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 HMS _Medusa_ and three Company's
steamers, 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.
At a place called Konnoughee, twenty-five 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. 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. By steaming
through the night, the rest of the squadron came off Prome by daylight
on the morning of the 9th. At the south end of the town, near the
water's edge, four heavy guns were seen, but no troops were 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, twenty-three in number, was brought
off. In the afternoon the _Medusa_ ascended the river ten 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 twenty-four 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 forty and fifty 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 were 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 any which took place during the
war.
When Captain Tarleton returned and reported what had occurred, a large
body of troops were sent up the river on board the steamers to Prome,
which was captured on the 9th of October, after a slight loss, only four
men being wounded on the side of the British.
The inhabitants of Pegu were friendly to the English; but soon after the
troops had been withdrawn, a strong Burmese army re-entered the town,
and commenced fortifying the city. A force was accordingly sent to
drive out the enemy and reoccupy it. This was done in a spirited manner
on the 21st November. The morning being foggy, the Burmese, who did not
see the English approaching, were taken by surprise. They retreated as
usual to the pagoda, from whence, by a rush of the troops, they were
driven out. The fighting was severe, as no less than six men were
killed and thirty-one wounded of the troops. The navy, as usual, did
their part well.
The principal towns of the province being in the hands of the British,
it became important to clear the intermediate country of the enemy,
especially the banks of the rivers, where they were of much annoyance to
the provision-boats. In this service the naval force were constantly
and very actively employed. Several of the expeditions were under the
command of the lamented Captain Granville Loch, who displayed in them
the same zeal and daring courage for which he had already made himself
conspicuous.