First Anglo-Ashanti War begins

Background. The conflict arose from the transition of the Gold Coast from a proprietary colony to a Crown colony in 1821. The African Company of Merchants had previously recognized Ashanti sovereignty, but the new British administration under Sir Charles MacCarthy rejected these claims. Disputes over the right to collect 'notes' (rent) for coastal forts and the suppression of the slave trade created friction, culminating in violent incidents involving the Royal African Colonial Corps.

Outbreak of Hostilities. Immediate causes included the kidnapping and killing of an African sergeant in February 1823. Governor MacCarthy refused to negotiate with the Ashanti, rejecting their claims to Fante coastal areas. In late 1823, MacCarthy formally declared war on the Ashanti king. He subsequently led an invading force from Cape Coast, consisting of British troops, militiamen, and Fante warriors, which encountered the main Ashanti army in January 1824.

Initial Engagement. MacCarthy's force, divided into two columns, lost contact before meeting the Ashanti army at the Battle of Nsamankow on 22 January 1824. The first column, under MacCarthy's direct command, included roughly 80 Royal African Colonial Corps troops, 170 militiamen, and 240 Fante warriors. The engagement resulted in the defeat of the British force and the death of MacCarthy, marking the violent start of the war.