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THE
RECENT OPERATIONS AT RANGOON
AND MARTABAN.
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THE RECENT OPERATIONS
BRITISH FORCES
I RANGOON AND MARTABAN.
BY THE LATE
REV. THOMAS TURNER BAKER, B.A.
LONDON:
PUBLISHED BT THOMAS HATCHARD,
187, PICCADILLY.
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PREFACE.
Little apology, it is presumed, is needed for sub-
mitting the following pages to the public. They con-
tain the report of an eye-witness of the events described,
as they passed under his own observation. Written as
they were, in the midst of the scenes they record, in
the constant bustle and excitement of warlike move-
ments, and while the author was incessantly engaged
in the anxious discharge of his sacred functions, they
cannot be expected to exhibit any great literary polish,
or exactness of style. Perhaps even an occasional in-
stance of irregularity or abruptness may be here and
there detected, very easily to be accounted for in a work
thus drawn up at intervals hastily snatched from im-
portant and engrossing occupations.
The last communication from the author is dated
March 31st of this year. Soon after that period his
work was interrupted by his premature illness and death.
During the whole of the occurrences, of which he has
sketched the narrative, he was constantly engaged in
the duties of the Sacred Ministry. Besides attending
to his immediate charge, the crew of his own ship, many
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of whom were attacked with cholera, he, as far as was
possible, extended the range of his exertions to the whole
of the force employed in the expedition, which would else
have been wholly unprovided with any ministrations of
religion ; more especially volunteering bis services in the
hospital on shore, which is described in private accounts
as a most melancholy and fearful spectacle. He also
employed himself, under a tropical sun so intense as to
prostrate, according to the General's despatch, many a
strong man, in the melancholy but most Christian office
of burying the dead. Totally unequal to these multiplied
and arduous labours, he was himself attacked by the
pestilence; his weakened frame succumbed to the dis-
ease ; and after but a short struggle of a few hours, he
departed this life on the 16th of April, in the flower of
his age, and in the midst of his sacred work.
It will not be unpleasing to the general reader who
is at all interested in the well-being of our Naval Service,
while it will be soothing to his many personal friends, to
learn, that he was always regarded with the utmost
respect and affection by the officers and crew of his ship.
His affable and amiable manners did not fail to conciliate
all who came within his reach: his cheerfulness and
animation gave life to the society in which he moved,
while the consciousness of his sacred position, without any
mixture of assumption, or undue severity or sternness,
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wa.s never lost sight of, in his intercourse with those
around him.
A more authentic testimony to his earnestness
in the discharge of his sacred duties will be found in
the following notice of his decease, in the despatch of
the Rear- Admiral Commanding-in-Chief. — " Among those
that have fallen victims in the service of their country
upon this occasion, it is my painful duty to record the
name of the Rev. Thomas T. Baker, Chaplain of Her
Majesty's ship Fox. Incessantly employed in adminis-
tering to the wounded and dying, and in burying the
dead, he fell a victim to the prevailing epidemic, cholera,
on the 16th instant."
It has been attempted, in a concluding chapter, to
continue the narrative from the time when it was so pain-
fully suspended by the author, to the middle of the
following month; a period, which, however brief, will,
nevertheless, be found to embrace the most important
successes that have hitherto attended our arms — the cap-
ture of Martaban and Rangoon. The information for this
purpose is chiefly supplied by a Gazette Extraordinary,
published by Authority at Calcutta, April 26, 1862.
London, October 1882.
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THE
RECENT OPERATIONS AT RANGOON
AND MARTABAN.
CHAPTER I.
At the termination of the war, in 1826, the treaty
of Yandaboo was ratified by the English and the Bur-
mese. One of the principal objects of this treaty was to
insure the representation of the English Government at
the Court of Ava. A Resident was to be appointed, with
a guard of fifty men. This step, however, was not carried
out till the beginning of 1830, at which time Lieutenant-
Colonel Bumey, of the Bengal Native Infantry, was selected
to fill the important post. He bad not long been at Ava
before he was made fully aware of the character of the
people with whom he had to treat ; for, pending the final
settlement of the boundaries of the territory to be ceded
to the Indian Government, so much delay and want of
truth was evinced by the Burmese that he left Ava with
the intention of breaking up the establishment at that
place. He had not proceeded far on his way before he
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was recalled by promises that all that was required
should, without any further trouble, be conceded.
On the 16th of April, 1837, Tharawaddy, the younger
brother of the reigning King, having revolutionized the
country, caused himself to be proclaimed King of Ava.
He at once repudiated the treaty of Yandaboo, and
treated the Resident, who was not supported by the
Indian Government, with such indignity that he was
obliged to retire. The whole of the establishment was
removed to Rangoon, and Dr. Bayfield, Assistant-Resi-
dent, was left in charge. In August, 1838, Lieut.-Colonel
Benson, of the Bengal Native Infantry, was appointed
Resident, and repaired to Ava. Tharawaddy refused to
recognize bis authority, when he resigned and returned to
Europe, leaving Major Mc Leod, of the Madras Native
Infantry, as his deputy to carry on the duties of the office.
Major Mc Leod continued at Ava for six months, when he
also found it necessary to remove, and retired to Rangoon.
At this place he remained only six months, and in 1840,
the whole establishment was broken up, and Burmah left
without even the semblance of a representative of the
English nation, except such as the following most inade-
quate arrangement might supply.
A merchant at Rangoon, a British subject, who had
been appointed to take charge of all letters that might
arrive at, or be sent from, that place, was, at the departure
of the Resident, retained, with an understanding that he
was to communicate with the Indian Government. The
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present state of affairs in Burmah will sufficiently illustrate
the practical result of this arrangement. Oppression and
tyranny in different degrees and various forms have charac-
terized all the acts of the Burmese authorities. Impunity
has so far emboldened them that they have at length as-
sumed the right of putting to death any British subject.
It would he impossible at this moment to collect even a
small portion of the numerous atrocities and barbarities
that have been committed upon people entitled to, and it
is to be feared in vain claiming, the English protection.
To come, however, to the immediate cause of the pre-
sent expedition, (for it is to be hoped that other and even
more weighty reasons have had. their influence), two com-
manders of merchant-ships, Messrs. Shepherd and Lewis,
came in collision with the Governor of Rangoon under
the following circumstances. As the former was bringing
his vessel into the river, in the middle of last year, she got
on shore ; and the pilot in charge, through fright, seized
a piece of wood and jumped overboard with it, swam on
shore, and was subsequently seen in the town. The vessel
was got off, and reached Rangoon in safety. The Gover-
nor, being informed of these incidents, availed himself of
them to summon Captain Shepherd to appear before him
to answer to the charge of having thrown overboard and
drowned the pilot, and, in accordance with a Burmese law,
demanded the payment of a large sum of money. In
order to give a colouring of proof to this, he seized and
tortured one of the crew (son of a man who is now pilot
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on board H.M. S. Fox), to force him to give evidence
against his captain. In this he failed, but succeeded in
obtaining from Captain. Shepherd a number of rupees as
the price of his freedom. On the ship's return to Cal-
cutta the whole of this matter was laid before the Council.
Captain Lewis's case, though different in many of its
circumstances, bears a strong resemblance to that of
Capt. Shepherd. He was seized in Rangoon and charged
with the murder of one of Ms crew who had died at sea.
He withstood for some time every demand that was made
upon his purse; but, after having been in confinement and
frequently subjected to all sorts of insult — even threatened
with death — if he did not confess the crime and pay the
fine, he at length, at the request of friends, consented to do
the latter. On his return to Calcutta he found H. M. S.
Fox lying in Diamond Harbour, and so pressed his com-
plaint that the Council were at length compelled to take
notice of the Burmese atrocities.
The preliminary arrangements having ben completed,
Commodore G-. R. Lambert, in H.M.S. Fox, with the
Honourable East India Company's war-steamer Tenaaserim
(Captain Dicey), sailed for the expedition on the 18th of
November, 1851 ; Captain Latter, of the 67th Bengal
Native Infantry, attending as interpreter, with Mr.
Edwards, of the Bengal Foreign Office, as his assistant,
Capt. Lewis {whose presence was deemed advisable) being
ordered to accompany it.
On the 26th of the same month, these ships anchored
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off the town of Rangoon, having been joined at the month
of the river by the Honourable East India Company's
war-steamer Proserpine (Capt. Brooking). The demands,
as settled by the Commodore and Council, to be made of
the Governor of Rangoon consisted of a sum of 10,000
rupees for the losses sustained by Captains Lewis and
Shepherd, and an apology accompanied with a promise of
more respect for British subjects in future. To Commo-
dore Lambert was left the selection of the mode in which
these demands should be made; at the same time he was
provided with a letter from the Supreme Government to
the Court of Ava explaining the cause of his presence in
these waters.
The 27th was the day fixed for a deputation of officers
to wait on the Governor with the above demands. On the
morning of that day, however, a number of persons, com-
prising British subjects, other Europeans, Americans, Mo-
guls, &c, presented an address to the Commodore, con-
taining a list of most frightful acts of oppression and
cruelty that had been from time to time perpetrated by the
Governors of Rangoon. In consequence of this the ori-
ginal demands were withheld. A letter was then written
explaining that the conduct of the Governor of Rangoon
had been represented in such a light as to render those
demands perfectly inadequate to the case as it then stood ;
and that, therefore, the matter would rest till further in-
structions were received from the Indian Government.
A deputation, consisting of Captain Tarleton, R.N.,
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Lieut. Elliott, 11. M., and Captain Latter, Bengal Native
Infantry, took this letter to the Governor. At first he at-
tempted to keep them waiting, but upon its being intimated
that the time of absence of the officers from the ship
was limited, he made his appearance. The letter was read
first in English, the merchants being all present. It was
then read in Burmese by Captain Latter; and at that por-
tion of it which referred, in somewhat strong terms, to his
conduct, all his assumed nonchalance left him, he became
violently agitated, and anxious to conciliate. All offers
of hospitality were refused, and the party returned to the
ship. On the following day some Deputy-Governors were
sent on board the Fox to disclaim, on the part of the
Governor, all knowledge of any act of cruelty or oppres-
sion. On their departure they were entrusted with a letter
for the King, and one for the Prime Minister at Ava,
demanding the dismissal of the Governor of Rangoon.
The Proserpine was despatched to Calcutta with Captain
Latter, bearing a communication for the Governor-Gene-
ral of India. As the Burmese were well known to be
versed in all stratagems and deceit, and especially given to
create delays, thirty-five days were allowed for the King's
answer to be handed in.
In the meantime various incidents occurred evincing
any thing but a subdued tone on the part of the Governor.
He assembled a large armed force (said to amount to
10,000 men) and armed a ship, lying at anchor in the
river, the property of, and most highly prized by, the King.
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From the fact of the Burmese troops being dependent on
their own resources for their daily sustenance, robberies
were of constant occurrence; and it was deemed important
for the merchants to have the means of communicating with
the frigate, for which purpose Mr. Sirrell (a merchant in
Rangoon) erected a pole on the top of his house, whence
a signal could be seen at any time. He had also, for his
own protection, provided himself with a small gun. Upon
these acts the Governor thought fit to found complaints,
and sent on several occasions to demand their removal, but
without effect. These proceedings, together with the ill-
treatment experienced by an American missionary, named
Eincaid, when on his way to the ship in which he had
placed his family, and the fact of the troops, who occupied
the town on more occasions than one, pointing their loaded
muskets at Englishmen, prove the justice of the above
remark in regard to the disposition of the Governor.
On the 1st of January, 1852, the King's answer was
sent on board : it was of the most pacific character, expres-
sing a hope that the friendship which had existed between
the two Governments would be permanent, and intimating
that the Governor would be superseded by a high officer
whom he had despatched, and to whom he had entrusted
the adjustment of the difficulties which had arisen.*
* This document win a specimen of Burmese caligraphy : It had an
illuminated border of elegant design, and was inclosed in a large ivory
case, enveloped in an embroidered cover of crimson velvet. On the morning
of January 1st, the whole of the rood, from the Jetty to the Governor's
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On the 4th, a number of magnificent war-boats, fully
armed, and manned with soldiers better equipped than
any in the town, came down the river. No intimation
of the arrival of the expected Commissioner having been
made, inquiries were set on foot, the result of which was
that the Deputy -Governor of Dalla (a small district oppo-
site to and dependent on Rangoon) called upon and com-
municated to the Commodore the arrival of the Viceroy,
Commissioner, or Governor, and of his readiness to receive
any officers who might be deputed to wait on him.
