The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-25 00:00:00

I PRICE SD.

THE BURMESE WAE.

( From the London Gazette of last night.)
INDIA BOARD, JUNE 22.
The papers, of which the following is a copy, have ban
received at the East India House :
NOTIFICATION.

Fort Williams, April 22d, 1'53.
The Most Noblo the Governor-General in Council has
much satisfaction in publishing, for general information
extracts from dispatches repotting the operations of Bri-
gadier-General Sir John CheaPe, K.C.8., against the force
under Myat•toon, who had established himself near to
Donabew.
The Governor-General in Council regards with the high-
est admiration the gallantly, perseverance, and cheerful
endurance displayed by the force under the Brigadier-Ge-
neral's command, throughout a service which was rendered
peculiarly severe, not more by the formidable resistance
that was offered than by the sufferings incident to pro-
longed exposure in pestilent jungle, and at_such a time.
His Lordship in Council, regretting the loss that has
been incurred, fully appreciates the service that has been
done, and he requests the Major General Commanding the
troops in Ave, to convey to Brigadier-General Sir John
Cheape; to the officers and soldier's whom he has specially
named, and to all who wore under his Command, the ap-
probation and cordial thanks of the Supreme Government.
By order of the Most Noble the Ge'vernorGeneral of
India in Council.
ALLEN Officiating Seerointy to the Goverr,
went of India.

He had given them notice of his intention to burn the
place down immediately on our leaving it.
On the morning of the 20th, CaptapoioonsitTthioaornpl, arriveerteovnio, ils aisT
ot of wohuorm
having
vhading f o
frowrao
dl edmiynatti
.mt
oaotni
Kyonacazeen, with several boats. He had been long lying
ud day
at the mouth of the creek with steamers and gun-boats to
cut off Myat-toon's retreat in that direction.
His co-operation was now most valuable, and the exer-
tions of his officers and men must have been very great,
in cutting through felled trees thrown across a narrow
unllah, and in removing stakes and obstructions of every
de:tter.iption impeding the passage along a distance 0f,"15
etilties and impediments seemed to vanish before
him and his boats' crews, and by 1 p.m. of the 21st we
had a sufficient number of the boats found in the nullah
prepared for the conveyance of our sick and wounded men
and of our Artillery. The whole started off, were shipped
on board the steamer on the following morning, and carried
up to Donabew the same day ; every bad case of the sick
and wounded being transhipped to the Phelegethon on
passing Yandoon, which vessel was dispatched to Rangoon.
Such dispatch, under no ordinary difficulties, seems to me
well worthy of being recorded.
We reached Kyomtano oa the night of the 22d, and
Akyo on the following day, and on the evening of the
24th, the whole force, with baggage and stores, had ar-
rived at Donabew.
I grieve to say the sickness was very great from cholera,
in particular at Kyomtano. A return is appended of the
loss we have sustained from sickness as well as in engage-
ments with the enemy.
A return of the captured ordnance is also forwarded.
The guns and rocket tube belonging to the steamers have
been made over to Captain Tarleton.
I propose to embark immediately with the whole of the
troops, and return to Prome. Such of the men as cannot
be conveyed in the steamers, will proceed in country
boats.
I trust the manner in which the service has been per-
formed will be approved of by the Major• General ;-111yat-
teen's force has been dispersed and scattered ; his guns
taken, and his stronghold and villages, containing his sup-
plies and resources, burnt down, and the pbpulation re-
moved ; he himself is a fugitive and an outlaw ; and
although he will probably be joined by some of the
worst and most desperate characters amongst his fer-
nier followers, he will never be able to regain his former
importance and power, and will, no doubt, ere long, be
captured by the exertions and vigilance of the civil autho-
rities. _ _ _ - _ . . . .

Extract of a letter from Major-General H. Godwin, C. 8.,
Commanding the Forces in Ave, Arracan, and the Te-
nasserim Provinces, to C. Allen, Esq., Secretary to the
Government of India, April Ist, 1853.
I have the honour to forward, for the information of the
Governor-General in Council, reports from Sir J. Cheape,
41ated:the .13th and. 25th, ultimo, detailing. the proc..,.qcdingb-
of his force since his report of -the 3d ultimo, forwarded in
my despatch of the 15th instant.
The Governor-General in Council will see and appreciate
this most arduous Service ; protracted as it has been from
time to time by the difficult nature of the country, added
to which unwilling, if not false guides, leading them in
wrong directions.
The Brigadier-General so forcibly represents his various
attacks, and the gallantry of troops on every occasion, that
I can add nothing more than my high sense and apprecia-
tion of their admirable conduct.

