British Expedition Force advance has moved 22 miles close to Benin. Combat begins in the form of running fight.
EXTRACT FROM THE BENIN MASSACRE BY CAPTAIN ALAN BOISRAGON ONE OF THE TWO SURVIVORS
The advance-guard started off again at daybreak on the 14th, and after proceeding some distance, met with a strong resistance from the enemy until they reached a place where there were cross-roads, and where the enemy had apparently made their main camp. This day the Protectorate Force had one company sergeant-major and two privates severely wounded.
From Ilogbo as far as a place called Agagi, the enemy had cut a path in the bush parallel to the main path, to be used as an ambush path. They evidently were under the impression that our force would get no farther than Agagi, as the ambush path ceased there.
This ambush path was an excellent thing for our Force, as it enabled two columns to proceed at the same time, and only necessitated the guarding of one flank by each column.
References
1) Bacon, R. H. Benin City of Blood, 1897, pages 36 – 37
2) Bacon, R. Admiral Sir, Benin Expedition, A Naval Scrap-Book, First Part, 1877 – 1900: 197 – 207
3) Boisragon, A. The Benin Massacre,1897, page 177
EXTRACT FROM THE BENIN MASSACRE BY CAPTAIN ALAN BOISRAGON ONE OF THE TWO SURVIVORS
The advance-guard started off again at daybreak on the 14th, and after proceeding some distance, met with a strong resistance from the enemy until they reached a place where there were cross-roads, and where the enemy had apparently made their main camp. This day the Protectorate Force had one company sergeant-major and two privates severely wounded.
From Ilogbo as far as a place called Agagi, the enemy had cut a path in the bush parallel to the main path, to be used as an ambush path. They evidently were under the impression that our force would get no farther than Agagi, as the ambush path ceased there.
This ambush path was an excellent thing for our Force, as it enabled two columns to proceed at the same time, and only necessitated the guarding of one flank by each column.
References
1) Bacon, R. H. Benin City of Blood, 1897, pages 36 – 37
2) Bacon, R. Admiral Sir, Benin Expedition, A Naval Scrap-Book, First Part, 1877 – 1900: 197 – 207
3) Boisragon, A. The Benin Massacre,1897, page 177