truce, with a summons to Bandoola to surrender the place, giving one hour for a reply, which arrived at half-past three. It contained a civil but decided refusal to accede to the proposed terms.
A detachment of 160 men, covered by the light division and some row-boats, had been prepared to land on the left bank of the river, to reconnoitre a point opposite the main stockade, which was in possession of some men belonging to war-boats, that were lying under cover of the bank. This party was immediately advanced; some of the war-boats retired under the guns on the opposite side, where they were unassailable, and the object of the reconnoissance was completely gained. During the time that the British boats were in progress, and while lying at the point, the enemy kept up an incessant fire from about thirty pieces of cannon, many of heavy calibre. The precision with which they were directed, gave a colouring of truth to the report, that the Burmese generalissimo had been for some time practising his artillery. The range had been well ascertained, and the river was commanded all across.
Not having a sufficient force to attack the main work, and at the same time maintain a free communication between his column and the depôt at Panlang, upon which the success of the campaign entirely depended, Brigadier-General Cotton found he had no option but that of landing below the whole of the stockades, and attacking them in succession, while the flotilla defended the river.
Preparations were accordingly made to commence with the pagoda stockade; and at sun-rise, on the 7th, five hundred soldiers were disembarked one mile below it: the men were formed into two columns of equal strength, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John William O‘Donoghue and Major James L. Basden, of the 47th and 89th regiments; two 6-pounders were landed under Captain Kennan, of the Madras artillery; and Lieutenant James Paton, of the Bengal establishment, had charge of a small rocket battery. Both columns were led with the utmost
