Akim-Foo: The History of a Failure

by William Francis Butler

A scarce eye-witness account of Sir Garnet Wolseley's abortive 1873-74 campaign against the Ashanti tribe in the West African Gold Coast (today's Ghana). The author came as a volunteer from Canada to lead a liaison mission to the Akim people in resisting the aggressive incursions of the Ashanti. But he and the other Britons with Wolseley found themselves battling inhospitable terrain, a punishing climate and endemic disease and as much as the fierce Ashanti warriors.

This is a reprint of the 1875 publication by Sampson, Low, Marston, Low & Searle of London. It was reprinted by Naval & Military Press of Uckfield, East Sussex in association with the Royal Artillery Museum of Woolwich.

Genres: Africa

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1875

About the author

Lieutenant General Sir William Francis Butler, GCB, FRGS, PC (Ire.)

Born into an upper middle-class Roman Catholic family in Suirville, County Tipperary, Ireland, he was educated by the Jesuits and commissioned an Ensign (2nd Lieutenant) in the 69th Regiment of Foot. He had a long and distinguished career in the British Army, which at the time was unusual for a Catholic Irishman. He was also an explorer, appointed an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Queen Victoria, appointed a Member of the Irish Privy Council (PC), a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), invested a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB), a member of the senate of the National University of Ireland, a commissioner of the Board of National Education, supporter of Home Rule for Ireland, and a frequent lecturer. He was a veteran of many British campaigns in the second half of the 19th century including the Red River Expedition (Canada), the Ashanti War (South Africa), the Anglo-Zulu War (South Africa), and the Nile Expedition (Egypt and the Sudan). He was the husband of the artist Elizabeth Southerden Butler (née Thompson), also known as Lady Butler. His books are noted for their diversity: biographies, history, memoirs of his experiences exploring western Canada, travel literature, recollections of Victorian military campaigns in which he participated, and finally his own autobiography.

Reviews

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent narrative on the British campaign on the Gold Coast in the 1870's. My main takeaway was how these British soldiers were physical wrecks after suffering through multiple bouts of disease during such a short campaign. Makes the shots I get before deployment not seem so bad. Politically, I have to wonder why the British thought the interior worth the cost. It wasn't until the early 20th century that these colonies: Gambia, Gold Coast and Sierra Leone, seemed to have repaid the effort put into them. I also have to wonder what influence, if any, the Belgian Congo exerted on British decision making. Well worth it to read.

[Manray9 · Rating 2 out of 5]

W. F. Butler's Akim-foo: The History of a Failure wasn't very informative. It was a personal account mired in overwrought Victorian prose and expounding every racist stereotype prevalent in that era. My recommendation to prospective readers: don't bother.