The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-11 00:00:00

CAPTURE OF BASSEIN.

(From the Landon Gazette of last Evening.)
ADMIRALTY, Auc. 6, 1852.
Dispatches have been received at this office, from Com-
modore Lambert, of her Majesty's ship Fox, of which
the following are copies :
OPERATIONS IN BURMAH.
No. 27.
Fox, at Rangoon, May 11, 1852.
Sir,—l have the honour to request you may be
pleased to inform the Lords of the Admiralty that, on
the 2d instant, I dispatched the Honourable East India
Company's steamer Phlegethou, commanded by Mr. G.
T. Niblett, and the barge of her Majesty's ship Fox, in
*barge of Acting Lieutenant John R. Lawrence, to the
great entrance of the Irrawaddy, to try and effect a pas-
sage through the Panlang branch.
2. On the morning of the 11th the barge returned;
and Mr. Lawrence reported that they had advanced as
far as Yangernsiah, where the water shoaled so consider-
Oily that the Phlegethon could not cross into the Pan-
lang branch; the barge, however, was enabled to do so,
and proceeded down into the Rangoon river, in order
that I might be acquainted with the result, and the cause
of the steamer's lone absence.
It is with much satisfaction I learn that the object of
the expedition has been accomplished.
3. I have farther to request you may be please] to in-
form their Lordships that, on the Phlegethon and the
Fox's barge arriving off Yangernsiah, they discovered
the Governor at Della, retreating witii eight armed
boats; chase was immediately given, and on coming np
with them the enemy ran on shore, leaving their boats,
in one of which was the Governor's wife, with her atten-
dants; they also abandoned a quantity of treasure, and
most of their arms.
The treasure captured amounted to eleven thousand
rupees; the arms, which consisted of muskets and swords,
were destroyed; and the boats, with the women, were
allowed to proceed.—l have, &c.,
GEORGE LAMBERT.
A. Stafford, Esq., M.P., &e.

CAPTURE OF THE
21. CY OF BASSEIN.
No. T

Her Majesty's Ship Fox's Boat,
at Bassein, May 20, 1852.
Sir,—l request you may be pleased to inform the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that the Lieute-
Rant-General commanding the forces in Burmah, having
communicated his wish to make an attack on the city
of Bassein, I placed a squadron of four steamers at his
disposal for the service.
2. On the morning of the 17th instant, Lieutenant-
General Godwin, C. 8., the Commander of the Forces,
embarked in a squadron with four hundred of her Ma-
j esty's 51st Regiment, three hundred of the 9th Regiment
Madras Native Infantry, sixty Sappers and Miners, the
Royal Marines, and a detachment of seamen, with a field
gun from her Majesty's ship Fox.
3. I left the naval force at Rangoon in charge of Com-
mander Tarleton, with the Fox, and went with my boat
to the Tenasserim, in which steamer I hoisted my broad
pendant, and put to sea at two o'clock in the afternoon
with the steamers named in the enclosure marked A.
Th© Lieutenant-General accompanied me in the Tones-
scrim.
4. On the evening of the ISth we anchored off the
island of Negrais at the entrance of the Bassein
River, where the Pluto joined us. I had sent her on
from Rangoon a day previously, as her small power
could not have enabled her to keep up with the steam
frigates.
daylight on the 19th the squadron weighed,
5. At
spa proceeded up the river; the Pluto, from her light
draught, being ahead, showing the soundings The
.115 3 and
Tenasserim led, followed by the Seso • •its.
ozuffer
at half a cable's length distant.
6. At a few minutes after four o'clock in the after-
noon, the fortifications of Bassein appeared in
consisting of a very extensive mud fort and a longsiglihnte
of stockade, on the left beak` on which the city stands,
and a strong stockade round the Pagoda, with a brick
parapet fronting the river. Then, in an admirable posi-
ti6n on the right bank, stood a very large stockade,
mounting several cannon.

The enemy permitted the squadron to approach nn-
mole3ted.

7. At half-past four, when abreast the stockades, I
made the signal to anchor; immediately afterwards
Lieutenant-General Godwin expressed his wish to land
the troops, which was effected in perfect order in a very
short period. They had scarcely formed under the
Lieutenant-General's directions, when a heavy fire was
opened both with cannon and musketry from the vari-
ous stockades, which was instantly answered by a cheer
from the party landed, who stormed and carried the
Pagoda.
As soon as the enemy commenced firing, the ships
opened their fire on the different batteries.
Observing the stockade opposite the town had been
silenced, I directed Commander Campbell, of the Segos-
tris, to land with the boats of his own ship, and the Mc-
zufler's and to storm it, which he effected in gallant
style, driving the Burmese from their guns, with consi-
derable loss to them in killed and wounded.

Commander Campbell has called my special attenti)n to
the z3al and activity displayed on this occasion by Lieu-
tenants Robinson and Lewis, of the Indian Navy.
At half-past five I had the satisfaction of hearing
that the last and most formidable of the stockades had
been carried ; but not without considerable loss on our
part from the great resistance shorn by the enemy.
Amongst those I have to enumerate., as sufferers on this
occasion, I have to nemo Lieutenant George W.
Rice, of her Majesty's ship Fox, oho received a
severe and painful wound through the right hand,
whilst gallantly leading his party of seamen into the
stockade: and as this offi?or has been specially named by
the Commander-in-Chief at the taking of Rangoon, I
beg to recommend him most strongly to their Lordships'
.

consideration for promotion.

