Rangoon, which latter service occupied six days in its successful performance. The result was the destruction of five stockades, seven or eight Mar-boats, and large preparations for fire-vessels and rafts. “The naval part of the expedition,” says Sir Archibald Campbell, “was prepared and led by that zealous and excellent officer Captain Chads, of H.M.S. Arachne, the senior naval officer on the station. How well my orders have been executed, the accompanying detail of operations will shew.”
ENCLOSURE.
“Sir,– In obedience to orders I had the honor of receiving from you, to feel the strength and disposition of the enemy upon the Lyne river, and to attack him as often as opportunities might offer of displaying the valour of the troops under my command, I embarked, on the morning of the 6th inst., with 300 men of H.M. 38th regiment, 100 rank and file of the 18th Madras native infantry, and a detachment of Bengal artillery, under Captain Timbrell, on board a flotilla of gun-boats, &c. &c. under the immediate command of Captain Chads. The first day’s tide carried us as high as Pagoda Point, above Kemmendine, at the junction of the Lyne and Panlang rivers. Having been joined by the armed transport and flotilla, at 2 p.m. next day, the whole force proceeded up the Lyne river with a flowing tide. Bodies of the enemy were seen moving up on the right bank, while numerous war-boats hovered in our front, keeping up a continued but distant fire. After the flotilla anchored, the light boats in advance, under Lieutenant Kellett, of H.M.S. Arachne, pursued the enemy’s war-boats; and having closed with one carrying a gun and full complement of men, boarded and took her in the handsomest style, the Burmese jumping overboard to save themselves. On the 7th, after proceeding about four miles, I observed two stockades, which were taken possession of without loss, and we reached, with this tide, within a short distance of the large works and fortified village of Than-ta-bain, having in the course of the day destroyed seven of the newly constructed war-boats. On reconnoitring the village, I found it was defended by three long breast-works, with a very extensive stockade, constructed of large teak-beams; and fourteen war-boats, each mounting a gun, were anchored so as to defend the approach to it.
“Having consulted Captain Chads, we advanced to the assault, the steam-boat, with the Satellite and bomb ketch in tow [1], and the troops in their boats ready to land when ordered. In passing the breast-works, we- ↑ One of the gun-vessels fitted with a mortar.
