crossed the Irawaddy on the 7th of April, at Sarrawah, were joined at
that place by the reserve from Rangoon, consisting of eight companies
of the ROYALS, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Armstrong, a
regiment of native infantry, and a supply of elephants; the whole under
the orders of Brigadier-General M'Creagh. Thus reinforced the army
pushed forward; the Burmese retreated; and the British troops arrived
before Prome without the necessity of firing a shot: this city, though
strongly fortified, was deserted, and in part burnt. Shortly afterwards
the wet season set in, and during the heavy rains the army remained
inactive; but no opportunity was omitted of entering upon pacific
negociations with the Burmese government.
Information having been received of the approach of the enemy with a
considerable force towards the British position, a reconnoissance was
made up the river in a steam-boat by fifty men of the ROYAL Regiment,
under Brigadier-General Cotton; and on the 15th of August the enemy
was discovered at Meeaday, on the left bank of the river, about forty
miles from Prome, with a force of between 16,000 and 20,000 men, who
appeared all armed with muskets: they had also a small force on the
right bank of the river. The Burmese opened a battery of 16 guns upon
the reconnoitring party, but the width of the river being upwards
of three-quarters of a mile, their shot fell short. On the 16th the
steam-boat returned to Prome.
In the early part of September pacific overtures were made by the
enemy, and an armistice was afterwards concluded, when the ROYALS
were selected to preserve the line of demarcation between the two
armies. Terms of peace were also proposed, namely,--"a large portion
of territory was to be ceded by the Burmese, and two crores of rupees
paid as an indemnification for the expenses of the war." These
conditions produced the utmost indignation at the court of Ava, and
a determination to resist their invaders and prosecute the war with
vigour. Hostilities recommenced on the 16th of November; and three
bodies of British native infantry were soon afterwards repulsed in
an attack upon the enemy's advanced position;--the Burmese being in
greater force than was anticipated, and the troops sent against them
insufficient to contend against so considerable a superiority of
numbers.
The result of this attack inspired the Burmese generals with a high but
false idea of their own power; and they advanced from their position
with their whole force, amounting to between 50,000 and 60,000 men.
Brigadier-General Campbell had only about 6000 men to oppose to this
formidable host, which threatened to surround him; but though so very
inferior in numbers to the enemy, he calmly awaited their approach, and
determined to avail himself of any favourable opportunity of attacking
them. In the meantime, in order to prevent the enemy's attempts to
intercept his communication with Rangoon, and cut off his supplies,
which had to be brought a distance of 150 miles up the river Irawaddy,
the British commander established 100 men of the ROYAL Regiment, and an
equal number of native infantry, under the command of Captain Deane of
the ROYALS, at _Pagahm-Mew_, a few miles below Prome, on the Irawaddy,
supported by a division of the flotilla on the river under Lieutenant
Kellett, of the Royal Navy. This detachment was frequently attacked by
superior numbers, and the meritorious conduct of both officers and men
is detailed in the following copies of letters from Captain Deane to
the Adjutant-General of the Forces serving in Ava:--
20th November.--"I have the honour to report, for the information of
the Commander of the Forces, a brush which took place between the party
under my command and the enemy this morning.
"In the early part of the morning the fog was so thick as to preclude
our seeing anything in our front, and on its clearing up I discovered,
by means of a reconnoitring party, that the enemy were in considerable
force on the edge of the jungle in front of my left, and shortly
afterwards I discovered them marching in three columns across my front,
for the attack of my right, left, and centre;--their main object being
evidently to gain the right of the village. I, consequently, detached a
party to turn their left, and had, in a few minutes, the satisfaction
to observe that column retiring in confusion, and with considerable
loss. I then moved forward with the remainder of my party to attack
their centre, which also retired in confusion after a very few rounds:
during this time their right was engaged with a strong piquet which
I had placed to dispute the passage of a bridge on the left of the
village--this the piquet effectually did. In both the defence of my
centre and left, I was much indebted to the prompt assistance afforded
me by Lieutenant Kellett, R.N.
