The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-01 00:00:00

THE WAR WITH BURMAH.

OPERATIONS IN THE IRRAWADDY RIVER.

A despatch, of which the following is a copy, has
been received at the Admiralty, from Commodore Lambert,
dated 14th November, 1852:
Fox's boat, at Prome, Nov. 14, 1852.
Sir,—l request you may be pleased to inform the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty that on the morning of
the 2nd instant I left Rangoon fur the Irrawaddy River,
but after prozeeding through the Panlang creek, I found
that the steamers I had previously tent on were not able
to cross the bar at l'engensiah, therefore I transferred the
trove they had on board to the small steamers, which had
just then joined me, and directed the larger ones to return
to Rangoon, with orders to enter the Irrawaddy, by the way
of the China Bukcer, which has been effected.
2. The incloeures numbered from 1 to 5 will place
their lordships in possession of the operations which have
been conducted by Captain Loch, C. 8., of her Majesty's
ship Winchester, and Commander Shadwell, of her Ma-
jesty'. steam•eloop Sphynx; the latter officer's proceedings
have been confined to the lower part of the Irrawaddy, and
latterly entirely to Ileraadah.
' 3. It is my inteotion that Commander Wainwright, of
the Winchester, shall relieve Commander Shadwell, who
has now been some time employed in these arduous duties.
4. I shall not comment on the energy and spirit displayed
by Capt. Lerch, for it is apparcnt that the service he hat
rendered is brilliant and useful, and my lords will, I am
sure, express their satisfaction at his conduct.

6.v I brave stationed the Enterprise steamer off Ahoukton,
and the General has placed sixty men on board her, to drive
away the enemy, should they again make their appearance.
6. The navigation of the Irrawaddy is now intricate, and
requires care, owing to the shallowness of the water in many
parts ; but, by proper attention, the small steamers will
find no difli,mlty in proceeding up and down the river,
and the boats under convoy can at all times keep up
a supply of provisions and stores ; though I have suggested
it would :be desirable if a small military force occu-
pied the two or three stations on the bands, for the pur-
pose of protecting the people who supply the steamers
with wool, &e., from the band+ of troops, or llacoits,
which are continually lurking in the neighbourhood.
7. It is my intention to return to Rangoon to morrow.—
I have the honour, &c , tizonox It. ',AMBER.;
Commodore First Class,
Commander-in-Chief.
_ . _

...... .
To the Secretary of :he Admiralty, &c., &c., &c.
Inc!mire No. I.
Her Majesty's steam sloop Sphinx's pinnace,
Ilenzadah, Ist Nov., 18.32.
Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that after the de-
tachment of the 40th Bengal Native Infantry, under com-
mand of Captain A. Becher, were left at this place on the
29th ultimo, in pursuance of the arrangements of C .ptain
Loch, Captain Becher, and myself having reconnoitred the
ground in rear of the town, and having collected informa-
tion from the headman, den rmineil on removing his men to
a l'ongi house, nearly in the rear of the centre of the town,
and according to present information, facing the advanced
posts of the Bawds.
. . .

Ou Saturday evening I advanced the marines to the
house on the left Mout pmition, which had previously
been occupied by the scpc),
1 may observe, as passant, that a paved road running
" fore and aft" the town, parallel to the hank of the river
in rear of these two positkma, off:riled the means of retreat,
if neee.sary, to the ho L.!.
Are o,geinents we•c mule with the Madman, Moung
Oon-Glay, to station 6i.. armed men in intermediate stations
between these two positions (which are about a mile and a
halt apart), an as to ►eep up the communication, awl also
to keep armed panics on our flanks.
This morally, ut $.34) a.m., 1 received a message from

Lieutenant Nightingale, Royal Marines, to the etfeet that
the Dacoits had advanced in force along the banks of the
river, and were burning the detached villages on his left ; I
immediately sent to Captain Becher to acquaint him, and
advanced with all the available seamen to the support of the
Marines.
Ou arrival, I found that the em my were within long
musket range of the quarters of the Marine,; alter a s'iarp
fusillade they retired ; we cautiously advanced under sorer
of the grovrieg paddy fields, and ultimately drove the enemy
hack in•o the open country, the Sepoys, under Capt. Becher,
clearing the ground to our right and in our front.
As an illustration of their boldness, I may mention that
the Dacoits have burned some Louses in a grove half a mile
to the left of our position.
The Ilenesdah people report only one of their men
wounded, hut several of the enemy, and as an earn( at of
SUCCrra they have taken two prison. rs and report five or am
wounded. None of our men were hurt.
It is quite clear that the presence of our small force here
is of great value in giving confidence to the men of Herz t-
ilah to resist the and Burmese soldier)•. with wburn
the remnants of the Bassein army are slid to be making
common cause; but I will not cone al from your Etee:lreary
my opinion that, fur the t ffectual protection of the valuable
crops of rice in its tear, a larger and more perfect military
force than is now assembled here is a stutially pees ssary.
I have,
(Signed) CHAS. F. A. SIIADWELL,
Commander.
To his Excellency Commodore 0. K. Lambert,
Commander-in-Chia:l.
Enclosure So 2.
11. r Majesty's ship Winchester's gig, at Prome,
Nov. 2, 1832.
Sir,—l have the honour to rep.rt to your excellency that
this morning I proem da al down the river Irrawaddy, in the
lion. East India Company's steamer Medusa, for the pur-
pose of making a combined reconnaissance with Brigadier
Sir John Cheape,K.C.B , of the right bank of the river
from Padanganew to the White Pagoda, a mile and a half
below Prairie.