On the following day, January 6th, at 10 a.m., Capt.
FUhbourne, Lieut. Lawrence, and Dr. McLeod, of H.M.
steam-sloop Hermes, with Captain Latter, were sent to
the Governor's house with a letter, couched in the most
bouse at Rangoon, ni tastefully decorated with plantain-trees and trrilia-
work of bamboo: Barmen soldiers, at intervals of a few yards, formed
an avenue of nrrar", to do homage to the sign-manual of I tair King.
About 10 o'clock, three fine elephants of Bnrmah, splendidly caparisoned, and
am-mounted with eight golden umbrellas, moved in procession from the com-
poundof the ("loveruinent I louse under a royal salute of three gims. Thecentre
elephant, bore on Ha back an officer in charge of the letter, with his two
golden umbrellas. On the others were seated the Governor of Italia and
officers of rank, attended by a guard of honour. As the cortege passed on its
waj, each of the soldiers who lined the road sainted it. On arriving at
the place of embarkation, the ulephanta knelt, to enable their riders to
dismount with facility. The royal mnrivewas placed mi a Barman salver, and
carried in state to the boat, laid in a place assigned for it in the foremost
part of the boat covered with a golden umbrella, that do Barman, subject should
precede it; it was then and thus conveyed alongside II. M. 8. Fox .- other boots,
each bearing a golden umbrella, accompanied it. The letter was received on
the quarter-deck by Commodore G. R. Lambert. The whole of Una pomp
and ceremony was entirely in honour of the King's letter, and not with the
■lightest intention of paying any compliment to the British officers into
whose hands it waa delivered. (For the contents of this letter, see chap, iv.)
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friendly terms, requesting a settlement of the pending
difficulties. After having been detained for some time,
and subjected to insulting remarks from the Burmese,
they were denied an audience, but told they might see
and deliver any letter or message to the Deputy. This
was rejected, and the deputation returned to the ship.
This conduct left no room for doubt on the score of the
tone the new Governor intended to adopt. Orders were
immediately given to all British subjects residing in Ran-
goon to embark, and for all British ships, with the least
possible delay, to drop down to the anchorage below the
Hastings' shoal. The boats of the squadron, manned
and armed, and covered by the Proserpine, received and
conveyed to the different ships all the British subjects.
In the mean time the Hermes was employed in towing the
merchantmen clear, and, having set them in the fair way,
she went up to, took possession of, and towed down to the
anchorage, the King's ship mentioned above. The Fox
dropped down with the tide.
Early on ■ the following morning the Governor of
Dalla visited the frigate with a view to the restoration of
the ship. This was decisively refused, and he was given
to understand that the Commodore would accept of no
terms short of the Governor's going on board and apolo-
gizing for the insult he had offered to British officers.
On Thursday the 8th, the Deputy-Governor of Ban-
goon, with a Burmese interpreter, tried what effect
another interview would have; but, finding the Commo-
DigitodbyGOOgle
10
(lore firm, they held oat hopes that they would he enabled
to induce the Governor to comply. It was explained that
despatches were to be forwarded to the Indian Govern-
ment on the next day; that a letter was prepared tor the
Ministers of the King of Avaj but that if the Governor,
by 6 p.m., intimated officially his intention to apologize,
the frigate should be removed to Rangoon the following
morning for his reception. At the appointed hour, instead
of the expected messenger, a large number of war-boats,
flying the flag of defiance (a red ensign with a white pea-
cock, the other or ordinary flag being white with a red
peacock), went down m the direction of the stockades. At
this time, the naval force consisted of H. M. S. Fox (Com-
modore's broad pendant), H. M. brig Serpent (Captain
Luard), H. M. steam-vessel Hermes (Captain Fishbourne),
H. E. I. C. war steam-vessels Phlegethon (Captain Niblett),
and Proserpine (Captain Brooking) . An hour afterwards,
two messengers were sent on board, bearing a letter for
the Governor- General, and threatening the Commodore
with an attack from the stockades if any ships attempted
to move down the river.
On Friday morning, the Proserpine and Phlegethon
convoyed a number of merchantmen out to sea. The
former was ordered to Maubnain, to inform the autho-
rities there of the state of affairs, whence she was to make
the best of her way to Calcutta with Captain Latter, charged
with despatches. The Phlegethon, on rejoining, gave infor-
mation of the Btockades being fully manned. At this
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11
point, Rangoon, Bassein, and Martaban were publicly
declared to be in a state of blockade.
On Saturday morning, the 10th, the Hermes took the
Fox in tow, and in about an hour's time cast her off in a
position abreast of, and at a distance of three to four
hundred yards from, the Dunnoo stockade. The PMe-
getkon and some of the boats of the squadron remained at
the anchorage, to protect the King's ship and merchant-
men, and to convoy or assist such as might require
any help. The Hermes returned for the King's ship.
During her absence, war-boats were moving about in
and out of a creek below the stockade. At half-past
9 a.m. she came down with her charge ; and, when in line
with the Fox, without any appearance of an attack being
intended, except such as could be inferred by the move-
ment of the war-boats, the stockade battery opened fire,
and several shots passed over and short of the frigate,
whilst one passed through her jolly-boat. They were
returned from her starboard guns, charged partly with
grape-shot and partly with shell and round. This lasted
for about a quarter of an hour, when the firing from the
stockade ceased, as well as that from the Fox. The Bur-
mese, however, after a lapse of two minutes, recommenced
the attack, but were shortly silenced.
At the commencement of the firing, two war-boats,
each bearing a golden umbrella (insignia of high office),
were seen rowing as fast as possible towards Rangoon. It
was subsequently explained that the officers in these boats
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13
had been directing and ordering all the preparations for
the attack, but bad taken the earnest possible opportunity
of escaping from the danger into which they did not hesi-
tate to force their subordinates.
The Phkgethon and the boats rejoined, and added their
force to that of the frigate, and after the stockade was
silenced, did good service in destroying a number of war-
boats. On her way down, fire was opened upon the Hor-
net from a stockade on the opposite side of the river.
This, however, was soon quieted. The Fox, in dropping
down to the moutb of the river, anchored for the night off
Bassein Creek, whither the Serpent had been sent to com-
plete her water previously to establishing the blockade at
Early the next morning, the whole squadron, with the
Burmese ship, moved down to the mouth of the river.
The afternoon of the same day the Phkgethon was des-
patched to enforce the blockade at Martaban.
On Monday morning, at an early hour, an American,
with a Burmese interpreter, and the Governor's confi-
dential attendant, were sent down to the Fox, bearing a
petition, said to have been written by the inhabitants (but
really by the Governor), in which everything required in
a letter sent to the Prime Minister at Ava, and not in-
tended to be opened by the Rangoon authorities, was
seriatim promised to be conceded if the Commodore would
return the ship. It was too late. The matter had become
too serious; and there was every reason to doubt the
DigitodbyGOOgle
18
sincerity of this. It was no longer a matter to be settled
by any functionaries other than the Indian Government,
and the King of Ava.
From these people, information was obtained that be-
tween three and four hundred men had been killed and
wounded at the stockades ; that those British subjects who
had ventured on shore after they had embarked in accor-
dance with the Commodore's orders, were detained in
Rangoon in close confinement; and that all the houses
of the merchants had been sacked, aud that many of them
had been burned to the ground.
On Tuesday morning, Commodore Lambert sailed in
H. M. S. Hermes for Calcutta, to consult the Governor-
General in Council upon the future steps to be taken.
Those only who know the Burmese character can at
all adequately appreciate the difficulties with which this
mission has been surrounded, or the value of the services
rendered to all nations trading in these quarters, by the
moderation and firmness displayed by the Commodore.
Indeed, to his forbearance the many who escaped from
the stockades owe their lives; for had he availed himself
fully of the position into which he had been thrust by the
offensive having been adopted by the Burmese, the des-
truction of human life would have been most frightful.
Every right-minded person, whilst deploring the threaten-
ing aspect of affairs, and deeply sympathising with the
people of Burmah, must, at the same time, feel grateful
that this truly philanthropic mission has been entrusted to
such a man as Commodore G. R. Lambert.
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CHAPTER II.
The blockade of the ports of a nation not possessed of
any naval power cannot be marked by any stirring or in-
teresting events, other than such as may arise from at-
tempts at trickery and deceit.
Pending the instructions from the Governor-General,
the blockade of the rivers of Rangoon, Bassein, and Sal-
ween above Maul main, does not form any exception to this
general role. The ships lie at their anchorage unmolested,
and almost unnoticed. On Friday, January 23rd, II. E.I. C.
mail-steamer Enterprise, en route from Maulmain to Cal-
cutta, called in at the mouth of Rangoon river for all
letters and despatches for England, &c. She did not
remain more than two or three hoars. In the evening,
about 7 o'clock, a flag of truce visited the fiat. The
party consisted of Abdoolah (a Malay, sometime in charge
of the Burmese ship), the Deputy-Governor of Dalla, and
a writer who could interpret in Bengalee and Burmese.
The avowed object of the deputation was to ascertain
whether the steamer had brought any answer to the let-
ter sent by the Governor or Viceroy of Rangoon to the
Governor-General, and whether war was to be declared.
Commander J. W. Tarleton received them on deck,
and, with the assistance of Captain Lewis, informed them
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15
that no communication from Calcutta had been received.
They then urged that, should any news arrive, it might be
communicated to the Governor of Dalla, by some one sent
up in the jolly-boat, and went so far as to request Captain
Levis to be the messenger. He assured the Deputy that
when any letter arrived, it would be immediately for-
warded to the Governor, to be transmitted to the king,
should it be addressed to His Majesty, or to be retained
by himself, if intended for him.
Foiled in their attempt to collect information; or
induce the Commander to promise an early communica-
tion with their master of Dalla, they fell upon another
expedient. It would appear that the real object in view
was to create a feeling in favour of the Dalla Governor,
for they evinced the greatest anxiety to induce the belief
that no troops from their district were in the stockades,
— indeed, that they were even then under surveillance,
being garrisoned by 1000 Dalla and 2000 Eangoon troops,
and that they had not had any intercourse with the
Viceroy for nine days. They corroborated the information
that had been received of the destruction of the town,
with the addition that the property of the British had
been inventoried and removed to safe custody. Rangoon,
as described by them, is in a most melancholy condition ;
the corn rotting, and the people starving for want of
employment. A junk was permitted to leave Rangoon,
and, belonging to British subjects, was allowed to pass.
Prom the Serang, it was ascertained that the report of the
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16
Deputy-Governor fell short of the truth. The people are
dying from cholera brought on by exposure and want.
Commodore Lambert, on Monday the 26th, returned
to the Fow in' H. M. steam-sloop Hermes. He left Cal-
cutta on Thursday the 22nd, without having had the oppor-
tunity, so much to be desired, and so calculated to be of
value, of a conference with Lord Dalhousie, his lordship
not having returned from his visit to Simla.
Promptness and determination may save much loss of
life and expense : delay and indecision will be most destruc-
tive. To a Burmese, delay is a tacit admission of inferi-
ority, — an acknowledgment of having been worsted : for-
bearance is cowardice — courtesy is dissimulation. A resi-
dence of a few weeks amongst these people is sufficient to
convince any one of the accuracy of these remarks ; indeed,
they are the reiterations of the observations of those who
have lived with them and known them well for years.
The Viceroy, notwithstanding the threats he ordered
to be communicated to the Commodore, has, it is said,
repudiated having had any thing to do with the stockade
affair, — has placed in confinement the two principal officers
who were managing it, — has written to Ava against them,
and now awaits the king's decision to have them put to
death. Whilst no active measures are being taken, the
Governor of Dalla has an eye to the governorship of
Rangoon. He has sufficient foresight to understand the
jeopardy in which the present man has placed himself,
and is manifestly laying hiB plans to become his successor.
DigitodbyGOOgle
Treachery, deceit, fraud, and absence of all truth,
characterize every word and act of Burmese authorities.
