An attack on Pegu, seventy-five miles north of Rangoon, being next
resolved on, an expedition, consisting of 230 troops, who were embarked
on board the _Phlegethon_, and the boats of that vessel and HMS _Fox_,
under the command of Captain Tarleton, left Rangoon on the 3rd of June,
and proceeded up the river.
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 HMS
_Fox_, and was shortly after joined by Captain Neblett and the boats'
crews of the _Phlegethon_,--in all about fifty men. Meantime Mr
McMurdo, 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 riverside to the northward, and the other within the
old wall of the city. The object of the British being attained, they
were retiring in close order to the boats, when a fire of jingalls 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 the storming-party getting over the wall, after a stout
defence the enemy fled, and ultimately retired within the great pagoda.
Meantime the boats had been attacked, but were bravely defended by Mr
McMurdo, 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. HMS _Fox_ had three men wounded, and the _Phlegethon_
one seaman killed.
The force, after destroying the fortifications, returned to Rangoon on
the 5th.