Barra War facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barra War
Date 1831–1832 Location Kingdom of Niumi Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
British Empire	Kingdom of Niumi
Commanders and leaders
George Rendall Lt. Col. Hingston Cpt. Stewart Lt. Cresey Ens. Fearon Lt. Leigh  †	Burungai Sonko
Units involved
Royal African Corps 1st and 2nd West India Regiments Sierra Leone Militia HMS Plumper	Barra troops Troops of other kingdoms
Strength
451	2500–3000
Casualties and losses
93 (killed and wounded)

The Barra War, also known as the Anglo-Niumi War, was a fight between the British Empire and the Kingdom of Niumi. It happened from 1831 to 1832 in a place now called The Gambia.

Why the Barra War Started

For over ten years before 1831, there was growing tension between the British and the Niumi people.

British Expansion and Trade

After the British started a settlement called Bathurst in 1816, they told the King of Niumi, Kollimanka Mane, they would respect his people's rights. However, a British officer named Alexander Grant refused to pay customs fees on captured slave ships, which the Niumi King demanded.

British traders also tried to control all trade along the Gambia river. They slowly reduced the customs money the Niumi King received. They did this by getting lower rates and collecting fees themselves. They also set up trading posts further upriver. This was to take trade away from French posts and also to cut out the Niumi people who acted as middlemen in trade.

In 1823, Grant started another settlement called Georgetown. But the French still had a trading post at Albreda, which was a big challenge to British trade.

Changes in Niumi Leadership

King Kollimanka Mane died in 1823. Many Niumi people felt he hadn't been strong enough against the Europeans. His son, Burungai Sonko, became the new king.

Land and Payments

In 1826, the British used their warships to force King Burungai to give them a strip of land along the north bank of the river. This land was called the 'Ceded Mile'. The British built a fort there called Fort Bullen.

British traders also expanded into other areas. In 1831, they wanted to settle on Niumi's Dog Island. The local tribes didn't like this. So, the British governor stopped the monthly payment they gave Niumi for the Ceded Mile. In August 1831, the Niumi people forced the settlers off Dog Island. The King then told his people not to go to Bathurst.

The Conflict Begins

As tensions grew, a British officer named Ensign Fearon was sent to Barra on August 22, 1831. He had 22 soldiers, 50 former soldiers, and a new group of local fighters. Their goal was to calm things down, but their presence made the situation worse, and fighting began.

First British Retreat

Fearon and his men had to go back to Fort Bullen. The Niumi forces surrounded the fort completely. The next day, after losing 23 soldiers, Fearon left the fort. He and his men crossed the river to Bathurst.

After Fearon's defeat, other local chiefs sent many men to help the Niumi King. Thousands of armed fighters gathered only 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Bathurst. The British Lieutenant Governor quickly sent a message to Sierra Leone asking for help. He saw the danger to the British settlements.

British Reinforcements Arrive

The message reached Sierra Leone on October 1. On October 4, a force led by Captain Stewart was sent. This force included soldiers from the 1st and 2nd West India Regiments, the Sierra Leone Militia, and the Royal African Corps. They sailed to The Gambia on a ship called HMS Plumper and another transport ship.

On November 9, they arrived in The Gambia. They found that Fort Bullen was still held by the Niumi forces. The Niumi people had decided to make the fort stronger instead of attacking Bathurst.

Battle for Fort Bullen

On November 11, Captain Stewart's force, with 451 soldiers, landed at Barra point. They had strong support from the guns of the Plumper and other ships. The Niumi forces were estimated to be 2500-3000 strong. They were protected by their defenses and tall grass. They fired heavily at Stewart's men as they landed.

Stewart's force managed to break through. After an hour of fighting, they pushed the Niumi fighters out of their defenses. The British lost two men, and 50 others were wounded. Over the next few days, the British made Fort Bullen stronger for defense.

Attack on Essau

At dawn on November 17, the British marched to attack Essau, a Niumi town. The crew of the Plumper stayed to guard Fort Bullen.

As they got close to Essau, the British soldiers formed a line. The guns from the Plumper began firing at the town's wooden wall, called a stockade. This firing lasted for five hours. The Niumi people in the town fired back with small guns and cannons. The British also fired rockets into the town. One rocket set a house on fire, but the others didn't do much damage.

Around noon, some Niumi troops left the back of the town. Soon after, a large group of Niumi fighters appeared on the British right side. Another group was seen trying to go around to their left side, planning to attack them from behind. The British were running low on ammunition, and their cannons hadn't done much to the stockade. So, the British decided to retreat. They lost 11 men killed and 59 wounded. Six more men, including Lieutenant Leigh, later died from their wounds.

Peace Treaty

On December 7, Lieutenant Colonel Hingston arrived with more British soldiers and took command. With more British strength, the King of Barra said he wanted to talk about peace. They agreed on terms, and a treaty was signed at Fort Bullen on January 4, 1832. This officially ended the war.

After the War

After the Barra War, the Niumi King's power became weaker. Some parts of Niumi broke away. The religion of Islam also became more common there. When fights later broke out between Muslim leaders and traditional rulers, the Niumi King relied on the British to keep his position. This eventually led to Niumi becoming a protectorate under British control.

See also

• Military history of The Gambia