Page 498 - INDIANNAVYV1

4()6 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
Init instantly returned, and commenced so well-directed a fire
from the works and the boats' guns, that the enemy were forced
to retire with heavy loss. Between this period and the end of
November, Colonel Godwin's detachment and the flotilla cleared
the left bank of the river for fifteen miles below Prome. As the
Burmese leaders appeared unwilling to take the offensive, on
the oOth of November arrangements were made for attacking the
three corps in detail, beginning with the Kee Wongee's extending
from Napadee, five miles from Prome, to the village of Simbike,
upon the Nawine river, distant eleven miles, which was to be
the main point of attack. Accordingly, early on the 1st of
December, Sir James Brisbane commenced a heavy cannonade
with the flotilla on the enemy's posts upon both banks of the
Irrawaddy, attracting his attention to that point, while Sir
Archibald Campbell marched with the rest of his force upon
Maha Nemiow's division. The troops were formed into two
columns ; one under General Cotton, marched direct on Sim-
bike, and the other, under the Commander-in-chief, crossed the
Nawine river, and moved along its right bank, for the purpose
of cutting off his retreat from the Kee Wongee's corps. The
operations were completely successful ; the veteran leader was
killed, and his entire force, including a corps d'elite of eight
thousand Shans, was routed with great slaughter and dispersed.
During the night a message was sent to Sir James Brisbane,
to request him to be in readiness to move forward with the
flotilla, as soon as the troops were seen debouching from the
jungle in front of Napadee, for the purpose of co-operating
in the attack upon that position. The army moved early ou
the morning of the 2nd, and, after two hours' march, opened a
communication with the flotilla, and, at the same time, drew up
in front of the stockaded heights of Napadee. The 87th Regi-
ment carried one of the stockades in the rear, when the enemy
withdrew from his advanced position. The flotilla now moved for-
ward, and opened a heavy fire upon the enemy's works on both
banks of the river. The main attack then advanced under a heavy
fire, and carried the positions on the summits of the hills in suc-
cession ; the flotilla meanwhile pushed past the heavy batteries
on the banks of the river, and succeeded in capturing nearly three
hundred boats, with large quantities of ammunition and stores.
The corps of Sudda Woon, on the right bank of the river, still
remained in position, and, on the 5th of December, it was
attacked by General Cotton's division, after the guns of the
flotilla, assisted by a mortar-battery and some rockets, had
silenced the enemy's fire. During the operations between the
1st and 5th of December, the British lost only twenty-nine
officers and men killed and one hundred and thirty-three
wounded.
In a letter to the Admiralty, dated the 3rd of December, Sir