The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-01 00:00:00

party was formed of four complia ies of the 51st Light
Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel St. Maur, with the
Madras Sappers, under Major H. Fraser, commanding
engineer, and advanced under cover of a jungle, on get-
deg tbro ;gh which the musketry was so steady and
effective from the stockades and aejoiniug buildings, that
a great many of our party were killed and wounded,
amongst whom were several officers. I have to deplore
the temporary loss of Lieutenant• Colonel Begle, the
Commissioner of the Tennsserim Proviec,:s, who was
very bravely attending the army to witness its opera-
tions. Major Fraser took the ladders to the stockade
most gallantly, and alone mounted the defences of the
enemy, where his example soon brought around him the
storming party, which carried the stockade, but at a
very severe loss on our part.
" It was my intention to move on to the main object
of our operations, but en Icoking around me at the com-
plete exhaustion of the storming party, it now being
eleven o'clock, tinder a sun that may bo understood,
since Major Oakes, of the Madras Artillery, was struck
down by it at his battery, and died. Brevet-Major Grif-
fith, Madras Army, while conveying an order, died on
the road; Lieutenant-Colonel Foord, Commandant of
Artillery, was nearly a victim to the beet, and obliged
to quit the field; Brigadier Warren and Lientenant-
Colonel St. Maur also suffered greatly; so that, under
such destruction, I resolved to halt where I was, and to
concentrate the force in as strong a position as the coun-
try admitted of. We were teazed by parties of the
enemy hovering around us till the night closed, when
all was quiet under the protection of our guns, which
had been brought up to the front.
‘` On Tuesday, the 13th, it was reported the heavy
battery guns could not ba landed, and with use, before
the middle of that day, and also that rations for the
troops could not be prepared in time to enable me to
advance. I therefore held my position till the next
morning.
" His Lordship in Ceuncil knows well the spot where
I proposed to force my way into the Great Pagoda; and
the road I was about to move on entirely turned all the
defences of this real stronghold. The present position
of Rangoon is entirely altered since the last war; within
a few years the old town, which stood on the river bank,
has been utterly destroyed, its bricks now lying in heaps
on its site. A new town has been formed about a mile
and a quarter from the river; it is nearly a square, with
a bond or mud wall about sixteen feet high and eight
broad; a ditch runs along each side of the square, and
on the north side, where the Pagoda stands, it has been
vary cleverly worked into the defences, to which it forms
a sort of citadel. The distance from the Pagoda to the
south entrance of the town is about three-quarters of a
mile, and it is something more than that breadth from
east to west. The old road from the river to the Pa-
gods comes up to the south gate, runuing through the
new town, and it was by this road the Bural24.e had
settled tl'.at we shoald a tali le and where they heti
made every pretannien to receive us, having
armed the defences faith nearly one hundred
pizcee of csnnoa and other missiles, and with a garri-
. son of at has; 10 000 mar. Tee attempt to assault
on this side would, I am cnovinced, from tha steady way
the Barateae defend their works, have cast us half our
force.

