Nov. 21st, 1852.
The inhabitants of Pegu, who were friendly to the English, held their
town but a very short time after its former capture from the Burmese,
when the forces of that power again occupied it. General Godwin,
hearing that the Burmese were strengthening the place, and fearing
that they might become troublesome, resolved again to take it and to
garrison it with an English force. Accordingly, on the 18th of
November, about 1,100 troops, under the orders of Brigadier M'Neil,
of the Madras Army, were embarked at Rangoon on board the Hon.
Company's steamers 'Mahanuddy,' 'Nerbudda,' 'Damooda,' and 'Lord
William Bentinck.' The naval arrangements were under the orders of
Commander Charles D. A. Shadwell, R.N. Weighing at daylight of the
19th, they reached the neighbourhood of Pegu on the evening of the
20th, when General Godwin, who accompanied the expedition, with
Commander Shadwell, proceeded up the river to reconnoitre. The
ancient city of Pegu is of a quadrangular form; the ruined walls or
ramparts are still clearly defined, and are surrounded on all sides
by a moat, much choked with mud and rubbish, its sides being about a
mile and three-quarters in length; the pagoda, which forms the key of
the position, lying in the north-east division of the space enclosed
by the ruined ramparts. The enemy, amounting to about 4,000 men,
were strongly posted in the south-east angle of the walls, and also
along the river front of their position it was strongly stockaded.
Owing to a thick fog which prevailed in the morning, the British were
able to land without being observed by the enemy. Commander B.
Seymour, R.N., accompanied General Godwin as a volunteer, and was
present with him throughout the operations of the day. Commander
Rowley Lambert, of H.M.S. 'Fox,' superintended the landing of the
guns, and afterwards directed the fire of the gun-boats on the
enemy's position, from which he succeeded ultimately in dislodging
them. About seven the advance commenced, the enemy opening a sharp
fire on the troops as they moved along the ramparts. After a short
halt, to refresh, the troops formed under cover of a wood, and,
charging gallantly across the moat, entered the defences of the
Burmese, who retreated to the pagoda. From the commencement of the
affair, the 'Lord William Bentinck' and the gun-boats had kept up a
hot fire of shell and canister on the enemy. A little before one the
columns were finally formed for the assault.
On approaching the pagoda, some Burmese were seen stealthily watching
the movements of the advancing columns. On this, the troops made a
rush, the enemy fired a volley and fled, and the British entering the
pagoda, Pegu was won. The military lost 6 killed and 31 wounded: but
the naval arm escaped without any casualty, though exposed to a hot
fire. Lieutenants Mason and Glover, and Mr. Pocock, mate, commanding
boats, acquitted themselves well. Mr. J. F. Johnson,
assistant-surgeon to H.M.S. 'Sphinx,' most assiduously attended to
the wounded, most of whom were brought on board the 'Lord William
Bentinck,' while Messrs. Digney, Porter, Berwick, and Simpson,
commanding the Company's steamers, showed great perseverance and
energy by the way they pushed their vessels up the river.