I feel it my duty, also, to mention the steady conduct
of the Royol Marines under the command of First Lieu-
tenant John Elliott; and I c!nnot conclude without ex-
pressing my best thanks to Commanders Campbell and
Hewett, of the Indian Navy, for the skill and ability with
which they brought their ships up a river, which has
hitherto been but imperfectly surveyed fcr a distance of
more than sixty miles. Nor can I refrain from ex-
pressing how much I am indebted to Commanders Dicey
and Burbank, of the Bengal Marine, for the assistance I
received from them; and I attribute our being able to
perform this service without accident, to the careful and
judicious manner with which the commander of the
Pluto went in advance and comainnicatA the soundings.
My thanks are general to the ofdenrs and men who
served under my orders on this occasion for the steady,
gallant, and cheerful conduct with which they performed
the duty. neither can I omit remarking that the most
perfect unanimity prevailed between the two cervices
-8. Since my last visit to Ncgraii, the old'Got6r.nor
of Bassein has been x
' remove:, and the Government en-
trusted to another officeri,
throe arrived here from Ava,
with four thousand regular
strength of the garrison to b; troop which incr4assd the
I have the honour to six thousand ousand men.
forward herew:,th a list of
killed and wounded in the
2
among m the troops aounted totetaleeir race The casualties
.n
killed and five
Officers, and Leventeen mEn weulii
I also enclose a return of 'd•
the number of cannon
eeptared from the enemy.
10. And I beg permiision !o br'r t
nonee, Mr. Frederick m "ID their Lord-
, ed with the
goon ef IL2r Mejesty's ship Fox, „nan, Assi3tant-Sur-
stormmg ps.rzy, and whose kindness t
-feu a-t.,-d•- .•
ai:titeorwti°ouniulteodthone
this oce .sion, as well as Lis unremitting
numerous sick, during the protracted
the Itsaigoon River, is deserving of every the Fox in
I have, &c., Y praise.
(Sig d) GEOLGE R. LAMBERT, Commodore.
A List of the Naval Force commanded by
it
Commod
G. R. Lauihert, in the action and capture of the c • ore
Bassein, on the 19th ot 1,13,y, 1852. y et
Honourable India Company's steam-sloop Tenaszz,im
Cosetnanikr Wm. Dicey (bread pendant of coat:
modore Lambert)—two 8-inch, four 32-pounders;
total 6 guns. Officers and crew, 139. Also,on board,
Commodore Lambert, of her .Majesty's ship Fox,
James L. Southey, EN., Secretary, lir. G. Digby
Moraat, Signal Midsbi?man, and a boats crew of the
Fox.
Ednoura'olo India Company'i stem-frigato Sasostris,
Commander C. D. Camptidl, 1. N.—two 8-inch, two
32-pounders, two 12-pounders; total, 6 p;ttna. Officers

8.
and crew, 168. -
Honourable India Company's steam•frigato Mozuffer,
Commander H. H. Hewett, I.N.—five 8-inch,. two
32-pounders; total, 7 guns. Officers and crew, --
90
two
nder
Hon. India Company's steam-vessel Pluto, Comma
C. I3urbank—one 32-pounder, four 12-pounders,
6-pounders; total, 7 guns. Officers and crew, 80.
A. party of seamen from her Majesty's ship Fox. Lieu-
tenant Geo. W. Rica in command—one 12-pounder;
total, 1 gun. Officers and crew, 19. Includes Mr.
P. M. Lisboa, Midshipman, and Mr. F. Morgan, As-
sistant-Surgeon.
Royal Marines of her Majesty's ship Fox, First Lieute-
nant John Elliott in command. Officers and crew, 45.
Includes Second Lieutenant Nightingale.
Total-9, 8 inch, 9, 32-pounders, 7, 12 -pounders, 2,
6-pounders; total of guns, 27; total of officers and
.crews, 679,
(biped) GEORGE R. LAMBERT, Commodore.
List of Killed and Wounded in the Squadron under the
comm and of Commodore Lambert, at the capture of
• the city of Bassein, on the 19th of May. 1852.
Tenassertm—Da,vid Hughes, A. 8.,
contused wound by a bullet. wounded, slightly;
Butp—Mr. Charlea Bolt, purser, wounded, slightly;
a seamen from her Majesty's ship
contused wound.
Fox under
Pert:, " -",„nd of Lieutenant George w Rice ~,,, 71/4,
boatswain's mate, kine'd,7j:ish."—ot
George
h the bead. George W. Rice, Lieutenant
through - severely; musket ball through hand '
the
c°lllVioo.'ridge,
wounded,
0 Odgers, .., wounded, severely;
wrist. Georg
musket ball through_..l3.,
wounded, Severely; musk °-
Thomas Metcalf'
f. 11),,, shoulder. t
11
ball through the u'
her majesty's ship Fox, under the
Royal Marines of , Lieutenant John Elliott, Royal
coalman(' of First -um
F,
Marines—John ]Elliott, First Lieutenant, wounded
d by ~ a bullet in right arm.
slightly; contused wound
ded dangerously; musket
Samuel Gray, private, w"LI Paris, private wounded
ball through the arm. Georg°
George Janes,
finger,
~. .:.! 'v,;ll;wakket ball through ,i,
in the
/Pr 5 tr.;:lkOunded
slightly; bayonet wound
'-thi .- : ~i,'''k
' ~..,' , ~_ ...,, Totals :
untied.
Her gaie4.31,8 sulirFox—i killed, and 7 WO
• Zintikssilepl-44kottd ad.
(7,7t6,44-.:X644-,41 kuied, and 9 wounded.
C: 414P.1i6g, •,.L /L: ' GL°IIGE LAMBERT, Commodore.
zioto
,oc, saw captured in the Fortifications of
: 4444 Os 4 el ein ,on the lath of may, 1852.
0.,-.., itukiff i oudd the city—.guns, 30; gingab; 6.