In late 1823, following the disagreements between the Fante and the Ashantis, the British declared war on the king of the Ashanti; after organising the defences of Cape Coast, MacCarthy set out with an expedition of some 80 men of the Royal African Colonial Corps (RACC), 170 men of the Cape Coast Militia, and 240 Fanti tribesmen under their local chiefs.

The next day, at around 2pm, they encountered a large enemy force of around ten thousand men; believing that the Ashanti army contained several disaffected groups whose chiefs were willing to defect, MacCarthy instructed the band to play God Save the King loudly.

[1] The Ashanti responded by approaching closer, beating war drums, and his beliefs were swiftly dispelled.

Fighting started shortly thereafter; the two sides were separated by a 60 feet (18 m)-wide stream, which the Ashanti attempted to cross by felling trees for bridges.

[5] The battle and the wider campaign features in Flashman and the Golden Sword, written by Robert Brightwell.