steadiness; as they advanced, the armed boats pulled in and cannonaded; while, at proper range, a steady fire was opened from the field-pieces and rocket-battery. This the enemy returned with a perseverance and spirit that had seldom been evinced by them; the gorges of the work attacked were narrow, and completely occupied by the gallant troops who were forcing an entrance, which, when made good, left the Burmese, who are reported to have been 3000 strong, no alternative but a passage over their own formidable defences. They were overtaken in the last abbatis, where they stood to fire, until closed upon by the troops inside, and checked by others who had run round outside in search of an entrance to the body of the work. The dead, the wounded, and the panic-struck, fell in one common heap, in and close upon the abbatis; or the two latter, 280 were brought in prisoners; and the total loss of the enemy, in this affair, cannot be estimated at less than 450 men. The assailants had about 20 killed and wounded.
The second defence was about 500 yards from the pagoda stockade; and for the immediate reduction of it, two more 6-pounders, four 5½-inch howitzers, and a fresh supply of rockets, were brought up, and placed in position. The gunboats again began to cannonade; – the enemy kept close, inducing the supposition that he intended to reserve his strength for the main stockade. When it was presumed that a sufficient impression had been made, 200 men, under the command of Captain R. C. Rose, of the 89th regiment, advanced in two parties to the assault; a destructive fire was immediately commenced from all parts of the face of the work, which caused the columns to diverge to the right of the point of attack, and get into a ditch, described to be filled with spikes, and scarped, so as to expose it to the fire of the work. All who presented themselves were knocked down; and here Captain Rose, who had already received one wound, fell by a second shot, while persevering in the attack, and shewing a gallant example to his troops. Captain Charles Cannon, also of the 89th, a brave and deserving officer, was killed; three other officers of the same regiment were
