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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 259
ordnance and stores, were trans-shipped into the p:nnhoats and
Mahiy craft from Pontiana, which now commenced the ascent.
The squadron proceeded up the river, and, to co-operate with
the troops, all the available l)oats were hoisted out, fully armed
and manned with tive hundred seamen and marines, under
command of Captain the Hon. George Elliot.
Previous to the advance, Colonel Watson despatched a letter
to the Sultan, requiring him to surrender the defences of
Sambas, but, as he had already withdrawn into the interior, no
answer was received. On the night of the 2(ith, the fleet
anchored off the mouth of the Landa river ; and from hence the
comniander detached two strong parties, each accompanied by a
detachment of seamen and marines, to attack the forts and town
in rear, while, with the remainder of the force, he proceeded up
the river, and, on the night of the 27th, anchored below and
beyond range of the batteries. A third column, under Ca])tain
Watson of the 14th, consisting of detachments of the 14th,
artillery, and seamen, was landed at three a.m. on the following
morning, to attack these works, and, after surmounting many
obstacles, carried by assault the two principal batteries and
three redoubts in their rear, although resolutely defended. A
battery and five redoubts on the opposite side of the river were
then evacuated by the enemy. On the commencement of the
firing, Colonel Watson pushed up the river with a party kept
as a reserve to second whichever column began the attack. He
—
says in his despatch : " The front battery fired at the boats
advancing, although Captain Watson was at that time in its
rear, endeavouring to force an entrance. It is difficult to ascer-
tain the loss of the enemy, as many were killed endeavouring to
escape in boats and across the boom. From the best information
I can obtain it amounts to about one hundred and fifty men,
including a brother of the Sultan's, the eldest son of J^ingeran
Annam, and twelve others. Pangeran Annam made his escape
in a small quick sailing boat." In the meantime one of the
other columns, under Captain P)rooke of the 3rd Bengal Volun-
teer Battalion, had some sharp lighting, while the boats of the
squadron, acting in co-operation, pulled for the boom, over which
they were dragged by the crews, who then cut adrift the boom
under a heavy lire from the batteries. The loss incurred was
seven killed and fifty-nine wounded, including four officers,*
which, as Colonel Watson said in his despatch, " was less than
might have been expected considering the number and diffieulty
of access to the batteries." In these works, thirty-one brass,
and thirty-six iron, guns, of various calibres, were captured,
* Captain Macdonald sajs :— " Here I receiveil a contusion on the left arm,
which, not noticed at the time, caused me nmny jears ailorwards much puui,
and, ultimately, to retire from the Service.
s 2