The object of assault, however, could be located the next day, and the danger of losing their way would thereby be reduced to a minimum.

Further, it was decided that no dependence, whatever, be placed on any native guide.

Finally, it would be eminently undesirable to leave Coomassie again in a state of siege.
It was clear that only one of the stockades could be carried in this manner, as the other would be placed on its guard.

It was therefore decided that the one on the Accra-Coomassie road was the most suitable; first because it joined the main road to Cape Coast, and secondly because the capture of the stockade would isolate the remaining one on the Ejesu road, which the Ashantis would probably abandon, as both the adjacent camps had fallen into our hands.
As the result of this decision Captain Loch was sent out, at twelve o'clock on the following day, to reconnoitre the position.

His men, by creeping through the tall grass and clambering among the tall trees, succeeded in reaching a large cotton tree within seventy yards of the enemy's entrenchment.