 The first troops arrived in late December and on 1 January 1874 started marching along the road to the front, half a battalion at a time.The troops comprised a battalion each from the Black Watch, Rifle Brigade and Royal Welsh Fusiliers, along with the 1st and 2nd West India Regiments, a Naval Brigade, two native regiments, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and Royal Marines.By 29 January, the road was more than half completed and they were close to Ashanti outposts.