The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-17 00:00:00

,
irbtr4l' To-tit/tit'

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

INDIAN DISPATCH S.

(From a Supiplement to the London Gazette,of Friday.)
'INDIA I.IOARD, JULY 16, 1852.
the following (Itepatches have been received at the East
ledia Hous6:— •

THE OOVER.NO*-GENEP4I, y t Ai1i11:4.4 IN • COUNCIL TO THE
SECRUZ-40MMITTEE OF !iIteECASY. INDIA COMPANY. '

Fort William, June 2, 180.
sllOndurahle Sirs,—We have much satis?action in forward-
ing for your information the accompanying copy of dis-
patches from Li,utenatit General Godwin, C. 8., and Commo-
dore Lambelri, announcing the gratif)ing intelligence of the
capture of the City of Bassein by the combined military and
naval-Tdrees:- -.- We have, &c., .
DALHOUSIE.
.F. CURRIE.
• • 7 J. Low's.

LE
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL H. GODWIN, C B p COMMANDING THE
FORCES IN AVA, ARRACAN. TENASSEEIM PROVINCES,
TO C. AL N, E;(1.,
INDIA.
SECRETAIY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF

Rangoon, Heed-quarters, May 24, 1852.
Sid,—The Povernor-Generd having expressed some
anxiety about thesouth part of Xrracan, as being in the neigh-
bourhood of Bassein, 1 resolved, as soon as I could conveni-
ently
Jeavejlangoon, to takes detachment, and personally
visit the place. On expressingthis
,intention to Commodoie
Lambert, he, to my very great pleasure, said he would ac-
company ,
rages Ifixed on Monday, the 17th May, and bad a
detachinent warned to be ready to embark on that morning,
Consisting of 400 of the 'slst Kit'g's Own Light Infantry, 3to
of the 9th Madras Native Infantry, 67 Madras Sappers, and
a sergeant and 6 gunners -of the Bengal Artillery. The
whole party AVa placedunder tits command of Major Erring-
ton, of the 51st Light Infantry.
The Commodore appointed three fine vessels to carry the
'tstoopp,-the East India Company's steam frigates Sesostris and
Mozuffei acid. the' Tenasserim, with a smaller steamer, the
Pluto, -carrying the naval brigade and Marines of her Ma-
jesty's frigate Fox. _
We c'eared the Rangoon- rival* on the afternoon of Mon-
day, the 17th, and on the next evening anChored off Negrais
Island, leading into the Bissein river. At day break the
next morning the flotilla weighed, and we ascended that
most beautiful stream for sixty miles, which, at four o'clock,
brought us in view' of the defences, of about a mile long,
of the city .of Bassein : we had passed some new stockades,
one at, and the other south o 1 Naputa, a few miles below
the town, which were not armed; but these consisted of one
extensive stockade, with several hundred men in it, fully
'armed, and with canuon.
The enemy lookel at us, but did not stow any disposition
Ito
molest its. The flotilla arrived at the left of their position,
a strong well-built mud fort, .armed, with cannon and men.
This we passed within two hundred yards, and so in succes-
sion all their defences for nearly a mile, till the Tenasserim,
with the Commodore and myself on board, anchored oppo-
site a golden pagodg, centrally situated within the defences.
The steamers anchored in succession, without bringing down
the Arc of a single musket.
The admirable position taken up by the steamers induced
me to order the immediate landing of the troops. The enemy
appeared So completely surprised and paralysed by our ap-
proach, that I gave, orders not to fire unless fired on, and
to take possession of the pagoda. Nearly all the men
of her Majesty's 51st Foot got on , shore under
the ;pagoda hekro a shot *Was Captan), Latter,
my interpreter, accompanies Captiin. Darrach with a
,cots Rany of the' 5 ist on shore, and landed on the
extreme right of the woks, opposite a traverse covering a
gateway;. and there a -parley was held between Captain
Latter and some Burmese on the walls, which brought on
the first, discharge of inu'ketry, kiding a sergeant an:
woundi -g two men. This tire was taken up, ran down the
works, but soon ceased.