Extract of a Dispatch from Brigadier-General Sir J.
Cheape, K.C.8., Commanding the Bengal Division, to
the Deputy Adjutant-General of the army of Ava.
Donabew, March 25, 1853.
While at Kyomtano I ascertained the jungle to the west-
ward to be quite impenetrable, and that there were only
two routes to Kyomenzeen, ono to the southward via Gyet-
thoun-zeen' and the other to the northward, by Ngyoung-
youn ; the distance by these routes ,was said to be about
equal, and the same opposition and obstacles were to be
expected by either. I resolved to follow the latter route.
- It was desirable to give the enemy as little time as pos-
sible for preparation, and on the evening of the 17th inst.,
at 2 p.m., I sent on the right wing under Major Wigstone,
18th R. 1., consisting of H.M.'s 18th R. I. Regiment, H.
M.'s 80th Regiment, and the 4th Seikh Local Regiment,
with a detail of Sappers and some rockets, to take post at
a breastwork about three miles in advance, in the middle
of the forest and on the verge of a large lake. It was of
importance to clear the road so far, to enable the force to
march early next morning without waiting for the fog to
clear off.
Major Wigstone found the road clear till within about
a mile of the breastwork ; ho had then to cut his way
through many obstructions, and to open the road round
felled trees and to clear away abattis. On reaching the
breastwork, he found it occupied, and it was most gal-
lantly carried by the 18th R. I. who were leading, and by
the 4th Seikh Local Regiment in support; several jingals
and arms of different sorts were captured. Major Arm-
strong, 4th Sikh Local Regiment, on this occasion personally
distinguished himself, and I beg to send a copy of Major
Wigstone's letter of date the 20th instant, reporting most
favourably of the conduct of the troops. A prisoner was
taken upon this occasion, who was of some use in our fur-
ther advance in describing and pointing out the enemy's
position.
Major Wigstono bivouacked here for the night and was
undisturbed ; and early next morning (the 18th instant),
I moved on with the force from Kyomtano, carrying seven
days' provisions. We passed Major Wigstone's party, and
moved with our loft wing, under Lieutenant-Colonel Stunt,
consisting of H. M's 51st K. 0. L. L, and the 67th B. N. I.
in front, followed by the guns, and irregular cavalry, and
leaving the right wing to bring up the rear and to furnish
the rear guard.
As the road was greatly obstructed and the progress
slow, I took the opportunity to send back to Kyomtano,
with some irregulars, the sick and wounded of Major
Wigstone's party ; the escort rejoined us again with the
empty cloaks.
After going about two miles through forest and passing
breastworks from which only au occasional shot was fired,
our guides, instead of going further by the road we had
traversed on the Ilth instant, turned sharp off to the left ;
along this path the obstructions and felled trees continued
for about a mile, and the road was so rough that one
of the ammunition waggons was overturned and the
pole broken ; it was necessary_to leave it, and the aminti,
nition boxes -vrerevacked-Int split hatkeries.
We arrived at noon at a piece of water on our right,
where I halted for an hour to refresh the men ; and at 1
p.m. we moved on; the obstructions were very great, and
it occupied two hours getting a mile further; there was
some firing also, and tho enemy were reported to be in a
position close at hand.
We at last had a very sharp fire opened on us from the
left. A fire had been lighted in that quarter to obscure
the vision, and the whole place was obstructed and en-
tangled with abattis in front and along the left ; part of
the 67th N. 1., with the Rifles, engaged the enemy to the
left ,• and we managed to clear the path to the front so as
to advance the 51st K.0.L.1., and to bring the guns and
rockets to bear upon the enemy, whose position, however,
was so covered end hidden that we could only judge of it
from the direction of the fire on our troops.
The road or path was at length sufficiently cleared, and
the charge was ordered ; the breastwork was most gal-
lantly carried by H.M.'s 51st K.0.L.1., and the 67th N. 1.,
Captain Singleton, 51st Regiment, leading the advance.
Ensign Boileau, of the 67th N. I. was, I regret to say,
killed, while gallantly attacking the enemy on the left
flank. •
