End of the Second Anglo-Ashanti War

Background. The war began in 1863 when a large Ashanti delegation crossed the Pra River to pursue a fugitive named Kwesi Gyana. This action escalated tensions between the Ashanti Empire and the British colonial administration on the Gold Coast. The conflict was part of a series of five Anglo-Ashanti wars that occurred between 1824 and 1900, involving the Ashanti Empire and the British Empire and its African allies.

Outcome. The war ended in 1864 with a stalemate, meaning neither side achieved a clear military victory. The primary factor in the loss of life for both the Ashanti and British forces was sickness, which claimed more men than any other cause. This outcome prevented the immediate annexation of the Ashanti Empire, which would not occur until the fifth war in 1900.

Context. The conflict occurred within the broader context of the Anglo-Ashanti wars, a series of five conflicts between the Ashanti Empire and the British Empire. The Ashanti Empire, an Akan state in the interior of the Gold Coast, had previously held its own against the British in the first two wars. The 1864 stalemate was a significant event in this series, preceding later conflicts that eventually led to the annexation of the Ashanti Empire.