"The enemy's force consisted of two gilt chattahs, and about 800 men
armed with muskets and spears, with two or three jinjals; their loss I
conceive to have been about 25 or 30 men killed. We had not, I am happy
to say, a single man wounded. The enemy, however, from the great extent
of the village, succeeded in setting fire to it at both ends, but
very little damage was done, as we extinguished it almost immediately.
The Rajah and all his attendants deserted the place the moment the
firing commenced; he has, however, just returned, and appears much more
composed, and highly delighted with the result."
November 25th.--"I have the honour to report, for the information of
the Commander of the Forces, another affair which we have had with the
Burmese this morning.
"A little before day-break we had embarked 20 men of the ROYALS, and
30 sepoys of the 26th Madras native infantry, in light row-boats,
intended to co-operate with Lieut.-Colonel Godwin, on the opposite
side of the river. They were just in the act of shoving off from the
shore when the enemy, to the amount of 5000 or 6000, made a rush at our
works, howling most horribly, and, at the same time, setting fire to
the village, which they had entered at all points. We had fortunately
got an 18-pounder into battery late yesterday evening, which, added to
two 12-pounders which we had before, did great execution. Lieutenant
Kellett, R.N., was at this moment shoving off with the row-boats, but
instantly returned to our assistance with all his men, and kindly
undertook the superintendence of our guns, the well-directed fire of
which so mainly contributed to our success. The enemy, after nearly two
hours' sharp firing, retired in admirable order, carrying off great
numbers of dead and wounded; so much so, that we have not been able to
find more than 10 or 12 dead bodies. I am happy to add, that, with the
exception of one man slightly grazed in the elbow by a musket-shot,
we have not a man either killed or wounded. The Rajah's house was
very early in flames, and is burnt to the ground; indeed, I may say
the village is completely destroyed. The guns in the boats were of
the greatest assistance in scouring the village with grape. We got
possession of one jingal and three muskets. The enemy appeared to have
several mounted men, but I cannot say what they were."
November 26th.--"The enemy appeared in great force this morning at
day-break all along our front, and had a good deal of skirmishing
with the piquets; but we could not succeed in drawing them within
musket-shot of our works. They are all armed with muskets, and have
a great many jinjals, and two or more guns, with which they annoyed
us very considerably, having taken up a position in the woody part of
the village, from whence they opened a musket fire on the boats. From
this I determined to dislodge them, and sent out a strong party for
that purpose; these came close upon them, and drove them out, with, I
have every reason to believe, considerable loss. They are, however, by
no means discomfited, and are, I understand, determined to entrench
themselves round us, and make regular approaches, as their orders are
peremptory to carry the place. In confirmation of this a number of
their entrenching tools were left behind by the killed and wounded. Our
only casualty this morning, I am happy to say, is one Lascar severely,
but not dangerously, wounded: the shot first grazed the jaw-bone,
entered the shoulder, and came out under the arm-pit. From one of
the prisoners taken this morning, whom I have, by this opportunity,
forwarded to Major Jackson, I learn there are absolutely 5500 men now
here, and that a further force is hourly expected from Puttow-down,
where, he says, the Setahwoon now is."
Thus 200 British troops resisted the attack of between 5000 and 6000
of the enemy; which occasioned Sir Archibald Campbell to observe in
his despatch, "the meritorious conduct of both officers and men, as
detailed in the enclosed copies of letters from Captain Deane, will, I
am certain, obtain for them the approbation of the Right Honourable the
Governor-General in council."
While this detachment was maintaining its post against such very
superior numbers of the enemy, Brigadier-General Sir A. Campbell had
resolved to make an attack upon every accessible part of the Burmese
line, to the east of the Irawaddy, extending from a commanding ridge
of hills to two villages about eleven miles north-east of Prome. The
enemy's army was divided into three corps, all protected by stockades,
and occupying positions of difficult approach; but each separated
from the other by local obstructions, so that they could be attacked
separately.
