June 4th, 1852.
An attack on Pegu being next resolved on, an expedition, consisting
of 230 troops, who were embarked on board the 'Phlegethon,' and the
boats of that vessel and H.M.S. 'Fox,' under the command of Captain
Tarleton, left Rangoon on the 3rd of June, and proceeded up the
river. The troops were under the command of Major Cotton, and
accompanied by Captain Latter. A friendly chief, named Moungta,
accompanied the boats along the bank of the river. The naval force
consisted of H.M.S. 'Fox's' launch: Mr. M'Murdo, mate; Mr. Lucas,
midshipman; crew, 15 men. Pinnace: Mr. Copeland, mate; Mr. Hudson,
midshipman; crew, 15. Gig: Mr. Cottam; crew, 6 men. Cutters: Mr.
Alexander and Mr. Lisboa; crew, 9 men each; Mr. Morgan,
assistant-surgeon, H.M.S. 'Fox.' E.I. Company's steamer 'Moozuffer:'
Mr. Harding; crew, native, in paddle-box boats. A large canoe,
fitted for the conveyance of the camp followers. E.I. Company's
steamer 'Phlegethon'--Two cutters: Messrs. T. M. Hulke, third
officer, and C. C. Sevenoakes, midshipman; crew, 22 men.
As the boats advanced, a sharp fire of musketry was opened on them
from the Pegu side. On this Captain Tarleton, seeing the
disadvantage under which they laboured from being beneath the enemy's
fire, with no effectual means of returning it, landed with the boats'
crews of H.M.S. 'Fox,' and was shortly after joined by Captain
Neblett and the boats' crews of the 'Phlegethon'--in all about 50
men. Mean time Mr. M'Murdo, mate, was left in charge of the boats.
As Captain Tarleton and his party advanced, the Burmese fired on
them, but were driven from point to point until completely broken;
one party retreating by the river's side to the northward, and the
other within the old wall of the city. Their object being attained,
they were retiring in close order to the boats, when a fire of
gingals and musketry was opened on them from the walls. Deeming it
unwise to allow the Burmese to suppose they were retreating, Captain
Tarleton led his party to the attack, having found a native guide to
show them the causeway through the ditch. Having halted a few
seconds to gain breath, they rushed in over the causeway, and through
a breach to the right of the gateway. On getting over the wall,
after a stout defence, the enemy fled, and ultimately retired within
the Great Pagoda. Mean time the boats had been attacked, but were
bravely defended by Mr. M'Murdo, who succeeded in getting them to the
other side of the river, Major Cotton having sent a detachment to
their support. After the troops and seamen had rested for some time,
the Burmese were observed issuing from the Pagoda in considerable
strength, with the evident intention of attacking them. The troops
lost not a moment in getting under arms, and the seamen forthwith
came on shore. The British instantly advanced; and before the
Burmese could recover from their surprise at a movement so little
expected, the place was carried without another casualty. H.M.S.
'Fox' had three seamen wounded, and the 'Phlegethon' one seaman
killed.
The force, after destroying the fortifications, returned to Rangoon
on the 5th.
EXPEDITION UP THE IRRAWADDY, UNDER. CAPT. TARLETON,
R.N., AND CAPTURE OF PROME,
9th July.
It being important to ascertain the number and position of the enemy
posted on the banks of the Irrawaddy, Commodore Lambert directed
Captain Tarleton to take under his orders H.M.S. 'Medusa,' and the
Company's steamers 'Proserpine,' 'Phlegethon,' 'Pluto,' and
'Mahanuddy,' and to proceed up the river for the purpose of obtaining
that information. Accordingly, on the 6th of July, the vessels
proceeded up the Irrawaddy in performance of these orders. At a
place called Konnoughee, 25 miles below Prome, a large body of armed
men were observed collected on the banks; and on a shell being fired
among them, they opened a vigorous fire from six guns and from a
large number of musketry. An officer, Mr. Hunter, mate, Indian Navy,
and a seaman of the 'Medusa,' were wounded by the fire. At a short
distance from Prome the river divides into two streams, the left, or
western, being the deepest, and the only navigable branch at any
season but the rainy one. At sunset the expedition anchored off
Meaoung. At daylight, on the 8th, it again weighed, and proceeded
till within sight of an extensive fortification, crowning the end of
a ridge of hills 300 feet high, terminating abruptly at the town of
Akouktoung, which completely commands the river. Here the position
being strongly fortified, a Burmese army of about 10,000 men had been
assembled, under General Bundoola, to guard the passage to Prome and
the capital. Captain Tarleton, having been warned of the resistance
he would meet, and hearing from the native pilots that at that season
the eastern stream was navigable, determined to try it. Instead,
therefore, of keeping on, to the disappointment of the enemy, who had
begun to fire on him, he turned off through the eastern channel, and
was quickly beyond their reach, having had not less than two fathoms
water in the channel. Here he learned that a small steamer,
belonging to the king of Ava, had only left the day before; and he
accordingly despatched the 'Proserpine,' under Mr. Brooking, to
overtake her. He also discovered that the whole Burmese army was
concentrated at the place he had just passed, and that, by thus
getting in their rear, they would meet with no opposition whatever.
Mr. Brooking was unable to come up with the king's steamer. By
steaming through the night, the rest of the squadron came off Prome
by daylight of the morning of the 9th. At the south end of the town,
near the water's edge, four heavy guns were seen, but no armed men,
nor were any troops whatever observed in the place.
Captain Tarleton accordingly anchored the 'Medusa' abreast of the
spot, and soon hove them off. The iron guns were disabled and sunk
in deep water, and the brass ones were taken on board. When the
other vessels joined their crews with the boats' crews of the 'Fox,'
heartily entering on the work, every gun in Prome, 23 in number, was
brought off. In the afternoon the 'Medusa' ascended the river 10
miles higher; but Captain Tarleton felt himself bound by his orders
to return. His feelings may be supposed when he thus found himself
at Prome, within four days' steaming of Ava, with a certain knowledge
that there was nothing to oppose him, and with a broad deep river,
easy of navigation, before him. Had he had with him one regiment and
half a battery of guns, there is every reason to believe he might
have taken the capital, so totally unprepared were the Burmese for
any advance in the rains. However, he was, of course, compelled to
obey the orders he had received. After remaining there for 24 hours,
the place was evacuated, and the flotilla returned. On reaching the
main stream, the army of Bundoola was observed in motion, crossing
the river evidently with the intention of following the steamers.
They, in consequence, opened with shot and shell upon the confused
masses on shore and on the boats, spreading havoc and dismay among
them. Between 40 and 50 boats were captured and destroyed. The
general's state-barge, several large war-canoes, a standard, two gold
umbrellas, and other spoil, fell into the hands of the British. The
whole trip occupied only nine days. In its progress the expedition
received the most convincing proofs that the population of Burmah are
adverse to the war, and anxious to come under the British rule.
Looking at the expedition by itself, it was as gallant and dashing an
undertaking as has occurred during the war.
First-lieutenant John Elliot, R.M., H.M.S. 'Fox,' was wounded
severely; and Mr. F. Morgan, assistant-surgeon, slightly, as was also
G. Cook, boy.