and were divided into many pieces, attached to each other by means of long and flexible hinges. It was expected by the Burmese that when they caught upon the cable or bow of a ship the force of the current would carry the ends of the raft quite round her, and envelop her in flames from the deck to her mast-head.[1] But the skill and intrepidity of our British seamen proved more than a match for the numbers and devices of the Burmese. After gazing for a while at the red, and blue, and yellow, and green flames of the mighty fireworks, our sailors leaped into their boats, pushed off to meet the flaming rafts, grappled them with their grappling-irons, and conducted them past our shipping, or ran them ashore, to finish their short life of fire and flame upon the river-bank, without injury to any one. After this, it is hardly necessary to say that the attack on Kemmendine failed completely.
Between the 1st and the 4th of December the enemy continued their approaches, and the British posts were annoyed by frequent attacks; but Sir Archibald Campbell resolved to become the assailant on the 5th, The left wing of the enemy was chosen for the intended attack; and, in aid of it. Captain Chads was requested to move up the Puzendoor creek with the flotilla during the night, and commence a cannonade on the enemy's rear at daylight, which was done with great precision and effect. The enemy were thus kept employed by the naval force until two columns of attack which had been formed advanced upon them. Major Sale, with one column 800 strong, and a troop of British Dragoons, who had only landed the day before, was directed to fall upon their centre; and Major Walker (3rd Madras Native Infantry), with 500 men, was sent to make a vigorous attack on their left wing, which had approached within a few hundred yards of Rangoon. Our two columns broke through the enemy's intrenchments, and completely routed both the centre and the left with vigorous bayonet
- ↑ Major Snodgrass.