The enemy's loss I was unable to ascertain, but his force
hero consisted of 1,00 men, with one gun, which was car-
ried off, and Myat-toon was present in person. This I
learned from a prisoner who was taken.
We lost no time in following up the enemy, but, after
proceeding along an open road about a mile, I thought
it advisable, it being 5 p.m., to halt at a piece of water,
Ngyoung-Kyraug, said to be distant about three miles
from Kyomta,no, but with a heavy jungle intervening, in
which the enemy was reported to be in force.
At 8 p.m. I tired, at the request of Captain Smith,
Deputy Commissioner, three signal rockets, for thednfor-
mation of Captain Fytche, who had promised to co-operate
to the westward and northward of Kyomcazeen ; they
were replied to by guns ; and during the night, on the
report that the enemy were felling trees close in our front,
a few shot and shells were fired at them, with good effect
I believe.
On the morning of the 19th inst., at 7 a.m., we moved
on, the right wing leading, and the left wing in rear of the
Artillery. H. M. 80th Regiment formed the advance
guard, and was followed by the Sappers clearing the road,
the enemy's position was described as being Nayoung-
Goun-lya, the head of the piece of water on our right, and
along the edge of which or very near it the road lay. I
expected to find the enemy posted on the opposite
bank, and that we should have to come under a flanking
fire before being able to reach his right and turn the
position where the nullah is dry. It did not seem reason-
able to expect that his left flank would be found unpro-
tected, and I, therefore, did not think it worth while to
pass a party across the water to try that flank ; it would
have been useless, as I afterwards found that an extensive
and impassable marsh, though invisible from our side,
covered his left flank ; the forest was so dense on our left
that to cut a new road direct from the nullah, entirely
round the enemy's right, would have been very laborious, and
would have occupied a very long time, and the sickness
amongst our troops had become so alarming that great
danger would have accrued from the delay. I was withal
unwilling to diverge from the path our guides led
us ; there had been already so much uncertainty and diffi-
culty about finding the road, that it seemed the safest plan
to get at the enemy as speedily as we could, and I trusted
to a rapid advance, supported by our guns and rockets,
and relied on carrying the enemy's breastwork on the right
the moment we should reach it.
On coming opposite his left flank, the firing commenced,
and here our rockets were advanced and opened fire • the
4th Seikh Local Regiment were sent on to sapport the 80th Return of Killed and Wounded of the Expeditionary
Regiment, and the 18th Royal Irish in support of them ; Force, underßrigadier-General Sir John Cheape, K.C.8.,
the Sappers worked away at the path, which was much from Feb. 27 to March 19, 1853.
entangled with wood, and the guns were shortly got into Bengal Artillery-1 Lascar and 1 horse, killed ; Euro-
position and opened ; the firing had, however, become very pean officers, 1 Warrant officer, 3 rank and file, 2 Lascars,
heavy, and it was reported to me that Major Wigstono was and 2 horses, wounded.
wounded. On reaching the front I found that Major Arm- Madras Sappers and Miners-1 European officer and 1
strong was also wounded, as well as many other officers rank and file wounded.
and men, and that the fire of the enemy on the path leading H. M.'s 18th Royal Irish-9 rank and file killed • 3
up to the breastwork was so heavy, that our advanced European officers, 1 serjeant, and 31 rank and file,
party had not succeeded in carrying it • the most strenuous wounded.
exertions were made, and Lieutenant Johnson the only H. M.'s 51st Light Infantry-1 European officer and 1
remaining officer of the 4th Seikh Local the
serjeant, killed ; 15 rank and file wounded.
and
file
killed
persevered most bravely, but it only increased the H. M.'s 80th Regiment of Foot-1 rank
loss. The 80th and Seikhs then wont on in the hopes of 3 European officers, 4 serjeants, and 9 rank and file,
getting round the extreme right of the enemy ; the jungle, wounded.
however, was so thick, and the abattis so strong, that our 67th Regiment N. 1.-1 EuropeanB officer and 1 rank and
men go
file killed; 1 European officer and rauk and file wounded.
