by John Marshall

“ An epidemic fever, which prevailed all over India, made its appearance among the troops, which, although in few instances of a fatal tendency, left all those whom it attacked in a deplorable state of weakness and debility, accompanied by cramps and pains in the limbs: men discharged from the hospitals were long in regaining their strength; and their too frequent indulgence in pine-apples, limes, and other fruit with which the woods about Rangoon abound, brought on dysentery, which, in their exhausted state, generally terminated in death. ”

“ The securing of thirty of these boats, and destroying the others, took
up the whole of the flood; when Lieutenant Kellett, having most fully accomplished my instructions and wishes, returned, destroying, on his way down, quantities of materials for fire-rafts, and a great many canoes laden with earth-oil. The enemy’s loss in killed and wounded must have been very great; we, I rejoice to say, had not a man hurt, the steam-vessel having been stockaded to secure the people. ”

“ The enemy no longer dared attempt offensive operations, but restricted themselves to the defence of their positions along the Lyne and Panlang rivers, to harass and detain the British force, which, agreeable to the policy that had been enjoined by the events of the war, prepared to dictate the terms of peace, if necessary, within the walls of the Burmese capital. The retreat of Maha Bandoola, to Donoobew, left the field completely open in front of the invaders’ lines. Not a single armed man remained in their neighbourhood ”

“ Never was victory more complete or more decided, and never was the triumph of discipline and valour, over the disjointed efforts of irregular courage and infinitely superior numbers, more conspicuous.”
The naval force employed in the Puzendown creek was composed of the steam and mortar-vessels, a few of the gun-flotilla, and several transports’ boats, with about 40 European soldiers to make an appearance. Mr. Archibald Reed, admiralty midshipman, was with Captain Chads, and “rendered him much service.” ”

“ Sir,– In obedience to orders I had the honor of receiving from you, to feel the strength and disposition of the enemy upon the Lyne river, and to attack him as often as opportunities might offer of displaying the valour of the troops under my command, I embarked, on the morning of the 6th inst., with 300 men of H.M. 38th regiment, 100 rank and file of the 18th Madras native infantry, and a detachment of Bengal artillery, under Captain Timbrell, on board a flotilla of gun-boats, &c. &c. under the immediate command of Captain Chads. ”

“ The ability and judgment with which Lieutenant-Colonel Godwin planned the attack, and the gallantry with which the place was carried by the small force of 220 men, against the numerous and well-armed troops of the enemy, reflects the highest credit on the professional character of the officers in command, and the cool and resolute intrepidity of the handful of men by whom so important and brilliant an exploit has been achieved. ”

“ After dark, all the boats assembled alongside the Good Hope transport; and, just as the moon arose, they moved across the river; the troops, under Major Charles Ferrior, of the 43rd Madras native infantry, landed to the northward, whilst Captain Chads, accompanied by Lieutenant Kellett and Mr. Reed, proceeded up the creek, and opened his fire; the Satellite doing the same to distract the enemy: the troops then advanced, and jumped, without a moment’s hesitation, into the trenches; many Burmese were slain in the short conflict that ensued ”

“ The British had not more than 26 killed and 252 wounded. On the 8th December, Sir Archibald Campbell reported to the Governor-General in Council, that his “obligations to Captains Chads and Ryves, and the officers and seamen of H.M. navy, were great and numerous. In Captain Chads himself” says the General, “I have always found that ready alacrity to share our toils and dangers, that has ever characterized the profession he belongs to, and the most cordial zeal in assisting and co-operating with me on every occasion.” ”

“ Early on the 3rd December, the Sophie took her station off Kemmendine. The enemy again brought fire-rafts down, with their war-boats firing shot over them, to prevent the approach of the British. The Sophie cleared the rafts, but the Teignmouth was touched by them, and on fire for a short time, sustaining however no serious damage. “British seamanship,” says Major Snodgrass, “finally triumphed over every device of the crafty and ingenious enemy.” During this day the Burmese war-boatmen became extremely daring, finding their shot went farther than those of the British ”

“ The result of this gallant attack was the capture of seven war-boats, one of which was 96 feet long, 13 feet 6 inches in breadth, and 6 feet deep, pulling 76 oars, and, as did three of the others, mounting a long 9-pounder on the bow. “Lieutenant Kellett’s conduct on this, and on former occasions, speaks for itself, and,” says Captain Chads, “I trust will meet with its due reward. Lieutenant Goldfinch is a valuable officer, and merits every praise; Lieutenant Kellett reports the high gallantry of every individual under his command. ”

