3-065-759 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Captain Sartorius, of the Ashantee Expedition, 1874. Portrait of Reginald Sartorius, of the 6th Bengal Cavalry. 'The exploit of this gallant officer was one of the closing acts of the late campaign in the land of the Ashantees. It was mentioned in Sir Garnet Wolseley's telegraphic despatches to our Government received last week. Captain Sartorius, with only an escort of twenty men detached from the force under the command of Captain Glover, R.N., east of Coomassie [ie Kumasi], marched to that city, and through its smoking ruins, without meeting an enemy...It seems probable that the rumour of his bold approach, mistaken for that of Captain Glover's entire force, completed the intimidation of the enemy, already disheartened by Sir Garnet Wolseley's victories over them and by the destruction of their capital. His one great ambition from the commencement of his service has been to merit the decoration of the Victoria Cross, so highly prized by all, but bestowed upon so few. To this end he, later on, joined both the expeditions to Bhootan [ie Bhutan], where he again came in contact with the enemy. He also volunteered for the Abyssinian campaign, but was not successful in his application. His turn has come at last'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.