front, and there only by a very narrow pathway, which was defended by seven pieces of artillery, while the river was commanded by several batteries of heavy ordnance. Sir James Brisbane moved forward with the flotilla, and cannonaded the works from the river. On the land side, after the enemy's posts had been driven in, and sufficient impression had been made on the works by artillery and rockets, a brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Sale, consisting of H.M. 13th and 38th regiments, under Major Howlet and Major Frith, advanced by the trench to storm the heights in front, while some companies of the 87th proceeded through the jungle to the right. Scarcely a shot was fired in return of the enemy's continued volleys. The 38th led the way, in entering the intrenchments on the heights; and the assailants, driving the enemy from hill to hill, secured to the British the whole of the position, which was nearly three miles in extent. During the attack the flotilla, pushing past the works, succeeded in capturing all the boats and stores which had been brought down for the use of the Burmese army.
As the right corps of that army still maintained its position, it was attacked on the 5th in flank and rear, while the batteries and boats of the British force cannonaded in front. After a feeble resistance the position was evacuated, the enemy retiring to a second line of stockades, from which they were quickly dislodged; when – disheartened, dispersed, and broken – they fled in all directions through the woods. Both banks of the Irawaddi were now completely cleared, and nothing remained to check Sir Archibald Campbell's advance upon Melloon.
On the 9th of December our first division, accompanied by head-quarters, began its march across a melancholy deserted country, and through jungles and swamps overgrown with reeds and elephant grass, fifteen feet high. H.M. 1st regiment, or "Royals," went by water; the other regiments of the line, in two divisions, by land.