"Oa Wednesday, the 141 h, the troops were under
arms at .5 ant ; it in us fine a temper as ever men
were. Our mench was to the north .west, through thick
jangle; four light gins, 9 -pounder:a their flanks pro-
tected by two companies of her felejesty'a 80th Regi-
ment, the rest of the wine of that corps following, with
two more guns, and tee 18th Royal Irish and the 40th
Bengal Native Infantry, farmed the advance. The 512 t
Light Infantry and the 35th Madras Native Infantry
were in reserve; the 9th Madras Native Infantry keep-
ing open the communication with the shipping. We pro-
ceeded is this order for about a mile, when we opened
the Great Pagoda, and its fire was turned on us. An
excellent position for two guns was taken by Major
Turton to our left H ink; these were left under the coma
/need of Major Montgomery, of the Madras Artillery,
who served them well. The ground to the front getting
very difficult barely aernined of the 80 h and Royal
Irish occupying it in close order. We had now
completely turned the enemy's position, having
passed their stockaded town, and got opposite
the east side of the Great Pagoda, our main
object. Major Turton informed me that he had a favour-
able position to place in battery his heavy gues; but it
took some time to bring thcra up, a service iu which the
navy brigade cf about 120 men, under the command of
Lieut. Dorville, of her Majesty's frigate Fix, assisted
by the Artillery, rendered their invaluable aid, under a
heavy fire of guns and wall pieces from the Great Pa-
goda and town, from which they suffered severely.
While this was going on the enemy artillery had got
the range of our crowded position, and their skirmishers
had somewhat closed upon us, and it took 500 men to
keep down their fire. The practice of the heavy battery,
under Major Beck, was very effective. My intention
was to have stormed the Pagoda at noon, but at a little
after 11 Captain Latter, of tee Bengal Army, my inter-
preter, ensured me ho felt confident, from what he
could see cf the east entrance of the Pagoda,
on which our battery was playing, that the en-
trance was clear, and that he was prepared to
show the way. As. our people were dropping fast
where we stood, I determined on an immediate
assault. The storming party was formed of the wing
of her Majesty's 80th Regiment. under Major Lockhart,
two companies of the Royal Irish, under Lieutenant
Hewitt, and of two companies of the 40th Bengal Native
Infantry, under Lieutenant White, the whole com-
mended by Lieutenant-Colonel Coote, of the 18th Royal
Irish, Captain Latter accompanying the party to show
the road. The advance to the east entrance of the
Pagoda was of about 800 yards, which the troops crossed
in a most steady manner, under the fire of the walls,
crowded with the enemy, the remainder of the force fol-
lowing closely. "it'hszt the storming parry reached the
steps a tremendous rush was made to the upper terrace,
nd a deafening cheer told that the Pagoda. no longer
belonged to the Burmese. The enemy ran in confusion
from the southern and western gates, where they were
met by the fire of the steamers. All the country around
has fallen with the Pagoda; and, I understand, the once
strong post of liemmendine has been abandoned and
destroyed.
" In this united service there has been not only a cor-
dial co-operation between the army and navy, but so
much good-heartedness that their joist efforts have
tended to secure the rapid success of this expedition. I
cannot presume to say of Rear-Admiral Austen, C. 8.,
commanding the navy, more than to express my admi-
ration and respect for his qualities, and to thank him for
his able and never-failing assistance. Commodore
Lambert, whose spirit never is at rest whilst anything is
to be done, and 'chose heart is ever ready to accomplish
what he undertakes, has my cordial thanks and warmest
gratitude. I particularly wish to draw the attention of
his Lordship in Council to Commander Fishbourne, of
her Majesty's steamer Hermes, who from the first fitting
out of the expedition in Calcutta to the close of these
operations has been indefatigable in assisting in the
embarkation of stores and troops, and in removing diffi-
culties, and finding resources, which alone enabLd the
expedition to sail at the time appointed, and nothing
will give me such satisfaction as his aid, were a forward
movement to be made hereafter.
"My most difficult task now commences, that of re-
commending to the protection of the Governor-General
in Council a numcer of brave men who have bad oppor-
tunities of distinguishing themselves in a service where
the utmost emulation Bed gallant devotion were shown
by all.
" I beg the Governor-General's consideration of the
services of Brigadier Elliot, who was conspicuous iu
every
Place where be could be useful- of Lieutenant-
polenet Reignolds, who cemmends the Bengal brigade,
in eonsegeenee of Brigadier Warren's
the sun, and prostratioe by
who has borne a very large share in these,
operations, taei
the 18t(tali''g Mertaban; Jaeutenat-Colonel
Coote, of
storming party, Royal Irish, who commanded the
whenLieutenant-coi,i_ne Was severely wounded; of
Bengal Native leraerlahomson, commanding the 40th
Lock-
hart, commanding
turwia the assault; of Major
same occasion;"
Major ivraof her Majesty's 80th on the
of the Force, who not only Fraser, Commanding Engineer
ly at the White distinguished himself most
gallant House Stockade, but
fatigable exertions neva. for moment whose inde-
oment ceased; of Major
Tarte", who commanded the artillery after
Colonel Foord's retirement from teutenant-
- Weems, and whose
labours in his department have been the tense of
sufferieg, a regret to say, under severe e his
indisposition
ment; of Majors Reid at
the present moof the
f the Madras Artille Bengal, and
Montgomery, .
Sreeer tt ' goersno, ptain Run-
dell, commanding the """ m
whoml am dreply indebteu ; to all of
" The Assfstant-Adiutant- General ensill f
aerywhere pres
force Cap-
tain MaYllew, was °and the assistancedunn these
g 'se
three days' operations,
-e has re
se
me on all occasions nas peen very valuable
Major Allan, the Assistant-Quartermaster-General, v;
severely wounded at the White-house Stockade ; nc
when Major Boulderson, my DtPutY"Judge-Advoaate'.
General, has been performing his duties, and has ran.
dared' essential assistance since the operations corn.
mencncl. I beg to bring all three to the notice of Go.
vernment.
" The officers commanding brigades have recora_
mended to nay notice the valuable aid they have received
from their respective Brigade-Majors. Captain Call, of
the 18th Royal Irish, and Captain Smith, of the 13th
Madras Native Infantry ; and Major Turton has brought
to my attention the indefatigable exertions of Lieutenant
Robertson, the Deputy Commissary of Ordnance, in
landing his guns and stores.
"I beg leave to bring to his Lordship's notice the as-
sistance I have received from my aides-de-carep Lieu-
tenant Chads, of her Majesty's 64th Regiment, who
was wounded at the White-house Stokade, but did not
leave me darirg the operations, and Lieutenant Lambert,
of the 56th Bengal Native Infantry, who, r
inter groat
exertion, was one of the victims to the sun on that day,
which obliges him to return to
.Calcutta, and who will
convey these dispatches.
" In conclusion I regret that the order of landing of
the troops did not afford me an opportunity of availing
myseltof the services of the 9th Madras Native Infantry
and 35th Madras Native Infantry In the front, but they
tended greatly to give freedom to my leading column
and will, from their soldierly bearing, doubtless do
when
nnr to the distinguished service to which they belong
they are brought more closely under fire.

" I hare, &E,
" HENRY GODWIN. Lieutenant-General."

" RETURN OF RILLED,WOUNDED, AND MISSING, AT THE
ATTACK AND STORMING OF RANGOON ON THE 11TH,
12TH, AND 14th oF APRIL, 1852.
" Assiatant-Adjutant-Goneral%-cffice,
Rangoon, April 17.
" Pa.ional S,aff-1 European officer wounded.
" General S. tf-1 European officer, 1 sergeant,
wounded.
" Totl— 2 EaroP-
-ao
~
offie_er2, sergeant, wounded.
"Engineer Department-34inropes.n officers vvcandcd.
" Madras SVP2l.3,,ana u rank and file
killed • 2 European otacer2, 1 harlluar raLli a Lti 6_e, I
Wounded.