“ Maha Bandoola was recalled from Arracan to the Irrawaddy, with instructions to concentrate his veteran legions at Donoobew. No pains nor expence were spared to equip this favourite general for the field; and by the approach of the season for active operations, at least 50,000 men, well-armed, with a numerous artillery, and a body of Cassay horse, were ready to advance upon Rangoon.
On the 30th November, the enemy’s war-boats, &c. were seen by the Teignmouth (then stationed at the advanced post above Kemmendine) , coming down in great numbers, loaded with men. ”

“ The stockade runs along the margin of the water for more than three-quarters of a mile, where it joins a large pagoda, which projects into the water in the form of a bastion. The defences then continue a short distance, and end at a nullah, on the other side of which all is thick jungle. The town continues to run in an angle way from the pagoda for at least a mile, and terminates in the house of the Mayoon, close to a stockade up the hill. The whole defence is the water line, with its flanks protected. ”

“ Her commander had put into Martaban by mistake, and was then a prisoner at Ava.
The loss sustained by the naval detachment was two men killed, one dangerously wounded, and three severely. In concluding his report to Sir A. Campbell, the Lieutenant-Colonel expresses himself as follows:
“Where every one contended honorably, it would be difficult to select; for your particular notice. * * * * Lieutenant Keele of the Arachne, Lieutenant Bazely, of the Sophie, and their respective crews behaved with their usual gallantry. ”

“ The situation of the combined force at this time “was, indeed, truly melancholy; even those who still continued to do their duty, emaciated and reduced, could with difficulty crawl about. The hospitals crowded, and with all the care and attention of a numerous and experienced medical staff, the sick for many months continued to increase, until scarcely 3000 duty-soldiers were left to guard the lines. ”

“ The Burmese left many dead behind them, and their main force was completely dispersed. On receiving this information. Captain Chads sent every disposable man from the Arachne, under Mr. James B. Manley, acting master, with twenty sepoys, in the steam-vessel, up to Captain Ryves, to endeavour to intercept their boats and cut off their retreat; they had, however, already deserted the neighbourhood of Kemmendine. ”

“ The force employed consisted of about 500 troops, under the command of Brigadier-General Hugh Fraser; the Satellite, manned with 45 British sailors and 60 [errata 1] soldiers; the Diana, steam vessel; all the boats of the Arachne and Sophie, and several belonging to the transports, but manned by the former sloop and the Moira; the Powerful and eight [errata 2] gun vessels, and sixteen row-boats.
On the 21st, the troops were embarked, and Captain Chads moved upwards with the flotilla, which was in three divisions. under the command of Lieutenant Charles Keele, first of the Arachne ”

“ Sir, with the British crew of the Resource, who handsomely volunteered, did all the duties of a man-of-war, in silencing the enemy’s guns as they mounted them at Dalla. Mr. Hornblow, agent for transports of the Madras diWsion, in charge of the Moira, has also shewn very great zeal in forwarding all the late arduous services; and the British crew of his ship, in charge of the mortar-vessel, have continued their usual good conduct. In the attack on the enemy’s war-boats. Lieutenant Kellett speaks in high terms of the gallantry of Lieutenant Clarke and Mr. ”

“ The naval part of this expedition “was most nobly conducted” by Lieutenant Keele, then just returned from Martaban, who took with him 48 officers and men belonging to H.M. sloops of war.
The detachment landed under the fort, and found the bridge across the nullah removed: to make another, with planks sent for the occasion, gave the navy an opportunity of displaying their usual activity, skill, and steady courage. On this point the enemy kept up a heavy and well-directed fire, by which nearly 30 men were killed and wounded, including among the latter Mr. ”

“ Cite error: tags exist for a group named "errata", but no corresponding tag was found ↑ The gun-vessels and row-boats. ↑ Snodgrass, 79. ↑ One of the gun-vessels fitted with a mortar. ↑ At Than-ta-bain their conduct was equally bad. Although cheered on by the European troops in their vessels and boats, not one of them could be got to assist in rendering the fire-rafts harmless. ↑ Lieutenant Keele was then at Martaban, where he remained in command of the naval detachment until all the European troops were ordered back to Rangoon, about the end of 1824. ”