At daylight Sir John embarked with his personal sh.tf
and the light company of her Majesty's ltith IZoyal Irish, SO
strung ; at the state time the boats named in the imte.
having joined us I quitted Prone and steamed down the
river. On passing the White Pagoda (from whence our
boats have been frequently annoyed with a distant tire
of jingults and musketry), I perceived titata strung breast-
work was in the course of cousti uction On its right, not a
vestige of which was perceptible when I quitted Prome es
the 13th inst. ; and that some two and a half or three
miles inland the jungle was being cleared, and two
stockades were being built.
Leaving the boats, with the exception of my gig,
anchored out of musket range of the enemy s
shore, we stood down the titer, and at 830 a.m., an-
chored abreast 'het Honourable East India Company's
steamer Enterprise, eitf Padangmew. I directed CajiMin
Niblett to proceed to the anchorage under the heights of
Akouktun, and remain there until he received lurther
orders.

I then steamed back to the boats anchored within three
hundred yards above the White Pagoda, and di,.embarked
the brigadier, his escort, and the naval brigade. Sir John
Cheape ordered an advance, and immediately on our crown-
ing the terrace beneath the Pagoda, the enemy akirmishers
who lined the jungle were discovered, evtdently expecting
that we should have vine on by the lane beneath the
Pagoda; on their being driven In, a fire was opened by
them from the high ground inland, their stockade being
unoccupied. They went immediately driven from the.r
different posts with the utmost expedition, until we attained
our object, air , a distinct view ut the two stockades which
they are throwing up, and a knowledge of the country in
the vicinity.

At this ifime, the enemy were in possession of two com-
manding positions between us and their bit:0:10 e, which
they were immediately driven out of. The heat was now
so intense, and three men having received strokes frum the
sun, 1 halted under cover of the enemy's look-out houses
for an hour.

Having acetonplished our reconn7ii,sance, I caused the
naval brigade to return to the river stockade, Sir John
Cheap' recalled the Royal Irish at the same !Mae, and we
burned the greater pin of the lower breastwork, leaving
the larger and more valuable timbers on the beach to be
brought to Prom,, to-morrow, for the use of the steamers.
It is with 111,101 satisfaction that 1 have to expel,. iny
approbation of the zeal, good conduct, and bravery of every
othcer and man of the force employed.
I have to mention the conspicuous zeal and gallantry
display 4.d by Commander Beauchamp Seymour, 1: .N.,
serving with me as a volunteer, from whom I received mast
useful and ready assistance.
I beg to bring before your Excellency's favourable notice
the zeal and gallant conduct of Lieutenants liil.yar and
Pease, of the Wincliest,r; also Lieutenants Lewis and
Windom, of Sesostris ; and I have to notice the officers
named in the margin, all of whom merit my thanks and
approbation.
Lieutenant Ilillyar has, while serving in the Irrawad ly,
always shown himself foremost in the iniforunmee of cv. ry
duty required of him.
1 am happy to state that the reconnaissance and destrue-
' tion of the stockades was effeeted with only the single
casualty of a marine ttrtillerywant of the Medusa, wounded
badly in the arm.
The loss of the enemy I am unable to state. for they re-
treated through thick jungle.—l have, &r.,
(Signed) GRANVILLE G. LOCH,
Captain and Senior Naval Officer
in the Irrawaddy.
To h'a Excellency C Immolore G. It. Lambert,
Commander-in-Chict.
Enclosure No. 3

nee Majt sty's ship Winchester's gig,
at Pruatc, sth Nov., 1832.
Sir,—l have the honour to inform your Excellency, that
I landed with the seamen and marints named in the note,:
stormed the heights uf Akoukton, and captured five guns,
defended by 350 or 400 men, yesterday afternoon, between
the hours of 3 and half-past 5 p.m., and I um happy to say
without the loss of a man.

