The captured stockades now became the site of constant warfare, the enemy proving extremely tenacious of any passage being opened up the creek leading to Thon-tai (the capital of Dalla, and the retreat of the Rangoon people, who had resisted the decree for a levy-en-masse). The flotilla and troops left to defend these works were every night assailed with musketry from the surrounding jungle, and the officers and men of the navy were constantly in their boats, watching, grappling, and towing away fire-rafts.
On the 5th Sept., at midnight, a straggling fire was again heard in the direction of the Dalla stockade, and shortly afterwards a rocket was thrown up, the signal previously arranged with the detachment, in case of immediate assistance being required. With the advantage of a strong flood tide, the boats of the Larne proceeded rapidly to the point of contention, where a heavy fire was exchanged; and as their approach could not be perceived, in consequence of the smoke, the officers and men cheered, to announce that support was at hand; and they had the satisfaction to hear it warmly returned, both by the military and those afloat. The attacks of the enemy had been simultaneous; the gun-vessels in the creek having been assailed by a number of war-boats, while the troops on shore were opposed to a force estimated at from fifteen hundred to two thousand men. Upon perceiving the boats of the Larne advancing a-head of the gun-vessels, the Burmese war-boats made a precipitate retreat. Chase was immediately given, and five of them, which had been most severely handled, and could not keep up with the main body, were successively boarded and carried. “The active and zealous support which he received from Lieutenant Fraser,” on this occasion, was publicly acknowledged by Captain Marryat[1].
On the 9th Sept., Lieutenant Fraser was sent to search for the passage up to Thon-tai, by way of the Dalla creek, but, after an absence of three days, he returned without having been able to find it. While on this service, two persons
