Page 477 - INDIANNAVYV1

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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN XAYY. 445

quietly paraded, and. led by Brigadier Richards, set out through
the woods for the point of attack. The path the cohnnn took,
was often very narrow and difficult of ascent, and, in one place,
where there was a lake or sheet of water on one side, and a lofty
precipice on the other, the troops could only advance by single
file. But their gallantry was rewarded by complete success,
and soon the fortified position was stormed, when they made the
preconcerted signal, by firing one or more rockets. The whole
of the troops then advanced, and the British flag floated over
the defences of Arracan. The loss in these last aff"airs was
about thirty killed and one hundred and twenty wounded,
including six or seven otiicers.
The entry of the army into Arracan caused a scene of great
confusion. One quarter of the town took fire and was burnt to
the ground, and there was some looting, though the plunderers
were made to disgorge their booty in passing through a gate of
the town leading to the camp. Colonel Bucke, with the Liglit
Inftmtry Company of the 54th, and some of the Light Infantry
Battalion, was sent in pursuit of the fugitives, but the detach-
ment returned in a few days, and, having caught the jungle
fever, died off nearly to a man.
In his official despatch of the 2nd of April, General Morrison
speaks of the services of the flotilla in the following terms :
'•Commodore Hayes has, on all occasions, rendered an aid the
most effectual, and had it not been for the assistance afforded
by the flotilla under his command, the arrival of the force
before Arracan would have been almost impracticable. Every
exertion was made by him to co-operate, and when insurmount-
able obstacles prevented the further approach of the gunboats
to the scene of action, he landed two 24-pounders, and, with the
British seamen, dragged them and their appurtenances a
distance of five miles to the encampment before Arracan,
rendering them available for any service on which they could be
usefully employed."
Commodore Hayes, in his official report to the Military
Secretary of the Commander-in-C'hief, dated Pondoo Brang
Plains, Arracan, the 2nd of April, 1.S25, says of the officers and
seamen under his command:— ''I have every reason to beproml
of the gallantry and good conduct of every oflicer and man
under my command with the Arracan Army. Lieutenant
Armstong has invariably distinguished himself ever since the
flotilla left Coxe's Bazaar." Soon after these operations, this
gallant and zealous young oflicer died of fever brought on
through over exertion.
By' these successes, Arracan and (/'heduba, two of the four
provinces of Arracan, were cleared of the enemy, and it only
remained to dislodge them from the remaining divisions of
Sandoway and Kanu'ee. xVccordingly, General ^IcBean and