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442 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
lay a low range of wooded hills, through which ran a narrow
defile, called the Pass of Paduah ; this debouched near an open
plain intersected by two or more rivers, and fronting the
strongly fortified post of Mahattie. Here at Paduah resistance
was expected, and the General determined to force the pass
and advance on the capital without further delay. The whole
of the troops were consequently divided, at Kray Kingdong, into
four columns, and advanced on the morning of the 2(jth of
March. The first column, under Brigadier Grant, was in-
structed to force the right pass ; the second, under General
]\Iorrison, to attack the centre ; the third, commanded by Cap-
tain Leslie, H.M.'s 54th Regiment, was ordered to proceed in
the gunboats and turn the enemy's position and intercept their
retreat ; the fourth column, under Brigadier Walker, 54th Regi-
ment, was instructed to act as a reserve. Some sharp fighting
took place with the enemy at the foot of the hills, and the
troops, crossing the bed of the tidal river, finally took post
behind some works, in a large open plain opposite Mahattie,
designed by the Burmese as the great bulwark to defend the
land route to the capital, as the stockades of Chamballa were
to protect the water approach.
Buddhist temples and other religious structures crowned the
heights within the peninsula of Mahattie, the horse-shoe edge
or outer line of which, was defended by trenches, embankments,
and abattis. On the morning of the 27th of March, the whole
force, in battle array, marched down to attack this position.
After some sharp firing on both sides, the enemy were dislodged,
and joined their comrades across the river. As the columns
advanced, the Burmese opened a fire of cannon, musketry, and
jingals, with little effect, which was returned by the British
artillery, the flotilla, under Captain Crawford, participating
with equal resolution and effect. Thus firing, the main body
of the troops steadily moved up to the brink of the river, which
separated them from the Burmese lines. In a short time
General Morrison ordered Brigadier Colquhoun Grant to ford
the river with his Brigade, and attack the right and rear of the
enemy's position, which was done with alacrity, and soon the
Burmese were in full flight.
The Army remained at Mahattie two days to prepare for the
move on Arracan, the defences of which were rumoured to be
of a very formidable kind, both natural and artificial. Mean-
while Commodore Hayes, with the 1st and 7th Divisions
of gunboats and the larger vessels, finding that, owing to want
of water, the latter could not approach within six miles of
Mahattie, left the 'Research' and ' Asseerghur,' with a native
crew, and one warrant officer in charge of each, and, proceeding
in the gunboats ' Osprey' and Gunga Saugor,' effected a junc-
'
tion with the army on the afternoon of the 28th. Having com-