Page 487 - INDIANNAVYV1

HISTORY OF THE IXDIAN NAVY. 455 ;

besieged by the enemy ; disembarked the troops, and ancliored
ill advance of the fleet, forming a direct line across tlie river.
At noon manned seven row-boats with seamen from the
' Arachne,' and received orders to despatch them to reinforce
Kemmendine. At two p.m. received orders to proceed with
two row-boats, to commimicate with the foraging party, for
tlie purpose of recalling the troops, then marching across the
country with cattle ; at four p.m. anchored abreast of Puzzen-
doun Creek. At seven p.m. observed some of the enemy's boats
reconnoitring; when within gra{)e-shot distance, opened fire
on them, which caused their immediate retreat. At eight p.m.
gun vessels of the foraging party came down and anchored
went on board and held a commmiication with Captain Jones,
81)th Regiment ; learnt he had one hundred men escorting a
herd of cattle in a direction fur tiie entrenchments. On the
flood, dropped up about two miles, and desi)atched a Mugh, who
volunteered his services for a small sum, to prevent the escort
advancing.
"December 3.—At seven a.m. foraging party came down
abreast the vessels, embarked them and made sail for Rangoon
;
reccnved orders to proceed immediately to Kemmendine; at
eleven a.m. arrived at Kemmendine, found it closely besieged
by the enemy, six war-boats witliin bow-shot annoying the
shipping then riding flood; having eight row-boats, anchored
them on the ' Sophie's' starboard quarter, brought the cables
aft, and got the guns to bear up tlie river. At seven p.m.
enemy sent down two fire-rafts, and accompanied them in the
rear with war -boats, keeping uj) a heavy fire of great guns and
musketry on the boats and shipping, which did no dauuige
except cutting away the ' Sopliie's' after-shroud on the star-
board side ; kept up a smart fire from tlie row-boats and l)ow-
guns of the Hon. Company's cruiser ' Teignmouth ;' fire-rafts
passed clear of all ; in the course of the night, enemy made
three attacks on Kemmendine stockade ; row-l)oats' position
advantageous for Hanking the right of the stockade.
"December 4.—At three a.m. all boats ah^igside II.M.'s shij)
'Sophie;' at 4.30 a.m. left for the purjtosc of attacking the
enemy's boats, laying about one mile above their entrench-
ments; our boats pulled up, all sikmce, astern of each other
on the larboard shore, enemy occupying the starboard ; at
daybreak Burmese sighted us from their boats, and opened a
smart fire of six-i)OUiulers and musketry. Lieutenant Keilett
in the 'Arachne's' pinnace, and commanding, issued orders
to form a line, and a^lvance to boaixl ; the line heing formed
without the least confusion, gave three cheers and advanced,
firing; the enemy also advancing, and never did I witness a
better spirit and cheerfulness in the row-boats' peojile than on
this occasion. In ten minutes we got within gra]»e-shot