Africa
Bexley Station
Letter from Brother John Day
The following letter though written in April last, will not be
read without interest, as it gives a detail of those skirmishes which have
terminated in giving to Liberia an unbroken coast from Monrovia to
Cape Palmas:
Bexley, West Africa, April 3, 1849
Rev. J. B. Taylor:
Dear Sir, -- Inasmuch as much will be said, and many
misrepresentations may be made, of a war lately existing between
this Republic and sundry combined tribes of natives, it seemed
proper, that I, having had perfect understanding of all things
tending to it, and connected with it, from the very first, should
write unto you.
There has in the minds of the surrounding natives, raged a
most violet war fever, for more than three years. The premonitory
symptoms indicated an attack on the Republic. Often have I met
their chieftains in council, while the town was studded with armed
troops, and bodies of armed men near by, with, as I conceived, a
specific of peace talk. Still the fever raged. They would not strike
us, but killed those under our protection. They committed the most
during thefts and robberies, and finally, murdered an innocent old
Methodist exhorter, at Factory Island, and bore off a few remaining
things, left by a previous band of robbers. When it was ascertained
who the murderers were, their chief refused to deliver them to
justice, informing us he was ready for war with us. Every
necessary step was taken to prevent this disastrous alternative. We
were informed, he was sustained in his outrages by the slaver at
Cesters, who had been warned off, but who conceiving that in
Trade Town and Cesters, he had troops enough to withstand us,
defied the Republic; fortified himself with cannon; armed a
numerous host of Bassas, Kroomen and slaves - bribed and armed
the natives immediately around us, who were to attack and destroy
the settlements in Bassa county, while the main body of our forces
would be marched against him. This influence produced such a
state of things, as rendered war inevitable. There were large