Leaving four native regiments for the defence of Prome, the General
marched early on the morning of the 1st of December against the enemy's
left flank at _Simbike_; during this movement the battalion companies
of the ROYALS were on board the flotilla under Sir James Brisbane,
diverting the attention of the enemy from this movement by an attack
upon another part of their position, and otherwise co-operating with
the land force. On arriving at the Nawine river the army was divided
into two columns. The right, under Brigadier-General Cotton, in which
were the flank companies of the ROYALS, proceeding along the left bank
of the river, came in front of the enemy's works, consisting of a
series of stockades, covered on both flanks by thick jungle, and by
the river in the rear, and defended by a considerable force, in which
were 8000 Shans, a people of Laos, under their native chiefs, who
bore a high character for gallantry, and these people were inspired
with confidence by the presence of a female, whom they considered a
prophetess. Notwithstanding the formidable appearance of these works,
crowded with Burmese and Shans, and bristling with spears, the flank
companies of the ROYALS, commanded by Captain Harvey, with the 41st and
89th regiments, supported by the 18th Madras native infantry, the whole
commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Godwin, instantly stormed the stockades,
in gallant style, and carried them in less than ten minutes.[140] The
Burmese fled,--the Shans, who had never encountered British troops
before, fought manfully a short time, but were soon overpowered, and
their prophetess mortally wounded. The enemy left 300 dead, including
their veteran commander, Maha Memiow, who was 75 years of age, in the
works; also their stores and ammunition, with a considerable quantity
of arms, and 100 Cassay horses. The left column, under Sir Archibald
Campbell, having crossed the Nawine, came up as the fugitives were
retreating, and completed the dispersion of this wing of the Burmese
army. The loss of the flank companies of the ROYAL Regiment in this
action was--1 serjeant and 2 rank and file, killed: Ensign Campbell,
who died on the succeeding day, and 5 rank and file, wounded.
Following up this advantage, Sir A. Campbell resolved to attack the
centre division of the Burmese army, posted on the Napadee hills,
which was not effected without considerable difficulty and some loss,
but which proved quite successful; the Burmese were driven from their
stockades and entrenchments, and forced to seek safety in a precipitate
flight.
The battalion companies of the ROYALS, having quitted the flotilla,
joined the division under Brigadier-General Cotton,[141] which crossed
the _Irawaddy_ in the course of the night of the 4th of December, to
attack the enemy's right wing under Sudda Woon, posted on the left
bank of the river. On the following morning the attack was made in
conjunction with the navy and flotilla, and the Burmese were soon
driven from their extensive works near the banks of the stream. On
taking possession of these defences it was discovered, that the enemy
had a stockaded work about half a mile in the interior, completely
manned and occupied by guns. Against this stockade the troops instantly
advanced with their native energy and fortitude;--Brigadier-General
Armstrong, of the ROYALS, Colonel Brodie, and Colonel Godwin,
moved against the enemy's centre and right; at the same time
Brigadier-General Cotton advanced with the companies of the ROYAL
Regiment against the left, and the work was instantly carried,--the
enemy leaving 300 dead on the field, and dispersing in every direction.
Several prisoners were taken, and from 300 to 350 muskets, which the
Burmese had abandoned in their flight, were broken by the soldiers.
Brigadier-General Cotton observed in his despatch,--"I have to add
my warmest acknowledgments to Brigadier Armstrong, who commanded the
advance; to Colonel Brodie, who had charge of the light companies; and
to Colonel Godwin, who commanded the reserve; and to every officer and
man engaged. I am happy to say this service was performed with the
trifling loss of one man killed and four wounded." Thus in the course
of four days the immense army of Ava, which had threatened to envelope
Prome, and to swallow up the little body of British troops which had
penetrated into the interior of the Burmese empire, was driven from its
positions; and, as the timorous herd is put to flight by the lion of
the forest, so the legions of Ava fled with precipitation before the
fierce attacks of the British, and sought for shelter amongst their
thick jungles.