And yet the people are a fine race, capable of great
things, if they were trained under a better system.
There is no hereditary nobility: to be raised to any
office in the state is an object of ambition, and within
the reach of the meanest labourer. The greatest quali-
fication for office is to be able to deceive without leav-
ing a chance of discovery. The most deceitful, the most
crafty, and those most successful in deceit and craft,
are the chosen officers of this splendid but sadly misruled
country.
On Sunday, the 25th, a wing of the Royal Irish and
a company of Bengal Artillery arrived at Maulmam, in
the H. E. I. C. war-steamers Tenaaaerim and Proserpine.
Hostile messages had, during the previous week, been sent
by the Governor of Martaban to the H. E. I. C. brig
Trusty, ordering her, under penalty of being fired upon,
to move further off. These threats ended, however, like
most Burmese threats, in mere words. H. M. S. Serpent,
about this time, was ordered by the Burmese authorities
to remove from the mouth of the Bassein river, within a
certain time, under a similar menace.
At noon, on the 29th, the Tenaaaerim joined the Com-
modore's flag. She brought information that the Commis-
sioner at Maulmain had received a letter from the Governor
of Rangoon, addressed to the Governor-General, contain-
ing the same charges against the Commodore as the letter
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18
which had been before received for transmission on board
the Fox.
At three in the afternoon of the same day, the Hermes
sailed, to blockade the Ballague River. At the same
time, the Fox moved to Bassein creek to complete her
stock of water, and on Saturday morning, the Fox had
started for the mouth of the river, where she met the
H. E. I. C. steam-vessel Fire Queen, from Calcutta, with
despatches, which caused her to turn her head towards
Rangoon, the Fire Queen taking the Fox in tow. In
passing the Da Silva stockade, the Burmese opened fire
upon them, one shot striking the gig which was towing
astern, and so shattering the leg of the boat-keeper as to
make immediate amputation necessary. This was certainly
unexpected, as a promise had been given that the Gover-
nor-General's answer should be sent to Rangoon as soon
as possible after its arrival.
Without stopping, the Fox returned the fire; and at
five o'clock anchored close to the Hastings' shoal. On
Sunday morning, the Fire Queen sailed for Maulmain, and
on her passage down the river was fired upon from both
stockades. The Phiegethon having arrived, relieved the
Tenasserim, which immediately left to her the charge of
the Burmese ship, and steamed up the river to join the
Commodore. She was also fired upon from both stockades,
en route.
At six a.m. on this day, Lieutenant Spratt was dis-
patched to Rangoon with a letter from the Commodore,
DigitodbyGOOgle
19
which enclosed one from Mr. Halliday, the Secretary to
the Indian Government, containing a memorandum from
the Governor-General in Council. The Commodore's
letter, after adverting to the firing from the stockades,
warned the Governor against a repetition of it. Mr.
Halliday'a letter was addressed to the Governor under
his almost innumerable titles, and called his immediate
attention to the enclosed Memorandum. The Memo-
randum contained a recapitulation of the original de-
mands, viz., the payment of 9948 Company's rupees in
connection with the cases of Captains Shepherd and
Lewis, the reception of a Resident, and a written apology
for the insult offered to the deputation of British officers
sent by the Commodore. Captain Latter, who accom-
panied Lieutenant Spratt, delivered these documents to
two officers at the Custom House wharf at Rangoon, and
was promised a speedy reply.
On Monday, the 2nd instant, about two p.m. a Burmese
deputation, consisting of subordinate officers, went on
hoard the Fox. They presented two letters ; one addressed
to the Governor-General, from the Governor of Rangoon,
contains a repetition of the demands, and of his charge
against Commodore Lambert. Upon the latter, he re-
marks that his conduct, in taking away the Burmese
ship was contrary to the custom of all nations, and that,
although the Indian Government are fully aware of this
fact, they had written expressing their desire for a continua-
tion of the friendly relations between the two powers. With
c2
Digitized byGOOgk
20
respect to the demands, be refers them for settlement to the
arrival of the high functionary (the Resident) alluded to in
the Governor-General's letter : but with reference to the
insult, he not only does not offer any apology, but observes
that as the report of it was made by British officers, any
fault that they might have committed had been kept out of
view, whilst those presumed to have been committed by him
had been fully revealed.
In the letter addressed to Commodore Lambert, the
Governor of Rangoon commences by announcing himself
Governor of Prome, and all the southern provinces. He
acknowledges the receipt of Commodore Lambert's commu-
nication expressive of astonishment at being fired at on his
way up to Rangoon with a letter from the Governor-General;
and then proceeds to remark, how much greater was his
astonishment at the Commodore's venturing to come up
without having previously obtained permission from the
officers at the stockades ; — that on the former occasion the
ship of the King of Burmah was taken away at night, and,
in defiance of threats, moved down to the mouth of the
river, — that, on her way down, the stockades fired, and were
fired upon in return, — that the firing on the second occasion
was consequent on his acting in violation of the Governor's
orders communicated to him by the Deputy of Dalla ; — that
he encloses the letter for the Governor-General, which he
requests may be forwarded, and an answer to the same sent
to him without delay.
About half-past four, H.M. S. Fox was taken in tow by
Digitized byGOOgle
21
the Tenaaserim, and moved down to the month of the
river. As she passed the stockades, it was observed that
they were crowded with men. No attack, however, was
made.
The Fa*, Temuserim, Phlegethon, and Burmese ship are
at anchor at the mouth of the river. The blockade will
be strictly kept till further instructions are sent from the
Supreme Government,
If we may be permitted to guess at the future, we
should say that the Indian Government will adopt the
suggestion of the Governor of Rangoon, and appoint a
Resident to negociate with Mm. This will last fin* a few
months, when, like all the other representatives, having
been subjected to insult, and having discovered the imprac-
ticability of the Burmese authorities, he will leave them
without having made any advance towards the firmer
settlement of the relations of the powers. We do not
advocate war and bloodshed; but we do most earnestly
wish, for humanity's sake, that a firmer and more decided
tone and policy had been adopted by the Governor-Gene-
ral in Council. For the sake of all civilized nations, for
the sake of the Burmese themselves, it would be well that
the strict observance of the treaty of Yandaboo should
at once be unreservedly demanded. Bold determination
may arrest the warlike preparations that have been made
in every quarter. Vacillation, indecision, and temporizing,
will only end in a war that will be little other than one
of extermination. Fast neglect and indifference have
Digitized byGOOgk
22
brought matters to their present crisis: let the Indian
Government then learn a lesson, and demand, not of
the Governor of Rangoon, but of the King of Ava, the
immediate concession of all their just demands.
Digitized byGOOgk
CHAPTER III.
In order to maintain, as strictly as possible, the
blockade of the coast of Burmah, H. M. brig Serpent
(Captain Luard) was ordered round to the Bassein River.
She anchored off Diamond Island early on the morning of
the 16th January, 1852, and on the 17th stopped a junk
that was attempting to run the blockade. On the following
day, Captain Luard was in his gig sounding and surveying,
when some guns were fired at him from a stockade, without,
however, producing any effect.
On the 20th, the Serpent went through the passage
between Negrais and the mainland, and anchored off a
small village. About 8 o'clock that night, the soldiers
came down in some order from the stockade to the strand,
bearing torches.
On the 26th, the Serpent again got under weigh, and
sailed for Diamond Island. On the 4th of February she
again sailed for Negrais Island, and on passing a point
of land, known as Pagoda Point, seven shots were fired at
her from a stockade. This occurred about two in the
afternoon. The Serpent returned the fire, and sub-
sequently landed an armed party, destroyed the stockade,
and took possession of some war-boats and munitions of
warfare. The next day, about half-past 9 at night, she
Digitized byGOOgk
24
was fired upon from a stockade at the village on Negrais
Island; the soldiers deserted the stockade immediately
afterwards, and the next morning a party from the brig
set on fire and destroyed it. In all these expeditions, to
the great credit of those employed in them be it said, not
an article of household property was removed from the
place in which the poor people left it. The village at
NegraiB, although deserted by all the Burmese, is, with
the exception of the stockade, in the same state as when
it was first deserted. The people dare not remain, for
they , would be suspected of aiding and abetting the
English, and would be punished by death.
On the 7th February, H.M.S. Fox anchored at Negrais,
having been towed thither by the H. E. I. C. war-steamer
Tenasserim. On Sunday, the 8th, two messengers arrived
from the Governor of Basseiu, with a letter for Captain
Luard. This document contained an enumeration of all the
weapons and means for war that the Governor possessed,
with a threat that they would all be brought into play
against his little ship if he did not remove from the
Basscin River.
Commodore Lambert caused an answer to be written
to this truly Burmese production. One poor old woman,
a leper, who accounted for her presence by the fact of her
not having any relatives to take her away, was found in
the village, and to her it was explained that the expedition
was not against the people, and that it was wished that all
should continue their respective occupations. On Monday
Digitized byGOOgk
25
evening, some few men were met in the villagej and this
may possibly be one of the good results of the communica-
tion made to the old leper. They were friendly, and
mixed without the least hesitation with the Europeans.
On Tuesday, the 10th, the Tenaaserim took the Fox in
tow, and proceeded with her towards Diamond Island. A
short time before she reached that place, the II. E. I. C. S.
Phlegethon was seen. She brought a letter from the
King of Ava for the Governor-General of India, sent, by
way of Martaban, to the Commissioner (Colonel Bogle) at
Maulmain. This, however, is little else than a duplicate
of former communications. It adds some further false
statements to others that have been received, and may be
taken as a fair specimen of the path of falsehood, trickery,
and difficulty, though which every one must thread his way
who undertakes any mission to the Burman Court. In this
letter it is asserted that, in answer to the Commodore's
demand that the Governor of Rangoon should make an
apology on board the Fox, he (the Governor) had proposed
that a house on shore should be prepared and used for
that purpose : a mere after-fabrication — a happy thought
that suggested itself to the Governor as a means of
escape out of any difficulty into which his conduct may
have brought him with the King. In addition to this,
there is another falsehood, viz. that the demands were
about to be complied with; indeed, that a boat, with a
messenger in charge of the money, was on its way to the
Fox when she weighed and started for the mouth of the
DigitodbyGOOgle
river. Id conclusion, the King demands to be informed
if the expedition has for its bond fide motive the settle-
ment of the differences that arose between the late
Governor of Rangoon and the merchants, or the creation
of a casus belli.
The answer of the Governor- General to this last, as
well as to the former letter, will determine the fate of
Burmah. In the meantime, everything that can be done
to further the cause of real humanity will be done by Com-
modore Lambert. Hiw conduct has hitherto won for him
the respect and admiration of all who know anything of
this matter.
DigitodbyGOOgle
CHAPTER IV.
Tee Governor of Bassein, in his letter to Captain
Luard, (H. M. S. Serpent,} set forth in truly Oriental
style, all his titles and dignities, enumerating the many
insignia of office which the King of Ava had conferred
upon him. This portion of his letter was little else than
a catalogue of his robes, ornaments, war-boats, and arms.
He deprecated the blockade, as affecting commerce ; and
concluded by threatening to drive the brig out of the
river. In answer to this, Commodore Lambert caused a
letter to be written, informing the Governor of Bassein
that the coast from Salween river to Bassein had been
put into a state of blockade, in accordance with the instruc-
tions be had received from the Governor-General, and
that it could not be raised under the then existing cir-
cumstances. He further informed him that he had given
orders to all officers in command under him, not to fire
upon any place till they had been fired upon, — to stop all
vessels attempting to run the blockade, and to detain all
those in which any arms or other munitions of war should
be discovered. This reply was despatched by the mes-
sengers on Sunday the 8th instant.
On Tuesday, H. M. S. Fox removed from Negrais to
Diamond Island, where the Phlegethon, from Maulmain,
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joined her. The King of Ava had sent a letter for the
Governor-General, vid Martaban, to the Commissioner at
Maulmain (Colonel Bogle), who ■ had forwarded it in the
Phleffethon to the Commodore. The deputation, with the
king's letter, had an interview with Colonel Bogle on
Saturday the 7th February.
