Saturday morning warlike operations were at length commenced. The
'Hermes' steamer first towed the 'Fox' frigate to within 400 yards of
the stockade, where she anchored to protect the merchantmen as they
passed by to be out of fire. In the mean time the 'Hermes' went in
search of a large Burmese war-vessel, with which she soon returned as
her prize in tow. As the two vessels-of-war neared the stockades,
first a single gun, and then others, in quick succession, accompanied
by volleys of musketry, opened on them, while the war-boats were seen
stealing out of the river, as if about to attack. As soon as they
got within range, the 'Fox' opened her fire on them, sinking and
destroying all but a few which escaped by a timely retreat, while the
'Hermes,' steaming slowly down the front of the stockade, poured in a
terrific fire along the whole line of the enemy's position. After an
interval of a few minutes, the Burmese, still undaunted, again opened
their fire on the ships. In return, the 'Fox' and 'Phlegethon'
poured in an iron shower, which tore their works to pieces, and
effectually silenced their batteries. Some guns from the opposite
bank now began to play on the fleet, but the 'Hermes,' steaming
towards them, opened a tremendous fire, which she kept up till not a
Burmese was to be seen, and the works they had there thrown up were
entirely destroyed. The work was thus speedily and effectually
accomplished; all opposition had been crushed, the enemy's batteries
were destroyed, and their fleet of war-boats dispersed. The squadron
now took up a position at the mouth of the Rangoon river, the
Commodore declaring the rivers of Rangoon, the Bassein, and the
Salween, above Maulmain, to be in a state of blockade.
Meantime the H.C. steamer 'Proserpine,' after landing the hostages
from Rangoon at Maulmain, was ordered to proceed to Calcutta with
despatches for the Commodore.
On her arrival on the 17th of January, the most extraordinary
excitement was aroused at the intelligence of these events, and the
Governor-General being absent, the Supreme Council instantly resolved
to equip a force to carry on hostilities against Burmah; while
reinforcements were despatched with unusual promptitude, to
strengthen the forts guarding the passes leading from the Burmese
territory. On the evening of the 18th of January, a company of
artillery, fully equipped, commanded by Major Reid, and a wing of the
18th Royal Irish, under the command of Colonel Reynolds, embarked on
board the steamers, which sailed the next morning for Maulmain.
The despatches of the Governor-General, who was 800 miles away, were
not ready till the 28th, when the 'Fire Queen' steamer carried them
to Rangoon. She reached the mouth of the river on the 30th, when,
taking the 'Fox' frigate in tow, she proceeded towards the town. On
passing the stockade a hot fire was opened on the two vessels, which
killed a seaman of the 'Fox.' She returned it with two broadsides,
and on arriving off Rangoon, came to an anchor. Here the Commodore
sent Capt. Latter, under a flag-of-truce with a letter from the
Governor-General to the King, and one from himself. The only answer
he received was, that the Viceroy would hold no further communication
with the Government unless the Commodore was removed. As this was an
equivalent to a declaration of war, the British prepared actively for
hostilities. Every effort also was made by the Burmese to place
Rangoon in a state of defence. The inhabitants were drawn out, and
the fortifications repaired and strengthened. Two new forts were
erected, each mounting a large number of guns, and strong stockades
were placed in commanding positions.
Although the season was far advanced, the Governor-General resolved
not to delay operations till another year. Each Presidency was
called on to furnish a contingent. Bombay sent a powerful squadron
to join the fleet before Rangoon, and Madras afforded a brigade
efficient in every arm. Every man in the service, from, the highest
to the lowest, exerted himself to the utmost.
A sketch of the scene of the opening operations we are about to
describe may be useful to our readers. On the right bank of the
Salween river, which flows into the Gulf of Martaban, stands the
walled town and stockade of Martaban; while, placed on a promontory,
between the Gyeen and Attaran rivers, and facing the north of the
Salween, is the city and cantonment of Maulmain. On the western
shore of the Gulf is the Delta of the Irrawaddy, and up one of its
branches, and about 90 miles from Maulmain, is the town of Rangoon.
It is situated on the right bank of the river, which is called after
it; and on the front, facing the Gulf, is a massively-built pagoda,
which serves as a fortification to the town.
Affairs were in the state we have described, when, on the 1st of
April, Her Majesty's steamer 'Rattler' arrived from Penang, at the
mouth of the Rangoon river, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Austen,
C.B., when Commodore Lambert, who had till now been conducting the
naval affairs, was compelled to act as second in command.