The British force was now at liberty to advance upon Ummerapoora,
the modern capital of the Burmese empire, situated on the shores
of a romantic lake at a short distance from the left bank of the
Irawaddy. Part of the Burmese army had been rallied and had taken post
on some strong positions near Meeaday. Against these positions the
British troops advanced in two divisions; the ROYALS were embarked
and sailed up the river in the flotilla, to support one of the land
divisions under Brigadier-General Cotton. During the first stages of
the march the troops proceeded along a difficult road through thick
jungle, and the men were frequently deluged with rain, which proved
injurious to their health, and many of them suffered from attacks of
the cholera. When the troops drew near to Meeaday the Burmese evacuated
their position and took post at _Melloone_, on the right bank of the
Irawaddy, on a series of fortified heights, and a formidable stockade,
which was considered the _chef-d'œuvre_ of the Burmese engineers.
The British troops took post at Patanagoh, on the left bank of the
river, opposite the enemy's works. The Burmese sent a flag of truce,
and expressed a desire to put an end to the war; they also not only
permitted the flotilla, on which the ROYALS had embarked, to pass
close under their works without interruption, but likewise sent out
two gaudy war-boats to act as pilots, and the British naval force
anchored above the town, by which the enemy's retreat by the river was
cut off. The conditions of the treaty were afterwards discussed. The
Burmese negotiators objected to the payment of money, and stated they
were unable to raise such a sum. They stated they might, by using great
economy, pay a million baskets of rice within a year, but they did not
grow rupees; and, if the British had any objection to the rice, there
were abundance of fine trees in the forests which they might cut down
and take away instead of the money. Finding these and other arguments
unavailing, the treaty was concluded, and a limited time given for its
being ratified. In the meantime a cessation of hostilities had been
agreed upon until the 18th of January, 1826, and the troops remained
stationary.
[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]
[Sidenote: 1826]
While the 2nd battalion was thus employed in the interior of the
Burmese empire, where British troops had never appeared before, the 1st
battalion remained in Ireland, whither it had proceeded in the early
part of the year 1816, as before stated. On the 25th December, 1825,
it was separated into six _service_ and four _reserve_ companies; and
in January, 1826, the _service_ companies embarked at Cork for the
West Indies, and the _reserve_ companies embarked, at the same time
and place, for the Isle of Wight: the former landed at Barbadoes in
the spring, and the latter, after remaining a short time in the south
of England, embarked at Gravesend for Scotland, and landed at Leith in
July.
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
Leaving the 1st battalion at Barbadoes and in Scotland, the record
resumes a statement of the military operations in which the 2nd
battalion was engaged against the barbarian forces of Ava. The
armistice being in force, a free intercourse prevailed between the two
armies; and on the 6th of January, 1826, a boat arrived at Patanagoh
from Ava with letters from Surgeon Sandford and Lieutenant Bennett, of
the ROYAL Regiment: these officers had left Prome while the battalion
was stationed at that place in order to proceed to Rangoon, in
consequence of ill health, and fell into the enemy's hands a little
below Padoun.[142]
The treaty of peace not having been ratified within the stipulated
time, and the Burmese authorities appearing to follow a system of
perfidy and evasion, hostilities recommenced on the morning of the 19th
of January; and, after the British batteries had made an impression on
the enemy's works at _Melloone_, the position was attacked by storm and
carried in gallant style. The Burmese fled in confusion and dismay,
leaving their ordnance and military stores behind; and the terror of
the British arms filled the court of Ava with consternation: but, still
indulging a vain and delusory hope of eventual success, new levies were
made, and a new general and a new army took the field.
On the 25th of January the army resumed its march towards the enemy's
capital, and on the 31st it was met by Dr. Price, an American
missionary, and Dr. Sandford, whom the sovereign of Ava had despatched
as messengers of peace. Terms, similar to what had already been agreed
upon, were offered, but the British commander refused to halt until
they were accepted; he, however, promised not to pass Pagahm-Mew, which
was between him and the capital, in less than twelve days.
The Burmese resolved once more to try their fortune in battle, and
their army was formed in position to stop the advance of their
invaders. This brought on an action, which was fought on the 9th of
February, near _Pagahm-Mew_; and on this occasion the Burmese abandoned
their system of combating behind barriers, and encountered the British
force in the open field; but after a contest of five hours the
barbarians were overthrown, and the conquerors were left in possession
of Pagahm-Mew, with all its stores, ordnance, arms, and ammunition.
