Page 450 - INDIANNAVYV1

418 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. ;

I\Iajor Snodgrass, " the river separates into two branches ; the
point of hind where they divide is bold and projecting', and
commands a hmg reach nnder it. Upon this point the enemy's
principal stockade was erected, provided with artillery, and
defended by a numerous garrison. On the opposite bank of
either branch, stockades and other defences were erected,
enfilading the approach to the principal work, and all mutually
defending each other." In consequence of the strength of
these works. Sir Archibald Campbell resolved first to try the
effect of mortar practice. " In the event of this not succeeding,"
he says in his report, " I consulted with Captain Marryat upon
the employment of such vessels as he might select to breach.
The shells were thrown at too great a distance to produce the
desired effect, and the swampy nature of the ground would not
permit of any advance. The ' Satellite,' the Hon. Company's
cruisers ' Teignmouth,' Captain Hardy, ' Thetis,' Lieutenant
Greer, and ' .Fessy,' Captain Poynter—the whole under the
command of Lieutenant Fraser, of H.M.'s ship 'Larne,' now
took their stations according to a disposition made by
Captain Marryat, and opened a fire which soon silenced that of
fourteen pieces of artillery, besides swivels and musketry from
the stockades, and, in one hour, the preconcerted signal of
' breach practicable ' was displayed at the mainmast head."
The troops, as previously arranged, entered their boats on the
signal being hoisted, and the assault was delivered by two
columns under Colonel Godwin and Major Wahab, who carried
—
all before them. The Commander-in-Chief says: "To the*
officers and men of the breaching vessels every praise is due
and I much regret that severe indisposition prevented Captain
Marryat from being present to witness the result of his
arrangements." General McBean also captured seven stockades
in the most brilliant style, and the result of the day's Avork,
as reported by the Commander-in-Chief, was the capture of ten
stockades, thirty-eight pieces of artillery, forty swivels, and
three hundred muskets. The enemy also left on the field
eight hundred dead, among them Soomba Wongee, and two
otlier chiefs of the first class. The remainder, deprived of
their leader, fled in confusion to the rear, there to await the
arrival of the King's brother, the Prince of Sarrawaddy, said
to be advancing with seventy thousand men. The loss on the
part of the British was four killed and forty-seven wounded.
In acknowledgment of the services rendered by the naval
force, the Connnander-in-Chief wrote to Commander Marryat as
—
follows, on the 9th of July, 1824 : " I request you will accept
my very best thanks for your able arrangement and disposition
of the vessels employed in the attack of the enemy's stockades
yesterday, and I beg you will also do me the fcivour of con-
veying them to Lieutenant Fraser, R.N., Captain Hardy, and