It is confidently asserted, by some who were present,
that the late Governor of Rangoon was amongst the emis-
saries. This, although not generally believed, is not so
improbable as to be dismissed without inquiry. When
recalled from Rangoon, the late Governor did not leave
like one who had incurred the displeasure, or forfeited
the confidence, of his master. He was accompanied by
all his family, allowed to take with him all his property,
and was convoyed by a number of boats manned by no
inconsiderable retinue. During the interview at Maul-
main, it was observed, by more than one person, that a
Burmese was prompting the spokesman; and the well
known ability of the late Governor would point him out
as a valuable agent to be employed in carrying out the
crafty diplomacy of the Court of Ava. The letter, in
addition to the statements so often repeated, accused
Commodore Lambert of having refused to meet and
receive the apology of the present Governor, in a pavilion
to be prepared for the occasion at a place equidistant from
the landing-place and the Government House, and of
having failed in fulfilling his promise to deliver up the Bur-
mese ship to any officer who should be commissioned to
DigitodbyGOOgle
receive it, by getting under weigh whilst a boat, with the
officer on board, was approaching H. M. S. Fox. It need
scarcely be asserted, that neither of these statements has
any foundation, except in the fertile imagination of the
Burmese authorities, and in their incomparably false diplo-
macy. The document was immediately forwarded by the
Phkgethon to Calcutta.
On the following day, the messengers from Bassein
again presented themselves with a letter on board the
Serpent ; but, as the Fox was still at Diamond Island, no
very great distance from Negrais, they were requested
to deliver the document to the Commodore.
At an early hour on Thursday, the letter was received ;
its contents were unimportant, promising that, in future,
the ships should not be fired upon. On Saturday, the
Fox and Tenaaserim sailed for the mouth of the Rangoon
river, where they anchored on Sunday afternoon. On
Monday afternoon, a junk from Penang, with arms on
board, and laden with spices, attempted to run up to Ran-
goon ; she was stopped, and anchored near the frigate, —
her cargo was sealed up, the Burmese who were on board
were landed at a fishing-village, and some men were put
on hoarj**to take charge of her. On the following day, a
deputation of four persons {including Mour Fogian, the
Burmese interpreter) was sent from Rangoon, hut with
what object, except that of collecting any information that
might be inadvertently dropped in the course of conversa-
tion, it was impossible to discover. They introduced and
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30
discussed the subject of the sort of flag the Commodore
would fly, and the number of ships he would have with
him, should he again he the hearer of any letter from the
Governor-General.
On Friday, February 20th, the Fire Queen called in, on
her way to Maubuain, at the mouth of the Rangoon river,
and delivered the Governor-General's dispatches to Com-
modore Lambert. There was nothing for either the King
of Ava, or his representative the Governor of Rangoon.
Indeed the whole tone of the Indian Government seemed
to have been changed. The last demands were of such a
nature as to induce the belief that everything was to be
sacrificed for a fictitious and temporary peace. There was
in them not a syllable about the firing upon the squadron
from the stockades ; and the insult offered to the naval
and other officers sent with the Commodore's letter, was
only alluded to in demanding an apology, without its
being characterized as an outrage that would not, amongst
civilized nations, be passed over without the most un-
reserved apology being demanded, and conceded on the
spot. Nothing in the shape of epistolary communication
was sent hy the Governor-General, in the Fire Queen, for
the Burmese authorities.
The exact purport and full detail of the instructions to
the Commodore have not transpired,, but the following
outline may be most implicitly relied on. European and
Native troops in great numbers were to be ready at Madras
and Calcutta, to embark on the 15th of the next month,
DigitodbyGOOgle
31
and for their conveyance, steamers were ordered round
from Bombay to assist those under orders in the Hooghly.
The whole were to rendezvous at some place to be deter-
mined upon by Commodore Lambert. Rangoon and Mar-
taban,and possibly B as sein, were to be taken and garrisoned,
and prepared, as far as could be, for the protection of the
troops, and as depots for the munitions of war during the
rainy season, which ordinarily commences in May. Should
this fail to bring the Burmese to a sense of their real posi-
tion, the conquest was to be extended into the interior,
and the whole of the Burman dominions he annexed to
the British possessions in India.
On Saturday morning, at an early hour, H. M. S.
Hermes sailed for Trincomalee, for stores for the squadron,
and will rejoin the Commodore's squadron in little more
than a fortnight.
We cannot but believe that the Governor-General,
after his arrival in Calcutta, obtained such information of
the past history of our relations with Bnrmah, and of the
character of the people, as at once opened Ms eyes to the
mistake he had made in the first instance in treating with
the Governor of Rangoon, instead of demanding from the
King of Ava the immediate concession of all the points for
which the mission was undertaken, and, at the same time,
a distinct recognition of all the articles of the treaty of
Yandaboo, "We cannot help feeling that it was possible
to have averted a war by firmness and an air of determina-
tion at the first step.
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32
It may not be without interest, at this stage of the
proceedings, to review the whole progress of this affair.
During Commodore Lambert's visit to Calcutta, in October
last, the great topic of newspaper comment and common
conversation was the outrages that had been committed
upon Captains Shepherd and Lewis, at Rangoon. The
Commodore would have been guilty of great neglect of
duty, and have rendered himself amenable to the world's
censure, as well as to a reprimand from the Admiralty,
had he not inquired into the truth of these current
reports, and offered, when satisfied of their truth, the
services of the naval force under his command.
His offer being accepted, he was furnished with
instructions to treat, if possible, with the Governor of
Rangoon for the adjustment of the differences, but if this
failed, to forward a letter to the King of Ava, and, if
necessary, declare the coast in a state of blockade. The
expedition sailed from Calcutta. The impossibility of
treating with the late Governor became manifest from
the catalogue of fearful grievances complained of by
the British Residents in Rangoon. Further instructions
from the Indian Government were sought, and the letter
for the King of Ava was dispatched. This was the com-
mencement of the intricacies and difficulties.
The answer from the Burman Court is a curious speci-
men, and deserves more consideration than at first sight is
likely to be given to it.* At the first glance, it seemed to
* For the trsn*mi«aicm and daliiery of thi« letter, ne diap. I (note).
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promise a peaceful and happy termination of the whole
affair. It asserted that " the King of Ava had received,
some months previously to the arrival of the expedition,
a petition, signed by all the Britiah subjects [merchants]
at Rangoon, complaining of the conduct of the Governor,
and was about to institute inquiries, when a counter-
petition, signed by the same people as the former, reached
him, denying the accusations contained in the former one,
and requesting that the Governor might be retained in
his office. That upon the receipt of this, he concluded that
the original petition had been written and signed in a
moment of anger, and that the people were really quite
anxious to have so just and good a man in authority over
them. That a short time afterwards, he discovered that the
counter-petition was a forgery, got up at Maulmain, and
was preparing a commission to send down to Rangoon,
when he received the Governor-General's letter. And
that a Commissioner, to whom full powers were entrusted,
would arrive in a few days."
In the first place, it must be quite manifest that the
whole of this story, about the discovery of the forgery, is a
mere invention. A counter-petition, signed by the same
people, was sent up to Ava, but how were their signatures
obtained? In order to save their lives. Had the signers
refused, they knew that the threatened torture and death
would most certainly follow. The whole, then, of this
story of the discovery of the forgery, and the consequent
preparation to send down a Commissioner before the
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34
arrival of the Governor-General's letter, may be regarded
as a mere fabrication. To this, indeed, but little import-
ance seems to have been attached, for the king does not
even admit that the statements contained in it have at all
influenced his conduct, which had already been deter-
mined upon.
Now, will any one credit that the King of Ava believed,
for one instant, that the counter-petition was obtained by
any other influence than most deadly threats? Had the
two been signed by different people, there might have
been some shadow of a reason for his believing what he
says : viz., that he did at first believe it ; but, as the sig-
natures were in the handwriting of the same persons, he
could not have been under any difficulty in arriving at the
real state of the case. Again, the Commissioner was to
arrive ; but for what purpose ? To talk over, not to con-
cede the demands. He had full powers to treat, but, as
the result has proved, he had no desire or intention to
concede.
But we come now to a still more important point. The
king, by sending some one to supersede the late Governor^
as well as by his own words, admits that he is satisfied
that the reports of misconduct that have reached him are
not without foundation in truth. The Governor is super-
seded; but how? He remained some days in constant
intercourse with his successor, and then left with a
retinue and accompanied by his family and treasures.
This is not the Burman method of treating a guilty
DigitodbyGOOgle
35
subject who is to be degraded. One who ia to be removed
because he has incurred the displeasure of his royal
master, is not allowed a retinue of Government boats
to convey his family and treasures away from the scene
of his disgrace. Ruin, if not death, awaits not only
the man himself, but all his family. The great hold
the authorities have upon the people is the fear of their
disobedience bringing ruin, disgrace, or death upon their
families.
However, the most favourable construction was put
upon everything, and the Commodore believed that the
king meant honestly. The conduct of the Commissioner
soon dispelled these impressions. A deputation was
insulted, and refused an audience, after it had been
engaged that they should be received.
The instructions from the Indian Government were
to the effect that if treating should become impossible,
the whole line of coast was to be put into a state of
blockade. Circumstances had arisen that rendered it im-
probable in the highest degree that any further attempt
at parley would be useful; but before resorting to the
extreme measure of blockading, the effect of the law of
reprisals was tried. A ship belonging to and much prized
by the king was seized; but, even at this point, facilities
for coming to an amicable arrangement were afforded to
the Commissioner. He rejected them all, and hurled
threats at the British squadron ; but, even at this stage, he
i)2
Digitized byGOOgk
is met by dignified firmness, combined with forbearance
and moderation. The affair of the stockades took place,
and so much reliance was placed in the Commodore's
declaration that he would not be the first to take any
offensive measure, that .war-boats manned and armed .
passed close to his ship, with all the vaunting insolence
of a people who had been taught by experience that
they might with impunity not only insult, but injure
and torture British subjects. If anything could have
brought the Burmese to their senses, it was the effect
of the law of reprisals. Had Commodore Lambert put
on the blockade, without first trying the seizing upon
their property within his reach, he would have laid him-
self open to the charge of having tried the severe remedy
before the mild onej and by the Burmese he would
have been looked upon as having run away. All the
fleets of Europe around the coast of Burmah would not
have removed the impression that would have been
made, and the report would have been widely circu-
lated amongst the people to the depreciation of the
English nation.
But to return to the proceedings. The King's letter
had scarcely been read, before the Governor-General was
called upon to consider a new and more serious phase of
the affair. The deputation of British officers had been
insulted, and refused the opportunity of delivering the
letter they were entrusted with. The British squadron
Digitized byGOOgk
87
had been fired upon, all opportunities and facilities for a
peaceful accommodation had been rejected, and British
property, worth large sums of money, had been destroyed
by the Burmese. All this was now to be weighed and
considered.
Forbearance now, indeed, was carried to a fault. The
Governor-General, after all this, merely repeats the
original demands, with the addition of an apology to
the British officers, suggesting that the Resident to be
appointed would discuss any other matters. In convey-
ing this message the squadron was again fired upon, and
the Bui-mans again -tried their band at diplomacy. An
evasive answer was written, given to the Commodore, and
by him forwarded to the Governor-General.
A short time after this event a letter was sent by way
of Martaban and Maulmain to Commodore Lambert, to be
forwarded by him to Calcutta. This last reached its desti-
nation as the Fire Queen was about to sail; she was detained
some hours, and then ordered to proceed with her
despatches without having received any fresh instructions
in consequence of the last missive from Ava. Of this we
feel confident, that nothing but yielding up British sub-
jects to be tortured, and injured, and insulted, would have
averted the war that must now come on. Promptness
and decision at first might possibly have done so : nothing
but years of impunity have begotten in the minds of the
Burman authorities a belief that there was no day of
Digitized byGOOgk
retribution ever to come upon them. They had, for
years, acted in defiance of the treaty, without having been
made to acknowledge and atone for the wrong they had
done. One consideration, however, deprives this war of
much of its terrors. The people must in the end be
greatly benefited by being relieved from tyranny and
placed under the mild and just rule of the English.
itf by Google
CHAPTER V.
The Burman authorities are to have another opportunity
of saving their country. The King of Ava has now an
opening given him to escape from the ruin, or, however,
the disseverment of his kingdom.