. •
At this time ,nsjor Errington made his advance on the
pagoda and carried it in most gallant style, the 51st Light
Infantry maintain rig nobly the character they had ever com-
manded by their Courage and distinguished conduct in the
field.
The contest that stamped the operations of this remarkable
day with a brilliant conclusion was the attack on the
mud fort, most sc entifically built and of great extent,
which could only have been constructed under a dispo-
sition that commanded the labour of its subjects in the short
time they had been about it. It was not entirely com-
pleted in its.setails within. The storming party under Ma-
jor
works,
gLiteoutetnhaentleaßiecel, theof her
BurmeseMa
jesty's frigate Fox, and Lieutenant Ford, of the Ms-
Erriancgetoomn
papnrioecci eedhiyn
dras Sappers, came upon this mud fort fully garrisoned aid
well tamed. The attack was most determined, as was the
defence obstinate. It was bravely stormed, but with the
coasequence of Major Errington and several officers and /len
being severely wounded. Lieutenant Ansley, with a Mall
detachment of the 9th Madras Native Infantry, shared in
this contest; be was severely wounded, and the corps roved
itself t be as good as it looks, and it is ono of the nicest
corps I have eve:. seen; its gallantry and devotion on this
occasion claiming the admiration of all who witnefsed it.
The whole affair was over a little after six o'clock.
While these operations had been going on the Commodore
had claimed the services of Captain Campbell, of she Sesos-
trie, and his men, in destroying a large stockade as the op-
posite bank of the river; they drove off the 13urnese, fired
the stockade,' and took six guns.
I am informed from several sources that the tnemy suf-
fered very severely in the contest in the mud fort.
In having the honour, as well as the grateficition, of re-
porting to the Governor-General in Council the iossession of
this important station, I will observe that, from every
indication of preparation going on, the Govsrtment of this
country intended to make it a most powerfu, glace, and to
repair the loss of Rangoon, by establishing Bassein as their
mart of communication with this country, as well as a
powerful pwition to keep in subjection the Pep population,
so decidedly and ever our friends, and also to Maintain a
threatening attitude towards the south of Ar•tc in.
By leaving Bassein to itself, I should have been giving it
back to the soldiery just driven out, as the isfences had been
built and put into the improved state I hese described by
five thousand men from the upper country,ommanded by a
men of reputation. To secure it, I have MI a garrison Of
two companies (160 men) of the 51st Lilt Infantry, and
three hundred men of the 9th Madras Native Infantry.
These will.be reinforced by en officer of Alllery and half a
company, with two 9 pounder. guns; the garrison now
ont pohs-
s'
sessing two 12-inch howitzers. These, With two Major
actions, will leave this on, or about the 25b instant.
Roberts, of the 9th Madras alive lufantr, will proceed in
the same vessel to take command of Batten; he is an esPe-
rienced and excellent officer.
I consider that in a few weeks the i3untese soldiery of the
upper country will have returned to alit' homes, mefting
with no sympathy from the Pegu popultion, and the rept
so that
soldiers themselves are already with thir families;
the garrison I have left could, in a militay point of view, he
withdrawn in six weeks,. and it will 0(1 rerasin with the
Government of India to decide whethe it hold during the
war this very important place. If so, hrther arrangements
will be very necessary. Major Fraser, :he commanding e_
aineer, should visit it : a very little eseense will make ins
secure position. The barrack houses as soldiers are now in
are excellent, and well built of wood Fresh meat can be
had, as the population of the place are caning under our pro-
tection in gre A numbers.
I may bare remark, that that most admirable officer and
clear-seeing man, my most respected lee commander, Sir A.
Campbell, attached great importanceto the holding os
Bassein.
After passing two clear drys in arranging for the stability
of the detachment to be left there, onthe morning of the
22d, the flotilla, with the exception ofthe Sesostris, which
remains, weighed at day-break, and retched Rangoon on the
23d May, after an absence of only Bevel days.
To Commodore Lambert, and to thissombined expedition,
the Governor-General' in Council owesall that professional
ability and unremitting exertion could accomplish towards
suCcess, to which they so largely coeributed. The East
India Company's steamer Proserpine, (colander Brooking,
arrived twenty-four hours after the Sao was taken ; but
even so, his activity was not •lost for leand his vessel went
off the morning before we weighed, and destroyed the
stockade that I mentioned to have paskd on the way up the
river.
Major Errington, of her Majesty's 51kLight Infantry, wise
commanded tne detachment of troops t 7
and
r Bassein,
who principally directed this detachmat, and who fought
this detachment, aeserves the particuls, thanks of the Goe
vernor-General in. Council. 1 have got plearsuse in for-
warding his report of 'the operations fox
the perusal of his
Lordship in Council.
I beg the best consideration of Goernment for Captain
Rice and Lieutenant Carter, of the 51st Aight Infantry, and
for Lieutenant Ansley of the 9th Maras Native Infantry,
all three severely wounded at the assausof the fort, and aho
for Lieutenant Ford of the Sappers anntliners, on the same
occasion; for Lieutenant Rice, of her Mjesty's frigate Fox,
who commanded the naval brigade, ate who was severely
wounded whilst particularly distinguieing himself in the
attack of the fort. . •
It has been brought to my notice tlet Mr. Duncan, the
second officer of the East India Cotnply's ship Tenasseriin,
at the head of a party of men of his ship' behaved most
gallantly upon the seine occasion.
To Captain D Irma], of the 51st Dsht Infantry, and to
Captain Latter, my interpreter, thanes are due for their
gallantry in forcing the traverse, ant entering at the gate '
on the right of the enemy's position Lieutenant Craster,
Of the Beugal -Engineers, also merit: !banks, and the plan
of Babsein, which I enclose for the Gwernor-Generar •
Governor-General', inspec-
tie ' • 1 mu elle To •
n, will prove his professiona c et, e Lieutenants
Elliott and. Nightingale, with the bsrinee of her 'majesty's
frigate Fox, and tea Captain Campiell, of the East India
Company's frigate Sesostris, I beg year Lordship iu Council's