he may decapitate every deserter
he meets. I wish all of them would go that way.
To same from same, dd. Kongensten, 30 November 1815: Yesterday, a
messenger from Assiotiale arrived in the town; he let them know that daily
many Assianthees leave the camp for Aquamboe, and that Amanqua has sent
a message to King Agotho; he may behead all of the Assianthees who have
deserted and whom he can catch.
To Christian Balke from J. Flindt, dd. Kongensten, 11 December 1815: I hereby send to the Assianthees with a hired Negro, who is himself an Acra named Tette Nackue, the following goods, according to the invoice price, for 4 ounces 1_ rigsdaler:
| oz. rd. | ||
| 2 pieces Glasgow Dane | @ 10 rigsdaler | 1 - 5 |
| 2 pieces Choletter | @ 8 rigsdaler | 1 - 0 |
| 2 pieces Blue [?] | @ 9 rigsdaler | 1 - 2 |
| 1 piece Sestrakondy | 0 -10 1/2 | |
| 4 - 1 1/2 |
To governor Schiønning from J. Flindt, Kongensten, dd. 27 July 1816: ... in the fort [Fredensborg] there had been an Assianthee secretair with a retinue of circa thirty men sent from the camp of the Assianthee general Amanqua and ordered the Ningo Negroes that they, together with messengers from the Accras, should go down to Adah, Malfy, and Crobboe, and, in the name of the Assianthee King, ask whether they would, willingly, place themselves under the Assianthee King and serve him or shall he come down and kill them...; on our arrival at Prindsensteen and Kongensteen we attempted to calm down and reassure all of the Danish river Negroes as well as Augna which, with the formers' subjugation, would be under the same damnation as all of the others. That we, in the best possible manner, should present to the most important and distinguished Augna and river Negroes that the only way they could protect themselves was by attempting to enter into the strongest alliance and friendship with each other, for if these two powers were united and, in an emergency, they fled to the many large, medium, and small islands in Rio Volta, the Assianthee King, with all of his power could do nothing... Even if the Aquamboe king, who, in the last Assianthee war, against general Opoccu's order, protected all of the river Negroes in that he would not obey Opoccu's order to assist him with canoes and men to expel the river Negroes from their impregnable islands, should now be forced by the Assianthe King, as his vassal, to come to his aid with canoes and soldiers, the Augna and river Negroes as a united force would have a river fleet twice as strong as the Aquamboes' river fleet; they could completely prohibit Aquambue all possible entry to Rio Volta...
To Christian Balke from J. Flindt, dd. Kongensten, 15 August 1816:
If the Aquapims and their land can be rescued and ransomed for the already
paid advance of eighty cabes cowries and ten benda in goods which
they received on their outstanding gage, so it will be much better
for them as well as for us... The Assianthee broker for the Dutch fort
[is] Quadjo Abrantje.
Adah town is greatly pleased over my arrival with regard to the expected
mission from the Assianthee King. At Fredensborg I received full information
that the Ningo cabusseer and grandesse would not join with
the Accras in order to send messengers to Ada, Malfy, and Crobbo, but the
secretaire sent to Ningo should return to the general Amanqua [and]
say that he himself should send messengers down to the Accras in order to
tell them what they, together with Ningo, should do for the Assianthee King
at Adah, Malfy, and Crobboe...