The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-22 00:00:00

THE BURMESE WAR.
(From the Landon Gazette of last night.)
INDIA BOARD, SEPT. 18.
The following dispatches have been this day received
gt the East India Ilouse:.--
TILE GOTERUPR-
GENERAL OF INDIA IN COUNCIL TO
THE SECRET COMMITTEE OF THE EAST INDIA COM-
PANY. (Extract).
Fort William, August 7, 1852.
It is in the highest degree satisfactory to us to be
enabled to report that the health of the troops on ser-
vice in Burmah continues good.
Supplies are superabundant. An immense population
has eotleoted round Rangoon and Kemmendine. They
are quiet and manageable, and they exhibit the most
perfect confidence in the troops of every description—a
testimony to the forbearance and good conduct of the
force which will be appreciated by you.
The advance of the steam flotilla on Prome, during
which 56 pieces of artillery were captured from the
enemy, is reported to you.

COMMODORE G. R. T,
_AirIBERT, R.N., TO THE GOVERNOR-

GENERAL OF INDIA.
(Extract.)
Her Majesty's snip Fox, at Rangoon,
July 14,1852. .

I have the honour to forward to you a copy of a letter
I have received from Commander Tarleton, of her Ma-
jesty's ship Fox, delailing the services he has periormed
while in charge of the flotilla in the Irrawaddy.
It gives me great pleasure to state, that gallant and
valuable as these services have been, they are strictly is
accordance with what I considered were your Lordship's
wishes, namely, to gain a correct knowledge of the river
as far as Prome, which had hitherto been so imperfectly
described, and to dislodge and harass the enemy wher-
ever they appeared, if practicable. How this service
has been performed I leave to your judgment to decide,
after your perusal of Commander Tarleton's letter.
You will perceive, without particularizing any indi-
vidual under his command, how Cully he appreciates the
aid he received from ail who partook in this gallant en-
terprise.

COMMANDER J. W. TARLE,TON, RN., TO COMMODORE

LiMBERT.
(Extract.)

Moniew, July 11, 1852.
I have the honour to inform you that in pursuance of
the instructions contained in your letter, addressed to me
on 30th ult., I proceeded up the Irrawaddy, as far as Yea-
gaim, where I anchored on the 7th inst., having beenjoineci
on the way by the East India Company's steamers
Proserpina and Mahanuddy. The place is now
deserted both by the enemy and its inhabitants;
and we were thus compelled to procure our own fuel.
While thus employed, the East India ComPanY.i
steamer Phlegethon joined company; when, find
-
leg that she had coal sufficient to supply the other
vessels, I immediately proceeded with the
ofour
steamers. At two P.N. when opposite to Konnon ee,
a large namber of armed men were observed collectedbh on
the bank. On a shell being fired amongst them, they
immediately disappeared, either into the jungle, or some
holes or trenches near the water's edge, whence they
opened a most vigorous fire from five or six guns, and
a vast number of muskets. Ifi
remained with the
flotilla abreast their position for an, hour, shelling the
enemy to the best of our ability; burl., protected as they
were by the embankment, no ..decioed impression could
be
made
on them. I have no uoubt that we could have
carried the work, by running one of the small
steamers along side, and throwing the small
arm on shore, bat this service could
not havemen been performed without certain loss; and,
beyond spiking the guns, there was no object to
be gained, the jungle covering the bank offering a se-
cure retreat to the Burmese, from which they would
have returned as soon as we had re-embarked. I con-
sidered, therefore, that I should be more fully carrying
out your instructions, in making this a reconnoitring
force, by pushing forwards, without further attempts to
dislodge the enemy, reported by the neighbouring in-
habitants to be 1,500 strong. I have the honour to
enclose a list of casualties on this occasion; they are
confined to the Medusa, at which, as the leading vessel,
the enemy's fire seems to have been principally directed.
At sunset the flotilla anchored off Meaoung; at day-
light on the Btia it again weighed, and proceeded till
within sight of an extensive fortification crowning the
end of a ridge of hills about 300 feet high, terminating
abruptly at the town of Akouk-teang (marked in the
caart Peeinghee). Bandoola was reported to be here
with 7,000 men, and a number of guns, differently stated
from fifteen to forty. Having an:ertained from the
pilot that a passage might probably be found at this
season through a creek to the eastward of the island,
opposite Akouk-toung, and thus completely out
of range of the enemy's guns, I determined to
attempt it, and happily 6uccealed in getting through,
with not loss than two fathoms water. Here we
learnt that a small steamer belonging to the King of
Ava had only left the day previous, and that the
whole army of the country was centred at Akouk-toung,
or its neighbourhood.
Foreseeing the paafc which the presence of the
steamers would create above the defensive force, I urged
forwards with all speed, detaching the Prosperine, as
the fastest vessel, to endeavour, by proceeding through
the night, to overtake the Government vessel. Mr.
Brooking, however, found this impracticable, and was
compelled to anchor.
Toe Mahanuddy's fuel being now exhausted, I left
the Phlegethon with her, to supply her wants, and, by
dint of great attention on the part of Lieutenant Fraser,
Indian Navy, and the ethane; of the 3ledusa, I succeeded
in steaming throu4h the night, and reached Promo at
daylight on the ale. At the south end of the town,
near the water's edge, I observed four heavy guns, but
no armed men near them. I accordingly ands red the
vessel abreast the spot, landed, and made fast a hawser
to them, and hove them off ; the iron guns were
disabled, and slide in deep water; and the brass ones
taken on board. At eeven, the Prolerpine joined, and,
a few hours after wards, the tno other vessels, and, with
the boate' crews of the Fox heartily entering on the
work, every gun in Promo, twenty-three in number (see
Return), were thus brought cif. In the afternoon, I as-
cended ten miles higher up the rarer, as far as Zeegain,
where I anchored for the night, leaving the other vessels
at Prome to transfer fuel.