On the 19th of February, the H. E. I. C. S. Enterprise
was despatched from Calcutta with stores for Arracan,
despatches for Commodore Lambert, and a letter for the
King of Ava, in reply to his sent vid Martaban and
Maulmain. She reached the mouth of Rangoon river on
the 26th, delivered her despatches, and proceeded the
same afternoon to Ma ulmain . The Governor- General
and Council of India seem determined to leave no means
for effecting an amicable settlement of their differences
with the Burman Court untried. Their demands, how-
ever, as well as the tone of their correspondence, are
greatly changed. The money-payments are considerably
increased, and now include indemnification for the
expenses incurred by the expedition and in the prepara-
tions for war. All the demands are to be conceded by
the 1st of April; and in the event of their not being
complied with by that day, the honour of the British
name and - the justice of the Indian claims will be
vindicated as they ought to.be. No excuse for delay has
Digitized byGOOgle
40
been allowed; the letter is peremptory, and must be
answered by some decision : no more evasions will avert the
ruin and destruction, or at least the partition of the
kingdom of Ave. In the mean time no exertions will be
relaxed, on the part of the Indian Government, in making
all necessary preparations for the impending war. Troops
are under orders, and steamers are being, taken up for
their transmission to the scene of action. The rendezvous
of course has not been generally promulgated, nor is it
of any importance that it should. The result of the
Governor-General's last letter it is not difficult to anti-
cipate. No concession to the English demands has as yet
been made (for the only thing that has the appearance of
a concession, viz., the dismissal of the late Governor of
Rangoon, was in reality no such thing), and it is not
probable that a Court, inflated with pride and arro-
gance, should yield when threats are implied if not
expressed.
It may be expedient, even if not in strict accordance
with our English notions, to tryevery means of averting
a war. The most prejudiced man must admit that all
engaged in this affair have employed forbearance, if they
have not all adopted the expediency system ; and that if
war be the result {as it most assuredly will), it will have
been brought upon the Burmese by their own wilfulness,
and not without much reluctance on the part of the English
authorities in the East.
The wisdom of sending down to Rangoon the original
t^ by Google
41
demands in charge of an armed force has been called in
question. It has been urged that the Burman character is
such that any demands, however inconsiderable they might
be, backed by an armed force, would be receiTed with
great suspicion, and yielded only after much delay, and
then not without compulsion. The presence of even so
small a force as one frigate and a steamer may have
created suspicions, and have irritated the Burman autho-
rities ; but the experience of the Indian Government had
not failed to teach them that nothing but insult and con-
tempt would follow upon their just demands being made
in any other way than that which they adopted.
In 1843 they sent Captain Hough, in command of the
Proserpine, with a letter to the Governor of Rangoon,
to demand the intention of the Court of Ava in sending
down an immense army to that place, headed by the
King himself. Captain Hough demanded an audience,
and was told that he could land and deliver the letter at
any time he pleased. He availed himself of this on the
day after hia arrival; but he was not permitted to proceed
beyond the Custom House, where he was detained' as a
prisoner for some hours, and only liberated upon some of
the merchants becoming bail for him. He returned to his
ship, having entrusted the letter to a common coolie to
carry to the Governor; weighed, and returned to Calcutta.
We make no comment upon the policy of the Indian
Government in passing over such a gross and unwarrant-
able insult. The anecdote is, however, illustrative of our
Digitized byGOOgk
42
statement that it would have been vain to have sent to
Rangoon any bat an armed expedition. We may ques-
tion the propriety of undertaking the mission without
simultaneously preparing a sufficient force to insure im-
mediate attention and concession to such demands as
they felt themselves bound to make. We also doubt the
dignity of the position which they assumed in sending an
expedition to treat with a Governor when they ought to
have communicated with the Court. Two mistakes appear
to us to have been made — the attempt to treat with a
subordinate, and the not preparing, at an earlier period,
for that which past experience might have taught them
would inevitably be the result of any interference with the
Burcuan authorities — war; but at the same time it must
be manifest, to any one who has watched the late pro-
ceedings, that neither of these errors can have had any-
thing to do with hurrying on or exciting war. Had they
not been committed, however, the whole affair might by
this time have been already nearly settled.
If the Government were unprepared to enter into the
difficulties of a war with Rurmah, tbey should not have
attempted to procure the concession of their demands —
Tridsed they should have withheld them till they were. In
. the meantime the British subjects, residing in and trading
with that nation, would doubtless have been sufferers; and
the war, which under any circumstances seems to have
been inevitable, would have only been delayed, not averted,
Referring to the acts of cruelty which the people in
DigitodbyGOOgle
43
these parts are permitted, bo far as the native Govern-
ment is concerned, to inflict upon British subjects, we
subjoin an account just published in one of the Indian
newspapers.
Shocking Massacre of British Subjects, and Destruc-
tion op Vessels at Noncowry.
Statement of Malim Sahib, son of Khuleepah Sahib,
Malim of Nagore, by occupation a merchant, and master
of the brig Sqfreena, now lying in the port of Maulmain,
taken before me, Henry Hopkinson, Principal Assistant
to the Commissioner in the Tenasserim Provinces, this
13th day of February, 1852, who saith, "I sailed from
Nagore in the month of August last, to Bimlapatam,
thence to Penang, and from Penang I came on to Non-
cowry Island, arriving in all November.* I got as many
cocoa-nuts as I could at Noncowry Island, and filled up
with more at Car Nice-bars, where I remained up to about
the 20th December. From Car Nicobars I was driven by
stress of weather with the loss of all my sails, to Junk
Ceylon. I had to stop and refit there, and take in pro-
visions, and did not leave till the 20th January last, when
I came on here. One morning, about 2 o'clock, while
lying ofF Noncowry, and about thirteen days after my
arrival, there came alongside the ship a man on a log of
wood. I lowered a boat, and picked him up ; he appeared
much exhausted, and could only tell me at first that his
* It ia thus in the original document. -
3i,i&.db,GoogIe
name was Soobooroyloo, and that he was a Coringee. He
was, however, in perfect possession of his senses, and he
soon recovered strength sufficient to state his story. He
said that he was one of a crew of forty-five men, belong-
ing to a Coringee craft, which had come from Singapore
to Noncowry to load with coeoa-iftits ; but before her cargo
could be completed, she was one day surrounded by a
number of armed boats, whose crews boarded and carried
her, and put all her people to death, with the exception
of nine {of whom the narrator was one), and who escaped
by hiding themselves in a water-tank. When night fell,
they endeavoured to swim ashore : four were drowned, but
the other five managed to reach the land. They soon got
separated, however, in the jungle. Soobooroyloo wan-
dered about for some time, but at last was captured by
the islanders, who kept him prisoner. He managed at
last to bite through his cords, and so got free from them,
and gained my ship on a log, as I have mentioned. Soo-
booroyloo told me his vessel's name, but it was a long
Coringa word, and I have forgotten it : she was lying off
the southern side of the island of Camarata, about the
middle of the island, and perhaps half a mile from the
shore, when she was attacked. The savages sank her, and
Soobooroyloo pointed out to me her mast still remaining
above the water. Soobooroyloo was assuredly quite sane
when he came on board us, and for thirty or thirty-five
days subsequently. I do not know what then turned his
brain, but he has been mad since. Soobooroyloo told me
Digitized byGOOgk
45
that his was not the only ship that had been attacked by
the natives of Non cowry ; for after he had been a month
ashore, an English barque came into the harbour formed
by the islands of Noncowry, Camarata, and Trincutty,
and anchored there. For four or five days a number of
boats, more and more every day, went off to her : at last,
one day Soobooroyloo saw her settle down and sink.
Her long-boat came ashore, full of Noncowry men; they
brought with them a European lady and her child, a little
thing not two years old. For four days the poor lady
was the victim of their brutal abuse, when death put an
end to her Bufferings; and she was no sooner dead, than
they hacked the child to pieces with their knives.
" Before he left the island, Soobooroyloo fell in with
three men; he found they were his countrymen (Corin-
gees), and they proved to be the remnant of the crew of
the English barque. They told him that their vessel had
been carried and scuttled by the savages, who bad mur-
dered the captain and his mate and two other Englishmen
(passengers, it is presumed), and, after plundering the ves-
sel, had brought the captain's wife and his infant daughter
away in the long-boat. They could not tell the name of
the barque, but she was from Calcutta with a lascar crew.
They had shipped there themselves. The vessel had come
to the Nicobars for a cargo of cocoa-nuts; she had on
board of her eight bullocks, twelve goats, a small quan-
tity of piece-goods, some casks of brandy," and several
bags of money in rupees.
itf by Google
46
" I managed to escape the fate of those ships, as I
knew beforehand the character of the men I had to deal
with. I kept well out in the offing, in fifteen fathoms
water, and was very careful not to allow more than one
boat at a time to be alongside of me ; and as soon as I
had discharged one boat of cocoa-nuts, I made her go
well away before I suffered another boat to approach.
Soobooroyloo was upwards of two months and a half on
shore, and this affair of the English barque took place
about a month and a half before my coming."
Pending the arrival of the King of Ava's letter, Com-
modore Lambert proposes to send one of the ships under
his command to Noncowry, to rescue any of the survi-
vors of these foul atrocities. One other advantage will
arise from the visit — the Nicobar people will find that
their cruelty is known, and be warned not to repeat such
acts as have for some years been occurring.
DigitodbyGOOgle
CHAPTEB VI.
As the month of March passes away, so do the prepara-
tions for the first blow in the new war progress — the new
war, because war is inevitable. Nothing will convince the
Court of Ava that it is to their interest to concede the
demands of the Court of Directors, and, as a necessary con-
sequence of non-compliance, war will be made upon their
territory. The preparations are upon such a scale as to
render the result as certain as anything human can he.
In addition to the Fox, Hermes, and Serpent, the naval
force will consist of nine or ten steamers, including some
of the heavily armed steam-frigates from Bombay. The
land force (chiefly from the Madras Presidency) will
amount to 6,000; 5,000 Europeans, and 1,000 Native
troops, with Artillery, There is now no doubt that the
mouth of Rangoon River has been selected as the place of
rendezvous for all the ships of war and transports.
General Godwin is to command the land force. Admiral
Austen has arrived, by this time, at Penang, but it is not
anticipated that he will be called upon to assist, as the
force under Commodore Lambert's command will be
amply sufficient. The Burmese are pursuing the same
system of preparation that they commenced on the arrival
of the expedition in their waters. They have assembled
DigitodbyGOOgle
48
in Rangoon a force said to amount to 31,000 men*
including 8000 cavalry. They have erected stockades, and
mounted guns upon them in considerable numbers. At
Martaban every preparation has been made; stockades
have been built and guns mounted. The time employed
in negotiations has not been squandered by the Burman
- authorities; and, in the event, the delay will prove to have
been useful to the English. The Burmese forces have
been assembled in great numbers at Rangoon, and the
blow that will be struck there will be so decisive that, they
will not dare to again face the English in a pitched battle.
They do not — they cannot — dream of the tremendous
batteries that will be brought against them. It is impos-
sible to say what will be the nest step after the taking of
Rangoon; but, as the country about Prome is healthy,
even during the rainy season, it is more than probable
that the troops will be conveyed np to that place. It is
believed by some, who say they know the Burmese
character, that the people will, after such a blow as that at
Rangoon, seek the protection of the English.
The Indian Government has employed the last month
in making most ample and efficient preparations for the
inevitable crisis of Burmese affairs. Transports and
steamers have been taken up and despatched with men
and arms, to force from the Court of Ava that compliance
with just demands, which has been refused to the most
forbearing and oft-repeated applications. At Maulmain
every available artificer has been employed in framing
Digitod'byGOOgle
houses, to be erected at Rangoon for the protection of
the troops, immediately after that place shall have fallen
into the hands of the English. This wise measure demands
every praise, for by these means thd soldiers will be pro-
vided with houses and barracks before the rains shall have
commenced, and a few days after their occupation of the
place. On the 25th instant, the Peninsula and Oriental
steamer Erin arrived at Maulmain with the head-quarters
of the 80th (Queen's) Regiment, to relieve that portion of
the 18th, or Royal Irish, that had been sent thither, but
is now under orders to join their regiment at Rangoon.