The landing was covered by the fire of the Honourable
East India Company's steamer Medusa, Lieutonant Frazer
commanding, which was so admirable lhat to it I attribute
our good fortune in being able to ascend a narrow pathway,
winding up the ridge of the hill to the outer bre,st work,
every yard of which might have been defended by a handful
of men, screened from sight in the dense uuderwood grow-
nig on either side, against almost any number of assailants.
We found a Burmese, wounded by a shell from the
steamer, lying in the intrenchment ; lie told me the troops
were before us, so on we went, and at last were met by a
partial fire, which, after an immediate and rapid charge,
was never renewed, nor could we again see the euewy
through a jungle everywhere as thick us a bramble hush.
The guns were loaded and primed, with the exception of
one which was fired with a volley of musketry and some
jingalls at the Medusa as she approached the cliff, just
before anchoring ; four of them were iron, 9 feet 18-
pounders, one an iron 6 feet 9 pounder ; having no powder
to burst them, I threw them over the cliff, and moved the
force slowly back to the boats, protected by a rear ward.
When it was embarked, I directed Lieutenant Frazer to
anchor the Medusa for She ni,tht at the entrance of the
creek, facing the cliff, and commanding the entire front.
I experience great pleasure in having so soon ag tin to
bring before your excellency's notice the gallant bearing
and good conduct of all the officers and men engaged.
When they landed, they saw the difficulty and apparent
danger of the pass, and as they knew the superiority iu num-
bers of the enemy, they had no reason to contemplate so
easy a victory ; yet they formed with as much steadiness
as old soldiers, and with the cheerful alacrity which always
distinguishes British seamen and marines. Lieutenant
Hillysr, of the Winchester, commanded under me, and
again added to his well-known character of an able, zealous
officer.
Lieutenant Lewis, first of the Honourable East India
Company's steamer esostris. formed and led his marines
and seamen iu a m icerly manner, and I gladly recom-
mend him to your Excellency's notice.
Mr. Brazier, senior mate of the Medusa, landed with his
men, and attracted my attention by hi., zeal.
To Lieutenant Frazer, commanding the Medusa, mulls is
due for the Mil, way he handled his vessel in the strong
tides and eddies where he had to anchor; and the most
effective aid he rendered by his fire. He is a meat zealous
officer, and has, and is rendering daily, most valuable ser-
vice to the naval and military force at Prome.
I cannot refrain mentioning, that one roar er of un hour
did not elapse from the time the Medusa anchored, before
my people were formed on the beach, and the boats safely
moored under charge of men to fight their guns.
Commodore F. Beauchamp SeyIII,BUT, a volunteer serving
up this river, landed with me, and was always to be wand
in the front.

The capture of these guns has again opened the river to
Pr one ; and I rejoice that the information I received of
their basin; been planted there, reached me in tune to
secure the safety of the expected steamers
.frum Rangoon,
laden with troops.
I shall leave the Winchester barge under Lieutenant
Hillyar (as the Enterprise is oat yet available) to guard the
heights. But I cannot refraiL from expressing my extreme
regret they arc not occupied by some of her Majesty's
troops. I ha, e,
(Signed) GRANVILLE G. Lieu,
Captain and Senior Officer in the Irrawaddy.
Tu his Excellency Commodore U. R. Lambert,
Cummander•in-Chief.
Enclosure No. 4.

11Widajesty;sihin Winchester's gig,
Prome, Nov. 10, 1852.
Sir,—l have the honour to Worm your exc.ll,ney that
having received intelligence from the officer commanding
the gun boat, which I lelt to watch the heights of Alouk-
ton, to the dfect that the enemy had reappeared there in
force, armed with jingalls and musketry, with which they

• Winchester's boats—gig, Commander F. S. Seymour,
volunteer, Mr. Gregory, naval i.aitet. o men, 3 marines;
barge, Lieutenant Ililiyar, Mr. Round, mate, Mr. Slade,
assistant surgeon, Ii min; pinnace, Lieutenant Name,
Mr. Dunn, mate, 13 men. :,csoatris's boats—pinnace,
Lieuttnaut Lewis, Mr. 1.7.'1.1, midshipman, Dr. Walsh,
assistant.surgeon, 14 men, 11 marine artillerymen ; Ist
cutter, Lieutenant Witidus, 11 men ; (litter,
Mr. !urid mate, 11 men. Medusa's cutter, Mr. Ilatris,
midshipman, 10 men, 6 marine artillerymen—total force

t Christopher Byrne.
Winch/sta.'s boats—gig, Commander Felt.fsernagr.
volunteer, Mr. Gregory, nasal gide!, 4 ,iptiss .3 atiarinta
hare,., Lieutenant Hillyar, Mr. Round,',lna'te,'
as .i.t..ut ausgeon, Id men; pinnace, Lieulnastnr Anon;
Mr. Bond, mate, 13 men; H. C. ateans4rialate gepoCri+.
Lieutenant Lewis, Mr. Duval, mate, 21-seasessn, 8 tuAlie
artillerymen ; 11. C. S. Medusa, Mr. Wager, mate, Mr:
llarris, midshipman, 15 seamen, 12 artillsryglft k total fore)
landed, 82.

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