I had now, Sir, fuliy carried out the instructions con-
tained in your letter cf the 30th June, There was no
prospect of overtaking the steamer, and I had seriously
to consider the safety of the vessels under my orders.
With an enterprising foe, I was aware that the creek
near Abouk-toung might be made impassable; and even
by the Burmese, when, by the large force in the neigh-
bo urhood, such means were at their command. I,
therefore, decided on an immediate return, with the
view to prevPnt their having time to complete their pre-
parations. I rejoined the vessels off Procne, at daylight
on the 10th, and commenced the descent of the river.
The city
haGdobveeerunorin Our possession for twenty-four
hours, the
approach. At
10
,z Moungwine, having fled at our
Creek .m. we arrived at the entrance of
Akouk-toung
when about half way through,
we observed several
diEzmeboata, crowded with armed
men ; at first it VIEW t to make out their inten-
tions, whether these were to attack the vessels, sup-
ported by a fire from the shore, or were crossing. It
proved to be the latter; and they succeeded, before
our guns could be brought to b
reaching the bank; from which aear upon them in
silenced
fire of
musketry was opened, but soon
had. by the great
made ar:i.ot time to
guns of the flotilla. Ten men, who
pli,lifeners and
escape from one of the boats, were
the creek a steamers.
will b • s at to Rangoon for interrogation.
now r,e-eed round, and ascended
dis-
persing the enemy wherever he was to be Beeng:tilrn,
sway five brass guns on field-piece carriages thartought
still in the boats, and burnt the general's sumo barge
and a number of, war boats, with a large quantity
arms and ammunition.
I am not quite certain as to the movements of the
enemy; the reports of the natives not entirely agreeing.
They stated that the force began to cross at three pat
on the 9th, and continued to do so through the night, and
until we reached them at ten A.M. oa the 10th, as above
related. One party insisted that the whole army had
crossed; but this was not true, as men could be seen still
on the fortifications opposite. The other stated that a
thousand men only had been sent over to defend the
creek. lam inclined to believe that the principal part
of the army, including the General, had crossed (as our
informant told us) on their way to Promo, the road to
which leads from here, leaving a small force only at
Akouk-toung. The barge, with the two gilt umbrellas
and flag, would certainly not have been on this side
had Bandaola not crossed himself; and I do not
think it probable he would have come over with a
detachment. I now continued the descent of the
liver' being joined by the East India Company's steamer
Plato,at Kohn-dung ato3p.x.
dThe enemy had evacuated his trenches
gone upward. At sunset, the flotilla
was anchored' an
Thioning,off this place, where it is employed pro-
and trusttha gtetting into readiness for further service.
this expedition has, for the present,
entirely freed
lower country of the presence of
the enemy, and I
do not apprehend that they will
again venture so
an incalculable bie f3l. from Prome. This will be
to us everywhere thae"mtig to the inhabitants, who evince
bsoomost friendly disposition, and only
require security to
I should be doing g„earitented and happy.
,_onarjastice to every officer and
man in this little fomreaaane
witing of the Medusa, Phlege.
thou, Proserpine,
, thce37,azieth three boats of the
Fox, and twenty marines
I regret to say is severely waununcleed? commanding whom
I faileeen shown d to repro
on
-
that
have leas
no hesitation in
b
sent to you the zeal and attention if
this service by all; without it, I h
saying that it could not have been
brought to a success-
ful issue.