Maulmain has been enlivened by a little pleasantry of the
Governor of Martaban, who sent a message to the Com-
missioner threatening that, if the attack were not soon
commenced by the English, he would he the first himself
to open the war by an attack upon that station. A body
of Sappers and Miners has arrived from Madras to put
the defences of the last place in such a state as to render
it tenable against any force that might attack it. This
precautionary measure, however, was decided upon some
time since, and has no reference whatever to the empty
threat of the Governor of Martaban.
On the 27th, a large barque (Bengal), arrived at the
mouth of the Rangoon river, laden with coals and some
buoys. About two hours afterwards, the Pultel Rozack,
with a detachment of 180 men of the Royal Irish, arrived
at the same place. Capt. Call was in command of the
detachment. On Monday the buoys were laid down at
Digitized byGOOgle
50
the mouth of the river. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon
of Tuesday, the Futtell Allam came to anchor near the
Vox; she brought 280 men of the Royal Irish, with Colonel
Cootes of that regiment.
The Lady Mary Wood, with 250 of the 40th Bengal
Native Infantry, steamed to the same anchorage at about
8 o'clock on the morning of the 31st. The Burmese ship,
taken by Commodore Lambert as a reprisal, had been
prepared for the reception of any troops that might arrive
m a vessel whose immediate return to Calcutta would be
important ; the Lady Mary Wood was taken alongside,
and the men received on board the Yathunah-yee-nihon
with the greatest ease and least possible delay. H. M. S.
Hermes, with General Godwin and staff on board, the
H. C. steam-vessels Tenasserim, Enterprise, and Fire-
Queen, each with a transport in tow, were to sail two hours
after the departure of the Lady Mary Wood, and may
therefore be expected at Rangoon in a day or two. The
large steamers from Bombay, which were ordered to call
at Madras, may also be looked for about the same time.
The land force will consist of the 18th and 51st
(Queen's), a large body of Artillery from Madras, the 40th
and 67th Bengal Native Infantry, with some other regi-
ments, whose numbers have not come to our ears. It is
believed that the 68th Bengal Native Infantry will follow
as soon as arrangements for their embarkation can be
made. The Bengal Brigade, under Brigadier Warren,
will consist of the Royal Irish and the 40th and 67th
DigitodbyGOOgle
Bengal Native Infantry. The naval force will be com-
posed of H. M. ships Fox, Serpent, and Hermes, the H. C.
steam-vessels Moozuffer, Feroze, Berenice, Medusa, Zenobia,
Semiramis, Hugh Lindsay, and Sesostris, of the Indian
navy; Tenaaserim, Phlegethon, and Proserpine of the Ben-
gal Marine Service. It is most probable that some one or
more of the Queen's regiments will be sent in addition to
those whose numbers are given above.
It must- be a source of congratulation to every one
employed in this most important expedition, that no force
was ever despatched, by any Government, in a more
righteous cause. After years of insult and injury, and
months of forbearance in demanding, or rather entreating
for compensation for only two out of innumerable cases
of oppression, and arrangements for the permanence of
peaceful relations, the present armed expedition has been
sent to insist upon *British rights. Whatever the Burmese
may lose they have no one to blame but their own arrogant
and vain rulers. The zeal shown by all employed in this
expedition demands the highest praise.
Digitized byGOOgk
CONCLUDING CHAPTER.
The last letter of Mr. Baker (March 81), concluded
with the account of the force which was then immediately
expected to arrive from the Indian Presidencies. On the
next day after the date of that final communication
(April lat), Rear-Admiral C. J. Austen, C.B., Com-
mander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's ships and Teasels in the
Indian seas, anchored off the mouth of the Rangoon river.
On the next day the Bengal force arrived with Lieutenant-
General Godwin, C.B., Commanding the Forces. The
Madras division did not join until the 7th of April. The
whole force at this time employed in the expedition is
exhibited, according to the different branches of the service,
in the following table, extracted from a published commu-
nication from the Secretary of the Admiral to the Indian
Government.
Force employed in the Expedition against 1
HBH MAJESTY'S
SHIP&
Ship*.
Captains.
Men.
a™
Bemarka,
Battler
Poi
Hermes
Salamander ...
Serpent
A Gun-Boat ...
Comdr. A. Hellerah ...
Comdore. 0. B. Lambert
Comdr. B. Ftohbonroe ,
Comdr. 8. S. Ellman ...
Comdr. W. Luard
Mr. R. C. Copland, |
Acting Hate .... i
ISO
2B8
120
135
Ufi
10
11
«
6
8
16
1
I % ibis, 2 Gum
,2 Gum lent io Bat-
tler, and 13 Seamen
I to Mahi Nuddee.
U Oudi roomed 4
I (rota Moult*.
818
80
3i,i&.db,GoogIe
OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
Ships.
Captains.
Men.
o™.
Remarks.
Moo™ffer
Zenobia
Besostris
Berenice
Capt. n. B. Lynch
Comdr. A. H. Hewitt ....
Comdr. A. Bill
Comdr. C. Campbell ...
Lieut, A. A. Fr&zer ....
Lieut. A. Niabett
230
230
20O
135
60
97
7
7
6
4
5
1
Senior Officer.
062
30
DTTCOVENANTED SERVICE.
.Ships.
Captains.
Hfe
fe.
Remarks.
Tenasserim ....
Pinto
Phlegethon ...
Proserpina
Enterprise
Fire Queen ....
Haha Nnddee...,
W. Dicey
0. Burbank
G.T.Neblett
A. Brooking
A. Fryer
H. Boon
Lieut. C.W.Rice, E.N.,|
in temporary charge]
80
86
86
88
70
70
22
7
<
6
9
2
4
Tcnoei to Foi: 19
> ma Miami bob
IFox.
600
S3
TBOOPB.
Her Majesty's 18th Royal Irish
Ditto ditto Gist Regiment
Ditto ditto 80th ditto
Fire Companies of Artillery
Three Regiments of Native Infantry
Gun Lascars
Two Companies of Sappers and [Miners.,..
Howitzers, 8-Inchea
„ 24- Pounder
8-Pounder Gnna
Digitized byGOOgle
Ships' Names.
Tons.
How employed.
Fatty Allnm ....
Fatel Bozack ....
609
Coal and Commissariat Stores. (Btores.
449
Discharging Coal and taking ill Commissariat
Bengal
ear
Will soon be discharged.
Sir Thos.Gresham
59S
Ditto ditto.
Hempsyke
663
Ditto ditto.
Atalanfa
419
Ditto ditto.
8B7
Ditto ditto.
636
Landing Ordnance Stores.
Monarch
248
Engineer's Stores. '
Tubal Cain
787
Hospital Ship.
Juliana
B6S
Commissariat Stores.
Rockliff
• 779
Madras Commissariat Stores.
Aga Bnckar
4«7
Just arrived,
Favorite
419
At Mn.nl nrnln
King of Ava'a Ship
Prize.
Ships oT War IS
Hen 8,087
Guns 169
The first step taken by Lieutenant-General Godwin on
his arrival in the Rangoon River was to send up to Rangoon
a Sag of truce in charge of Captain Latter, of the Bengal
Army, on board the Honourable East India Company's
steamer Proserpine, commanded by Commander Brooking.
The object of this message was to ascertain whether any
communication had been received from the Court of Ava,
in reply to the proposals which had been made to the
Burmese Government, for satisfaction for the injuries and
insults which had been offered to British subjects, by the
authorities at Rangoon. This further attempt at peaceful
accommodation was frustrated by the infatuated conduct
of the Burmans. The flag was fired on from the stockades
which guarded both banks of the river ; and it was only
the singular address and spirited conduct of Commander
Digitized by-Google
55
Brooking that extricated his ship. But besides effecting
this he did not return without inflicting a severe chastise-
ment on his assailants, blowing up a powder magazine, and
. destroying many men.
This unwarrantable outrage of the Burmese left no
option but the active pursuance of hostile measures. As,
however, the Madras division of the force had not yet
arrived, and there was no certainty of the time when it
might reach, it was deemed advisable to postpone opera-
tions against Rangoon. The interval, however, was not
lost; but was employed in a brilliant and successful
expedition against Martaban. With a view to this, the
General and the Admiral sailed from the Rangoon River
on the 3rd of April, and the next day reached Maulmain,
where the arrangements for the capture were to be made.
The troops detached for this service were as follows : — a
wing of Her Majesty's 18th Royal Irish; a wing of Her
Majesty's 80th Regiment; a wing of the 26th Madras
Native Infantry ; with details of Bengal European Artillery,
and Madras Sappers, amounting in all to about 1,400 men.
On the morning of the 5th of April the attack was
made, and in the brief space of an hour and a-half, the
place, though held, it was said, by a body of 5000 "men,
was mastered without the loss of a single man, and only
fifty wounded. But the account of this brilliant exploit
should not be given in any other than the spirited words
of the gallant Commander in his despatch to the Indian
Government, dated the day after the capture, April 6th.
Digitized byGOOgle
56
" Martabau stands on a noble sheet of water, with a
river-line of defences of about 800 yards. Inland lies a
large pagoda, a wall running along the whole front, with
an ascent from the water's edge of about 500 feet, on the
top of which small pagodas stand, the slope being partially
covered with fine trees and close jungle.
" Arrangements were made for the attack at day-break
of the 5th. The Bear-Admiral made every disposition
possible, in waters full of shoals and violent currents, for
bombarding the position with his five steamers, and to
cover the landing of the troops. It was the admiration of
every one to witness the noble manner the Rattler worked
her way to within 200 yards of the wall, and close to the
pagoda, doing tremendous execution. I changed from the
Rattler at six o'clock to superintend the landing of the
troops, and went on board the Proserpine, a smaller vessel,
with my Staff. Colonel Reignolds commanded the attack.
At half-past 6, the steamer opened fire, and at 7 the troops
were in the boats, and landed by the indefatigable exer-
tions of Commander Brooking, under a smart fire of
musketry and guns. Soon was the storming party under
the walls, and over them, with less loss than I thought
possible. Lieutenant- Colonel Reignolds immediately
ascended to the pagodas on the height, and took posses-
sion of them, after some skirmishing with the enemy.
" At 8 A.M. Martabau was our own ; and considering the
enemy's position and numbers, which report gives at 5000
men, we have got it very cheaply."
Digitized byGOOgk
The following notices of individual services and gallant
conduct, in the same communication, may not be with-
out interest to some into whose hands this work may
fell.
" I have to ask his Lordship's and the Council of
India's best consideration of the services of Lieutenant-
Colonel Reignolds, of the 18th Royal Irish, to whom is
due the credit of this day's endurance of severe fatigue
and privation, under a burning sun.
" To Captain Gillespie, in command of the Grenadiers
of the 18th Royal Irish, whom I saw first on the wall, the
soldier following him receiving three wounds, to Captain
Campbell, who commanded the wing of the 18th Royal
Irish, to Major Lockhart, in command of the wing of the
80th Foot, to Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston, commanding
the wing of the 26th Regiment, Madras Native Infantry,
and to Captain Randall, commanding the detachment of
Madras Sappers and Miners, my warm approbation is
due.
" I beg also to recommend to the consideration of his
Lordship in Council, the Assistant Adjutant-General of
tbe Force, Captain Mayhew, whose exertions during the
disembarkation of the troops, tended greatly to its success,
as also my Aides-de-Camp, Lieutenant Chads, of Her
Majesty's 64th Regiment, and Lieutenant Lambert, of the
56th Native Infantry, son of the Commodore, who were
highly useful to me during the whole day.
" Major Fraser, the Commanding Engineer of the
Digitized byGOOgk
68
Force, and Major Turton, in command of the Bengal
Artillery, were with me the whole day, but from the
nature of the operations, their particular services were not
called into play, though they had made every disposition
for the efficiency of their respective departments.
" It will be obvious from the foregoing, how greatly
the success of the operations I have detailed has depended
on the co-operation of the sister branch of the service.
His Excellency Bear-Admiral Austen, C.B., has through-
out afforded me the most cordial assistance. Her
Majesty's steamers Rattler, Hermes, and Salamander,
worked in concert with the troops throughout the day.
" On my departure to-morrow, I intend to take with
me to the Rangoon River the wings of the 18th and 80th
Regiments, and the company of Bengal Artillery, and the
detachments of Madras Sappers and Miners doing duty at
Maulmain.
