and Colonel McDowell, who led them on, was shot through the head.
Emboldened by this first success, the Burmese army continued to advance towards the British lines, throwing up intrenchments and stockades as it proceeded; but its slowness to attack disappointed the British general, who consequently determined to become the assailant. On the 30th of November, preparations were made for a general attack upon every part of the enemy's line, and on the 1st of December it took place, the operations by land being aided by the flotilla, now under the command of Sir James Brisbane. Two columns of attack were formed; one under Brigadier-General Cotton, the other under Sir Archibald Campbell. As soon as these were in motion, the naval force commenced a cannonade, which so disconcerted the enemy that the picquets of his left were withdrawn, and his position exposed in that quarter to any sudden attack. General Cotton's column first reached the enemy's line, consisting of a series of stockades, which he instantly assaulted, and carried in less than ten minutes. Panic and confusion then seized the masses within the works, and great slaughter followed. Sir Archibald Campbell's column pushing rapidly forward in the rear, met the flying masses endeavouring to cross the river, and, opening the horse artillery upon them, did dreadful execution. Among those who fell within the works was the aged commander, Maha Nemiou, who, under the burden of seventy-five years, had been carried in a litter from point to point, to endeavour by his presence and encouragement to sustain the energy of his men.[1]
The mass of the retreating army rallied on the heights of Napadee, in front of a deep jungle, a few miles higher up the Irawaddi. This new position, in which they were attacked the very next day, was uncommonly strong. The nature of the country admitted of no approach to the main defences upon the hills, except in
- ↑ Thornton, v., 71.