steamof casualties on board the East India Company's
er Medusa,
/ 1852. 0
durin_gu.ytphe engagement
at x
a.
tuu3ket
nonghee, on the 7th of J
Fox—Mr. John Elliott, First Lien.
Eer Majesty's ship
tenant, Royal Marines,'
Mr. Frederick Morgan,
woundcd severely;
ball wound of the right foot.
Assistant-Surgeon, wounded
rounded, slightly;
slightly; contusion from
a splinter. George Cock, bay,
contusion from splinter.
T d• c3—Mr. T. Rose
East India Company'. steamer 3.--e a ,
...
i d a gerously ;
hot Mate, Indian Navy, wounded, ar
- James
gun Wound, and amputation of left arm. _ .
Cummings, artillery man, wounded, dangerously; gun
shot wound of the chest.
Fitznisittca. MOV.GAN, Assistant-Surgeop,
her Majesty's ship Fox. .
Return of Ordnance captured by the Steam Flotilla in
the Irrawaddy, on the 9th and 10th of July, 1852.
At Prome, 9611 July, 1852.
nudes; 3 12-pounders, 6 ft. in inn
Iron-4 12 pounder carro-
9gth; 4 32-pounders,
ft. In length (3 of wrought.iron);
4 24-pounders, 6
ft. in length; 2 18-pounders, 6 ft. in length. 1 42-
rtuader• 1 6-pounder. Brass--i 81-inch, 8 ft. 2 in.
ugth; i ei.,,,h, 6 ft., in length; 1 7i-inch, 7 ft. 6 in. i
ia length; 1 Bi-ineh =Mart 3 ft. 6 in. in length. '

THE SUN,

At Akouk-toung Creek, 10th July, 1832. 5 brass field-
pieces.
Total-28.
Destroyed and sunk....• l9
Brought away

Total
J. W. TARLETON, Commander, R.N.

COMMODORE G, R. LAMBERT TO THE GOTERNOR.
GENERAL OF INDIA.
(Extract.)
Her Majesty's ship Fox, at Rangoon,
July 2], 1852.
In continuation of my dispatch, dated the 14th inst.,
I have the honour to inform you that this morning I
received a report* from Commander Tarleton, detailing
further successful operations against the enemy in the
neighbourhood of Promo, by a portion of the flotilla
under his orders.

Mr. Burbank, the Commander of the Pluto, having
been informed that the Burmese troops had evacuated
the fortified post on the heights of Akouk-toung, and
had left their artillery there, he sent a force on shore
to demolish the works, and to destroy or bring on board
the guns.
This was accomplished on the 14th inst., without any
opposition, after five hours' hard work under a burning
sun; when all the enemy's guns on the heights of Akouk-
toung, 28 in number, were either destroyed or brought
off to the steamers. Their calibre was from 4to 18
pounders.
Next day the steamers proceeded to Sahlaydan, where
they captured six large boats laden with grain and arms,
which were being conveyed upwards; and, on the 1611,
arrived off Pendangmew, where some Government boats
were destroyed.
On the morning of the 17th, Mr: Burbank anchored
off Promo. Some of the inhabitants immediately came off
with the intelligence that 500 troops had been stationed
on the hill at the back of the town, but decamped directly
the steamers came in sight. lie also learnt that General
Bandoola with the remnant of his army, consist-
ing of only 2,000 men, the rest having aeserted, was
encamped at Ethamew, a town without any defences,
nine miles inland. The inhabitants of Promo, as well as
of all the other towns, are most anxious that a steamer
shall be permitted to remain off their city, to protect
them from the lawless
Burbank s zealgangs,ofdis and
ty to
my
notice,edascotlidviiers.
In bringing
mr.
Tarleton recapitulates the services
per
for Commandermed by the small steam force under his orders,
assisted by
s ship
by three boats and 60 seamen and marines from
her Majesty Fox, during the last ten days.
The river has been ascended to Promo, 56 guns have
been captured, 10 war boats, and several boats con-
taining military stores and ammunition have bean
burnt; and an army of 7,000 men, commanded by one
of the highest officers in the Burman empire, dispersed,
with the exception of 2,000 who are collected in the
neighbourhood of Promo, where, without artillery or
defences, they are no longer formidable.

• Not received in England.

FRAN CE.

The fete of St. Cloud, which commenced on Sun-
day, the 12th, and will continue until Monday, the
27th inst., is more than usually well attended this
year. Louis Napoleon, to encourage them, has per-
mitted the owners of booths to occupy the park rent
free. During the reign of Louis Philippe a heavy
toll was exacted.

Letters from Strasburg of the 19th inst. state that
the waters of the Rhine had swollen in a sudden and
extraordinary manner, in consequence of the copious
rains which had fallen of late in Switzerland and in
Alsace. Oa the 17th they had reached 4i feet above
the water-mark; and at six o'clock A.M. on the 19th
they had risen to 12 feet, that is, a few inches lower
than last year; but the flood was increasing. On
the 18th troops were placed at the disposal of the
chief engineer, who occupied them the whole night in
erecting embankments. Another battalion left Stras-
burg the same night with lighted torches to construct
similar works on other points. In several rural dis-
tricts the tocsin was ringing to call the inhabitants to
the embankments, to close any apertures that might
be made in them by the water. At Strasburg the
authorities had also demanded workmen for the same
purpose. The Rhine was said to have committed
extensive ravages on the side of Huningue. The
Basle Gazette, which did not appear on the 18th, had
forwarded the following bulletin to its subscribers :
" It is impossible for us to print our journal to-day.
The waters of the Rhine have risen to a height they had
not reached since 1817. The whole town is overflowed.
Our offices are filled with water. The present notice to
our subscribers has been printed in another establish-
ment, which kindly placed its presses at our disposal,"