Page 491 - INDIANNAVYV1

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 45^
from their defences on the Lyne river, on the 5th of February
he directed Colonel Godwin to proceed with a colinun to Taiita-
bain for that purpose ; the naval force co-operating, under the
coniniand of Captain Chads, consisted of the 'Satellite,'
'Prince of Wales,' 'Diana,' fifteen row-gunboats, seven boats
belonging to H.M 's ships, and several flats. The Expedition
arrived, on the 6th, before the enemy's works, which were can-
nonaded and stormed with trifling loss, though defended by
two thousand men and thirty-six guns. On the following day
the two branches of the Panlang river were reconnoitred, and
a large number of the enemy's war-boats and fire-rafts destroyed.
Some of the troops were left to occupy the captm-ed stockade
and also the ' Prince of Wales,' with four gunboats, to assist
in its defence.
At length, the preparations being complete, the Pritish
forces set out upon their long march lor Ava. The land
colunni, which was to move in a direction parallel to tiie Lyne
river, under the personal command of Sir Archibald Cam])l)ell,
quitted Rangoon on the llth of February, its numerical
strength being thirteen hundred European infantry, one thou-
sand Sepoys, two squadrons of cavalry, a troop of horse
artillery, and a rocket troop. This column, for which oidy
sufficient carriage could be provided for the conveyance of from
twelve to fifteen days' provisions, was to strike tiie Irrawaddy
at the nearest accessible point, for the purpose of co-operating
with the Marine column, proceeding up the Panlang ciiannel
to that river, in driving Bundoola from Donabew, should its
aid be required. This column, which was placed under the
command of Brigadier-General Willoughby Cotton, consisted
of eight hundred European infantry, two himdred and fifty
Sepoys, one hundred and eight Artillerymen, and twelve of
the rocket troop.' The flotilla that was to convey this force,
was commanded by Captains Alexander and Chads, and con-
sisted of the ' Satellite' and ' Diana,' two n)ortar-vessels, six
gunboats, thirty armed row-boats, about sixty launches, flats,
and canoes— all armed, except the flats and canoes, with one
or two 12 and 24-pounder carronades—and the boats of lI.M.'s
ships, manned by about one hundred seamen. A third division,
inider ]\lajor Sale, numl)ering seven hundretl and eighty soldiers
of H.M.'s loth and 12th Madras .Native Infantry, Viih II. M.S.
' Larne,' Captain Marryat, and the Ib'U. Company's cruiser
'Mercury,' Lieutenant Anderson, was directed to reduce Bas-
sein, after which it was to join the other columns. The rest
of the army, numberijig three thousand seven hundred and
eighty one effectives, chieHy Sepoys, and one hundred and
thirty-four convalescent Europeans fit oidy for garrison duty,
remained to hold Rangoon.
The main column marched on the llth of February, and was