No opposing army now remained between the British and the capital of
the Burmese empire; the troops continued their route through a country
which presented a wide extent of rich and well-cultivated grounds,
thickly interspersed with copsewood and villages; while temples and
pagodas adorned the banks of the river, and gave an imposing effect to
this glittering eastern scenery. Terror and consternation prevailed
at the Burmese court; and when the army had arrived within four days'
march of the capital, it was met by the ratified treaty, which put an
end to the war. A party of officers from the army visited the capital,
and were received by the humbled monarch with every honour.
Thus an eastern empire, with its myriads of inhabitants, was subdued
by the constancy and valour of a handful of British troops, who had
marched from victory to victory, and had forced a haughty monarch to
sue for peace. The following is an extract from an order issued by the
Governor-General of India on this subject:--
"While the Governor-General in Council enumerates, with sentiments
of unfeigned admiration, the achievements of the First, or ROYALS,
the 13th, 38th, 41st, 45th, 47th, 87th, and 89th Regiments, the
Honourable Company's Madras European Regiment, and the Bengal and
Madras European Artillery, as the European troops which have had the
honour of establishing the renown of the British arms in a new and
distant region, his Lordship in Council feels that higher and more
justly-merited praise cannot be bestowed on those brave troops than
that, amidst the barbarous hosts which they have fought and conquered,
they have eminently displayed the virtues and sustained the character
of the British soldier."
The meritorious conduct of the ROYALS was rewarded by King George IV.
with the honour of bearing the word "AVA" on their colours.
The object of the war having been accomplished, the troops commenced
retiring in the early part of March; the 2nd battalion of the ROYAL
Regiment proceeded down the river Irawaddy in boats to Rangoon, where
it arrived on the 25th of March. After remaining at this place a few
days, the 1st division, under Lieut.-Colonel Armstrong, embarked for
Madras, where it landed on the 18th of May. The 2nd division, under
Captain L. MacLaine, followed, and, having landed on the 19th of June,
the battalion was encamped near Madras until the beginning of July,
when it marched to Bangalore.
[Sidenote: 1827]
[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]
The _service_ companies of the 1st battalion remained at Barbadoes
until 1827, when they were ordered to Trinidad; and they were stationed
at that island during the succeeding four years.
[Sidenote: 1830]
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
[Sidenote: 1831]
The 2nd battalion remained at Bangalore until July, 1830, when it was
ordered to Arnee, as a preparatory measure previous to its embarkation
for Europe[143]. From Arnee the battalion proceeded to Marmalong
Bridge, about seven miles from Madras, where it was encamped for
several weeks; and while at this station the following order was
issued:--
"Fort St. George, 25th February, 1831.
"GENERAL ORDER BY GOVERNMENT.
"The Right Honourable the Governor in Council cannot permit His
Majesty's ROYAL REGIMENT to quit India, after forming a part of the
army of this presidency for 23 years, without publicly recording his
high sense of its distinguished merits.
"During the Mahratta war the ROYAL Regiment was more than three years
in the field.
"It nobly maintained the character of British soldiers at the battle
of Maheidpoor; and, after gallantly sharing in other conflicts of that
eventful period in the peninsula, it embarked for Rangoon, and assisted
in maintaining the honour of the British arms, and in establishing
peace with the Ava dynasty.
"The Right Honourable the Governor in Council has only further to
add, that the conduct of the officers and men of His Majesty's ROYAL
REGIMENT, when in garrison, has been such as to meet with the entire
approbation of Government, and that his best wishes for their continued
welfare and fame will accompany them in whatever part of the world the
national interest and honour may call for their services."
The first division of the battalion embarked for England on the 29th of
January 1831; the remainder proceeded on the 21st of March to Fort St.
George, and the second division embarked at Madras on the same day. The
other divisions embarked on the 3rd and 16th of June, 9th of July, and
5th of September.