" In conjunction with Lieutenant-Colonel Bogle, the
Commissioner of these provinces, I have put the 36th
Madras Native Infantry, and a company- of European
Madras Artillery, with a suitable battery of guns, as a
garrison at Martaban, relievable from Maulmain, when it
may be thought desirable.
" In addition to which a war-steamer has been placed
by the Naval Commander-in-Chief on the station. These
arrangements are, I think, adequate to the protection of
the place, and will, I trust, meet with the approbation of
the Government of India.
DigitodbyGOOgle
"In conclusion, I beg to remark that I am greatly
indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel Bogle, who accompanied
me during the whole of the operations of the 5th, and was,
from his local knowledge, of much use to me."
After this enterprise had been interposed to fill up
a season of unavoidable delay, the naval and military
commanders both returned to the main scene of opera-
tions in the Rangoon River, and had the satisfaction to
find that the Madras force had arrived on the day previous.
While part of the troops were occupied in this expedition
to Martaban, those which remained in the Rangoon River
had not been idle. Good and effectual service had been
rendered there by Commodore Lambert. The banks of
the river below Rangoon were lined on both sides by
stockades, whence the ships were liable to continual an*
noyance, and from some of which the flag of truce, as will
be remembered, had been fired on. These were so
effectually destroyed by the Commodore on board the
Fox, with other ships, as scarcely to leave a vestige by
which their site could be traced.
The accomplishment of this service is described in the
following communication from the Commodore himself to
the Admiral Commanding-in-Chief :—
" H. M. S. Fox, Rangoon River,
" Sir, 6th April, 1852.
" In pursuance of the Instructions I had received from
your Excellency, I proceeded up the Rangoon River on
Digitized byGOOgk
the afternoon of the 4th instant, taking under my orders
- Her Majesty's sloop Serpent and the Tenasserim and
Phlegethon steamers, belonging to the Honourable East
India Company, with three companies of H. M.'s 18th
Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Coote. I anchored off the Bassein Creek the same
evening,
" At day-light, on the morning of the 5th, I again
weighed and went up the river, having previously given
directions to Commander Luard, with the Serpent and
Phlegethon, which I placed under his orders, with one
company of the 18th Regiment, to attack and destroy the
De Sylvia stockade, which service he most effectually
performed.
" I proceeded myself, with the Fox and Tenasserim, to
the Dunnout, and a new stockade that had recently been
erected nearly opposite on the other side of the river ; as
we approached, the enemy opened an ill-regulated fire on
us, two of their shot striking the Fox, which was soon
silenced by Her Majesty's ship and the steamer. The
troops and the marines of the Fox were then landed,
and by the evening both stockades were burnt, and the
whole force re-embarked without any casualty.
" I have great satisfaction in stating that the energy
and good feeling displayed by both services in performing
this duty, was such as to meet my highest approval ; and
I have to express my thanks for the assistance I received
from Lieutenant-Colonel Coote and Commanders Tarleton
Digitized byGOOgk
61
and Luard, as well as from the commanders of the Hon.
East India Company's steam-vessels of war, Tenosserim
and Pkkgethon.
"I have, &e.,
" (Signed) G. R. LAMBERT, Commodore,"
"Rear-Admiral C. J. Austen, C.B.,
" Commander-in-Chief."
By this demolition of the stockades, the way was
cleared for the advance of the squadron up the river to
Rangoon, and the commanders were not slow to avail
themselves of this facility. Rangoon, with its great Shwe-
da-gon Pagoda, so celebrated in the former war, was
destined soon to experience the same fate as Martahan.
This was effected, as in that former instance, by the
admirable combination and mutual support of the two
branches of the service ; the naval operations preparing
the way for the successful exertion of the land force. The
distinct, though combined, working of each branch of the
force, is so clearly and graphically described in the
despatches of their respective commanders, that the
reader will be glad to have their own account here laid
before him. First in order comes the narrative of the
preliminary operations of the naval force previous to the
stonning of the town. This is extracted from the com-
munication of the Admiral's Secretary to the Indian
Government : —
" On the 10th instant, the ships, steamers, and trans-
DigitodbyGOOgle
ports, commenced an advance up the river, and anchored
below the Hastings' shoal that evening. It was at first
intended to anchor on the following morning (Easter
Sunday) above the shoal, but out of the range of fire
from the enemy. Some alteration had, however, to be
made in the arrangements proposed. It was found that
there would not be room for all the ships to anchor above
the shoal, out of gun-shot, without a risk of their
grounding, and it was for some time debated whether the
squadron should remain below the shoal until Monday, or
advance on the Sunday morning to take up their positions
off Rangoon, and risk the commencement of the action
on that day. The tides and other causes decided the
authorities on adopting the latter course, and accordingly
the shoal was crossed on the morning of the 11th hy
each ship as the water served. When the first vessels had
anchored above it, the Dagon Pagoda fired several guns,
apparently with a view to call in the people. Upon the
Honourable Company's steamers Feroze, Moozuffer, and
SetottrU, taking up their positions, fire was opened upon
them from the stockades on either side, which was re-
turned with shot and shell. In the course of an hour an
explosion took place, the importance of which was only
afterwards discovered. It was that of a stockade mounting
nine eighteen-pounder guns, well planted, and would
doubtless have done great mischief to our shipping, if
not thus accidentally silenced so early. Upon the Fox
advancing to take up her position, she poured effective
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as
broadsides into the stockades on both sides of the river.
After consulting the lieutenant- General Commander of
the Forces, the boats of the Fox landed, with a party of
seamen and marines, and a company of the 18th Royal
Irish, and, under coyer of the ship's guns, stormed two
stockades on the Dalla side. Although a rapid fire of
musketry was kept up from many hundreds of the enemy
in these defences, yet this service was happily effected
with but one man wounded on our side. Her Majesty's
sloop Serpent, and the Honourable Company's steamer
Phlegethon then passed up the river, and anchored above
Kemmendine, in order to capture the war-boats, and to
prevent fire-rafts being sent down upon the squadron.
The Rattler and Tenasserim next advanced along the line,
and succeeded in silencing three more stockades. The
party before alluded to, in the boats of the Fox, and
a few seamen, with thirty of the Royal Irish from the
Rattler, stormed another stockade on the Dalla side, driving
hundreds of the enemy out of it into the jungle. AH the
stockades that had been taken were then set fire to, and
burnt in succession. The shipa returned to their re-
spective positions in readiness to land the troops, which
commenced at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 12th,
without opposition from the enemy. It was discovered
that the Dagon Pagoda was not so far from the ships as
was hud down in the charts, being at a good shelling
distance; the ships accordingly commenced throwing
shells into it. In the course of the evening a magazine
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64
blew up, and the outskirts of the pagoda were set on fire
in several directions, creating great confusion among the
enemy. Shells were occasionally thrown from the ships,
on the 13th instant, during the day and night, frequently
setting fire to the stockades in various places. On the
afternoon of that day, a large party of men, with two.
elephants and riders, were seen to leave the pagoda. It
was afterwards understood that this was the Governor of
Rangoon, who had quitted the pagoda in despair of being
able to hold it.
" It will be the pleasing duty of the Commander of
the Forces to report the advance of-the troops, and the
gallant storming of the White House Stockade about half
a mile from the landing-place, and ultimately the storming
and capture of the Dagon Pagoda."
This duty the Commander-in-Chief executed in the
following very interesting description: —
" The -9th of April I devoted to making every dis-
position for the landing of the troops, and to becoming
acquainted with the Heads of Departments of the
Madras Division. I informed the Admiral on the evening
of that day that my preparations were complete, and His
Excellency proceeded up the river the next day, close off
Rangoon. On the 11th, the Admiral moved opposite the
Old Town, with the intention of bombarding, the next
morning, the whole line of stockades on both banks of the
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river; but some of the flotilla, getting very near the
shore, were fired on, which brought on a return from our
side, and ended in the general destruction of the whole
line of defences, though the fire of the enemy proved fatal
to many on board the shipping. The Admiral and Com-
modore took a most distinguished part ' in the operations,
landing and setting fire to all around them. This powerful
attack, from the steam frigates of both Her Majesty's and
he Honourable Company's Navy, completely cleared the
ground for nearly a mile for our landing. On Monday
he 12th, at day-break, the troops were ready, and by
about 7 a.m. I had landed Her Majesty's 51st Light
Infantry, the 18th Royal Irish, the 40th Bengal Native
Infantry, and part of my artillery. The Bengal guns,
under Major Reid, were ordered to move in advance,
covered by four companies of the 51st Light Infantry.
They had not proceeded far, however, when, on reaching
some rising ground to our right, guns opened on us, and
shortly after, skirmishers showed themselves in the jungle.
This was a new mode of fighting with the Burmese, no
instance having occurred last war of their attacking our
flanks, or leaving their stockades, that I remember ever to
have taken place. I make this remark as they are now
not only good shots, but bold in their operations, and
clever in selecting their ground and covering themselves.
Our casualties for the past three days will prove it, our
dress exposing us, and their garb and colour concealing
Digitized byGOOgk
" On looking at the stockade whence the fire came, 1
perceived it was a strong work, which used to be called in
the last war the 'White House' Picquet, a very strong
position, and just in the way of our advance. A battery
of four guns was immediately opened on it by Majors
Reid and Oakes, the whole being under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Foord, Commandant of that arm.
The fire of these guns was very effective. A storming
party was formed of four companies of the 51at Light
Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel St. Maur, with the
Madras Sappers under Major H. Praser, Commanding
Engineer, and advanced under cover of a jungle ; on
getting through which, the musketry was so steady and
effective from the stockades and adjoining buildings,
that a great many of our party were killed and wounded,
amongst whom were several officers. I have to deplore
the temporary loss of" Lieutenant-Colonel Bogle, the
Commissioner of the Tenasserim Provinces, who was very
bravely attending the army to witness its operations.
Major Fraser took the ladders to the stockade most
gallantly, and alone mounted the defences of the enemy,
where his example soon hrought around him the storming
party, which carried the stockade, but at a very severe
loss on our part.
" It was my intention to move on to the main object
of our operations ; but on looking around me at the com-
plete exhaustion of the storming party, it now being 11
o'clock, under a sun that may he understood, since Major
DigitodbyGOOgle
Oakes of the Madras Artillery, was struck down by it at
his battery, and died; Brevet Major Griffith, Madras
Army, whilst conveying an order, died on the road.
Lieutenant-Colonel Foord, Commandant of Artillery, was
nearly a victim to the heat, and obliged to quit the Held.
Brigadier Warren and Lieutenant-Colonel St. Maur also
suffered greatly; so that under such destruction I resolved
to halt where I was, and concentrate the force in as strong
a position as the country admitted of. We were teased
by parties of the enemy hovering around us till the night
closed, when all was quiet under the protection of our
guns, which had been brought up to the front.
" On Tuesday, the 18th, it was reported the heavy
battery guns could not be landed, and be with me, before
the middle of that day ; and also that rations for the troops
could not be prepared in time to enable me to advance.
I therefore held my position till the next morning.
" His Lordship in. Council knows well the spot where
I proposed to force my way into the Great Pagoda ; and
the road I was about to move on entirely turned all the
defences of this real stronghold. The present position of
Rangoon is entirely altered since the last war : within a
few years, the old town which stood on the river bank,
has been utterly destroyed, its bricks now lying in heaps
on its Bite. A new town has been formed about a mile
and a quarter from the river: it is nearly a square, with a
bund or mud- wall about sixteen feet high and eight broad ;
a ditch runs along each side of the square, and on the
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north aide, where the pagoda stands, it has heen very
cleverly worked into the defences, to which it forms a sort
of citadel. The distance from the pagoda to the south
entrance of the town is about three-quarters of a mile, and
it is something more than that breadth from east to west.
The old road from the river to the pagoda, comes up to
the South Grate running through the new town, and it
was by this road the Burmese had settled that we should
attack it, — and where they had made every preparation to
receive us, having armed the defences with nearly a
hundred pieces of cannon and other missiles, and with a
garrison of at least ten thousand men. The attempt to
assault on this side, would, I am convinced, from the steady
way the Burmese defend their works, have cost us half
our force.
"On Wednesday the 14th, the troops were under
arms at 5 A.M., all in as fine a temper as ever men were.
