A move on Prome being resolved on, a body of troops were embarked on
board the steamers, and Commodore Lambert hoisted his broad pennant
on board the 'Fire Queen,' to proceed up the Irrawaddy. The
commissariat, ordnance, and engineers' stores, and about 1,000
followers attached to the regiments, were conveyed in the steamers,
large Burmese cargo-boats, five small schooners, and a barque. The
cargo-boats, manned by Burmese crews, advanced in three divisions,
under convoy of the barges and pinnaces of H.M.S. 'Fox,'
'Winchester,' and 'Hastings.' The barque and schooner were towed by
the steamers.
The squadron, calling at Henzadah on the way, came off Prome on the
9th of October. As soon as the ships neared the city, the enemy
opened fire with a couple of guns and musketry, which was returned by
the steamers as they proceeded into the bay. Then the squadron
anchored abreast of the town in a convenient position for landing the
troops. The enemy continuing to keep up a fire after the vessels had
anchored, the boats of the squadron were sent under the command of
Capt. Loch, C.B., of H.M.S. 'Winchester,' to throw in a few shells
and canister-shot among them. This had the effect of silencing the
fire for a time, although they still kept up a spirited attack on the
boats, by which two seamen were wounded. They then brought down a
gun abreast of the 'Fire Queen,' but had fired only one shot when it
was dismounted by the fire from the steamers, which effectually
cleared a landing-place. Some of the troops were landed that night
and the remainder the following morning, when, with a party of 50
seamen under Commander Rice, the British attacked the city, and drove
the enemy before them as they advanced. Prome was thus occupied with
a loss of four wounded in the squadron. The Commodore, in his
despatch, speaks highly of the services of Capt. Loch, Commanders
Shadwell and Rice, of H.M.S. 'Sphinx' and 'Hastings,' and of
Commander Campbell, of the Indian Navy.