Our march was to the north-west, through thick jungle,
four light guns, 9-pounders, their flanks protected by two
companies of Her Majesty's 80th regiment, the rest of the
wing of that corps following with two more guns, and the
18th Royal Irish and the 40th Bengal Native Infantry,
formed the advance. The 51st Light Infantry, and the
35th Madras Native Infantry were in reserve, the 9th
Madras Native Infantry keeping open the communication
with the shipping. We proceeded in this order for about
a mile, when we opened the Great Pagoda, and its fire
was turned on us. An excellent position for two guns
DigilzeOsyGOOgle
was taken by Major Turton, to our left flank — these
were left under the command of Major Montgomerie, of
the Madras Artillery, who served them well. The ground
to the front getting very difficult, barely admitted of the
80th and Royal Irish occupying it in close order. We
had now completely turned the enemy's position, having
passed their stockaded town, and got opposite the east
side of the Great Pagoda—our main object. Major Turton
informed me that he had a favourable position to place in
battery his heavy guns : but it took some time to bring
them up — a service in which the Navy Brigade, of about
120 men, under the command of Lieutenant Dorville, of
Her Majesty's frigate Fox, assisted by the Artillery, ren-
dered their invaluable aid, under a heavy fire of guns and
wall-pieces from the Great Pagoda and town, from which
they suffered severely: whilst this was going on, the
enemy's artillery had got the range of our crowded posi-
tion, and their skirmishers had somewhat closed on us,
and it took 500 men to keep down their fire. The practice
of the heavy battery, under Major Back, was very
effective. My intention was to have stormed the Pagoda
at noon; but at a little after 11, Captain Latter, of the
Bengal Army, my interpreter, assured me he felt con-
fident, from what he could see of the east entrance of the
Pagoda, on which our battery was playing, that the en-
trance was clear, and that he was prepared to show the
■way. As our people were dropping fast where we stood,
I determined on an immediate assault. The storming
3igitodbyGOOgIe
party was formed of the wing of Her Majesty's 80th
Regiment under Major Lockhart, two companies of the
Royal Irish under Lieutenant Hewitt, and of two com-
panies of the 40th Bengal Native Infantry under Lieu-
tenant White, the whole commanded by Lieutenant.
Colonel Coote, of the 18th Royal Irish, — Captain Latter
accompanying the party to show the road. The advance
to the east entrance of the Pagoda was of about 800 yards,
which the troops crossed in a most steady manner under
the fire of the walls crowded with the enemy, the re-
mainder of the force following closely. When the
storming party reached the steps, a tremendous rush was
made to the upper terrace, and a deafening cheer told
that the Pagoda no longer belonged to the Burmese. The
enemy ran in confusion from the southern and western
gates, where they were met by fire of the steamers. All
the country around has fallen with the Pagoda, and, I
understand, the once strong post of Kemmendine has
been abandoned and destroyed."
To this general account of the transaction, it has
been thought desirable, for the same reason as on the
former occasion at Martabau, to subjoin the part of the
General's despatch in which he sets forth the specific
deserts of several officers of both the naval and military
services ; —
"In this united service, there has been not only a
Digitized byGOOgk
71
cordial co-operation between the army and navy, but bo
much, good-heartedness, that their joint efforts have tended
to secure the rapid success of this expedition. I cannot
presume to say of ftear-Admiral Austen, C.B., Com-
manding the Navy, more than to express my admiration
and respect for hia qualities, and to thank him for his
able and never-failing assistance. Commodore Lambert,
whose spirit never is at rest whilst anything is to be done,
and whose heart is ever ready to accomplish what he
undertakes, has my cordial thanks and warmest gratitude.
I particularly wish to draw the attention of his Lordship
in Council to Commander Fishbourne, of Her Majesty's
steamer Hermes, who, from the first fitting-out of the
expedition in Calcutta to the close of these operations,
has been indefatigable in assisting in the embarkation of
stores and troops, and in removing difficulties, and finding
resources which alone enabled the expedition to sail at
the time appointed ; and nothing will give me such satis-
faction as his aid, were a forward movement to be made
hereafter.
" My most difficult task now commences — thai of
recommending to the protection of the Governor-General
in Council, a number of brave men who have had oppor-
tunities of distinguishing themselves in a service where the
utmost emulation and gallant devotion were shown by all.
" I beg the Most Noble the Governor-General's con-
sideration of the services of Brigadier Elliott, who
was conspicuous in every place where he could be
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useful; of Lieutenant-Colonel Reignold, who commands
the Bengal Brigade, in consequence 'of Brigadier Warren's
prostration by the sun, and who has home a very large
share in these operations, including Martaban: of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Coote, of the 18th Royal Irish, who com-
manded the storming party, when he was severely wounded ;
of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomson, Commanding the 40th
Bengal Native Infantry, in the assault; of Major Lock-
hart, Commanding the wing of Her Majesty's 80th, on
the same occasion; of Major Fraser, Commanding Engi-
neer of the force, who not only distinguished himself
most gallantly at the 'White House 1 Stockade, but
whose indefatigable exertions have never for a moment
ceased; of Major Turton, who commanded the Artillery,
after Lieutenant-Colonel Foord's retirement from illness,
and whose labours in his department have been the cause
of his suffering, I regret to say, under severe indisposi-
tion at the present moment; of Majors Reid, of the
Bengal, and Montgomerie of the Madras Artillery; of
Captain Rundall, Commanding the Sappers and Miners,
— to all of whom I am deeply indebted.
"The Assistant Adjutant-General of the force, Captain
Mayhew, was everywhere present during these three days'
operations; and the assistance he has rendered me on all
occasions has been very valuable. Major Allan, the
Assistant Quarter-Master- General, was severely wounded
at the 'White House' Stockade, since when Major
Bouldcrson, my Deputy Judge Advocate-General, has
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73
been performing his duties, and has rendered essential
assistance since the operations commenced. I beg to
bring all three to the notice of Government.
" The officers commanding brigades have recommended
to my notice the valuable aid they have received from their
respective brigade majors — Captain Call of the 18th Royal
Irish, and Captain Smith of the 13th Madras Native
Infantry ; and Major Turton has brought to my attention
the indefatigable exertions of Lieutenant Robertson, the
Deputy Commissary of Ordnance, in landing his guns and
stores.
"I beg leave to bring to His Lordship's notice the
assistance I have received from my Aides-de Camp, Lieu-
tenant Chads, of Her Majesty's 64th Regiment, who was
wounded at the 'White House' Stockade, but did not
leave me during the operations, and Lieutenant Lambert,
of the 56th Native Infantry, who, after great exertion,
was one of the victims to the sun on that day, which
obliges him to return to Calcutta, and who will convey
these despatches.
' " In conclusion, I regret that the order of the landing
of the troops did not afford me an opportunity of availing
myself of the services of the 9th Madras Native Infantry,
and 35th Madras Native Infantry, in the front ; hut they
tended greatly to give freedom to my leading column, and
will, from their soldierly bearing, doubtless do honour to
the distinguished service to which they belong, when they
arc brought more closely under fire."
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The following summary gives the amount of the
casualties experienced by the whole force on this oc-
Killed. Wounded
Missing.
European Officers
Native Officers
Warrant and Noii-Commieaioned Officers,
Bank and File, &c
Laacara, Syce Drivers, Syces, &c
2
16
14
11*
4
Total
17
1S2
Grand Total of Killed, Wounded, and Missing— 149.
These extracts will be fitly closed by the following
letter from the Admiral Commanding-in- Chief to the
Governor- General of India, acknowledging the services of
the several persons engaged in the expedition in their
respective functions. It is in this letter, as will be seen,
that the notice of the lamented writer of these letters,
alluded to in the Preface, is found : —
"Rattler," at Rangoon, 16th April, 1852.
" My Lord Marquis,
" While congratulating your Lordship on the success
that has hitherto attended the expedition against Burmah,
in the storming and capture of the strongholds of Marta-
ban and Rangoon, I trust your Lordship will permit me
to bring under notice the support that I have received
from all the officers and men under my command, forming
the naval part of the expedition. The embarking and
DigitodbyGOOgle
disembarking the troops, baggage, and military stores,
the arrangements for the transports and for victualling
the combined forces has furnished almost incessant night
and day work for the officers and men under my orders.
It has been done on all Bides with the utmost cheerfulness ;
and this large force has been moved up a rapid river with-
out any accident of moment having occurred ; and I have,
up to the present time, to thank every officer and man
employed under my orders for the cheerful manner in
which they have undergone so much toil in this distressing
climate.
" To the Commodore I feel under special obligation.
His local knowledge proved valuable, as his judgment and
discretion were most useful. It would be impossible to
value the services of an officer, second in command, more
highly than I do those of the Commodore.
" Captain Lynch, senior officer of the Indian navy,
has, by his ability, judgement, and discretion, rendered
essential service.
"Commander Mellersh, of my flag-ship, and Com-
manders Fishhourne and Tarleton, have rendered every
possible assistance in carrying out all necessary arrange-
ments. I was an eye-witness to Commander Tarleton's
bravely leading his men to storm a stockade, to his being
the first to mount the walls and enter it. Commander
Luard, of Her Majesty's sloop Serpent, has been employed
many months in these waters; a more zealous and inde-
fatigable officer is not to be met with ; and relying upon
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76
his ability, he has frequently been placed in charge of
responsible duties. With the assistance of the Honourable
Company's steamer Phlegethon, commanded by G. T.
Neblett, Esq., he destroyed the De Sylvia stockades.
When the action on the 11th April commenced, he passed
along the line of ore in the sloop under his command, to
above Kemmendine, for the purpose of preventing the
removal of the war-boats; and while on this service, he was
attacked by a very important stockade, and an officer (Mr.
G. Sproull, Assistant Surgeon,) and seven of his men
were wounded, but which he ultimately succeeded in
silencing. Before the commencement of the war, he
took great pains in surveying the coast and river, and his
information was afterwards of great use.
" The commanders and officers of the Indian Navy,
and of the Honourable Company's uncovenanteil service
have, without a single exception, performed their duties
with all possible alacrity. Commander Brooking of the
Proserpine had, at Martaban, an opportunity of particularly
distinguishing himself, of which he took good care to avail
himself, and it is with great regret that I found myself
under the necessity of leaving him at Maulmain for the
protection of British interests, and thus losing his valuable
services here.
" Lieutenant George Rice, in temporary command
of the Mafia Nuddee, rendered essential service to the
cause. Admirably handling his little vessel, he landed
men on the beach to storm stockades, covering their
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77
landing with his own guns, and at the storming of them,
he was to be seen among the foremost ranks. In
landing men, stores, and baggage, and ascending the
narrow creeks of this "river, the Malta Nuddee has proved
most useful.
" Senior Lieutenant J. Dorville, of my nag-ship, com-
mantled the Naval Brigade at the capture of Rangoon;
and from the nattering manner in which the Commander
of the Forces has been pleased to speak of his services, I
feel assured he must be honourably mentioned in the
Lieutenant -General's despatches.
" Among those that have fallen victims in the service of
their country upon this occasion, it is my painful duty to *
record that of the Rev. Thomas T. Baker, Chaplain of Her
Majesty's ship Fox. Incessantly employed in administering
to the wounded and dying, and in burying the dead, he fill
a victim to the prevailing epidemic, cholera, on the 16th
instant.
"I was an eye-witness to the indefatigable exertions
of Dr. Minter, Surgeon of the Fox, at the hospital on
shore, and on board the Tubal Cain. Dr. Montgomery,
Superintending Surgeon, expressed himself to me as being
under the greatest obligations to him for his assistance.
In addition to the duties performed by Dr. Minter at the
hospital, he had those of his own ship to attend to, where
the cholera had broken out with some virulence. Mr.
Seecombe, Assistant- Surgeon of the Hermes, was also
employed at the hospital on shore. 1
Digitized byGOOgk
78
" In conclusion, I beg to remark that the whole con-
duct of the officers and men under my orders, employed
on the present expedition, has been such as reflects much
credit on themselves, and the Services to which they
respectively belong.
" I have, &c.,
" (Signed) CHARLES JNO. AUSTEN,
" liear-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief."
" To the Most Noble the Marquis of Dalhousie, K.T.,
Governor-General of India."
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