e dispersed, and could not got through it.
It was at this point that the 18th Royal Irish came up, 4th Regiment of InfantSeikhkilled lry-12 Native officer, 2
and
and the fire of musketry and grape was so heavy, that havildars, and 4 rank file, ;European officers
they also got scattered and sustained great loss. Lieut. 1 Native officer, 2 havildars„ 1 drummer, and 17 rank and
Cockburn was wounded. I was here joined by Major file, wounded.
Total-2 European officers, 1 Native officer, 1 serjeant,
Holdieh, now in command of the right wing.
Although it was difficult, from tho dense smoke, and 2 lia,vildars, 15 rank and ;file, Lascar, and 1 horse killed ;
under so heavy a fire, to discern exactly what was between 12 lairopean_ o ears, a
diruvemomffiseer,r,B4l Wranakrraanntd ofiftee, r 2,
5 serjeants, 2 havidars, 1
us and the breastwork to bo assailed, I succeeded at last in
La•Nsenatrisl,,eaonind
officers-1
ih.soisieskwilloedunadnaddn.ld
ascertaining that there was no water, and no obstacle that
European officers-2 killed
could not bo easily surmounted, if he troops could pass
Warrant and non-commissioned and file—
through the enemy's fire, a distance of only 20 or 30vyisawrdosf.
The " assembly" was accordingly sounded, with a
getting together as many men of the right wing as could 18 killed and 93 wounded.
be collected.Lascars, syee drivers, syces, &c.-1 killed and 2 wounded.
In the mean time Major Reid, of the Artillery, brought Total-22 killed and 108 wounded.
up in the most gallant manner his 24-pound howitzer.
blt Grand total of killed and wounded-130.
•• J. CHEAPE, Brigadier-General,
wasme nCommanding Bengal Division, Army of Burmah.
draggedofthes R throughsaimtehset bushesandop
opened
dt the
thbalaind2, chieflyyards
coyit:
the enemy with marked effect; it was, however, in a mu
risßguenul was Da M. BRUCE, Captain,
Deputy Assist. Adjutant-General, Bengal Division,
sexlmpossestdimpomseidtiinotnevawncoluiLerefettb
et o 8
rsea
yfroMmajtoh
Army of Burmah.
kept up in the most spirited manner by Lieutenant Ashe.
Finding the right wing much weakened from the loss OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED.
they had sustained, and the number of men it was neces- Killed.-9th M. N. I.—Lieutenant Taylor ; 67th N. I.
sary to employ as skirmishers on the bank of the wallah,. —Ensign Boileau.
for the purpose of keeping down the enemy's fire,l ordered Wounded.—Beugal Artillery—Major Reid, severely ;
a reinforcement from the left wing ; they were joined by Madras Artillery—Lieutenant Magrath, slightly ' • Bengal
the men of the right wing that had been collected by Major Engineers—Lieutenant Trevor, slightly ; H. M.'s. 18th
Holdiela and who were led by Ensign Wolsely, and the R. I.—Major Wigstone, severely ; Lieutenant Cockburn,
whole advanced in a manner that nothing could cheek. mortally • and Lieutenant Voodwright, slightly ;H. M.'s
!The fire was sever!), and.l..aml.grieVed.. SAY that glinaiL.Bobh,Fa)ll/,Lientouant Wilkinson, severely; Ensign Wol•
young officer, Lieutenant Taylor, 9th doing duty soy, severely ; Assistant-Surgeon Murphy, slightly ; G7th
with H. M.'s 51st K.0.L.1., fell mortally wounded. En- N. I.—Lieutenant Clarke, severely ; 4th Seikhs—Major
sign Wolsely, H. 31.'s 80th Regiment, was also struck Armstrong, severely ; and Lieutenant Rawlins, severely.

OTthe conclusion of this service it is my duty to bring
to the notice of the Major-General the excellent conduct
of the troops.
Major Reid, and the officers and men of the Artillery,
have rendered the most efficient service during the whole
of the operations, and the bravo and gallant manner in
which the guns were brought forward and worked on the
19th inst., will, I trust, receive the especial notice of the
Major-General.
To Lieutenant M`Grath, who was slightly wounded,
and Lieutenants Asho and Bobbin, my acknowledgments
are due for their gallant conduct, and also to Mr. Con.
ductor Lisby, who was always in advance with the
rockets, which he fired on every occasion with such pre-
cision and effect, as to be of essential service to us ; ho
was, I am grieved to say, very severely wounded after
firing almost his last rocket on the 19th inst. ; he may, I
trust, recover, and I would recommend him most strongly
to the Major-General's notice and the favour of Govern-
ment. _ _ _ _ _

To Lieutenant Muffins, and the detachment of Madras
Sappers and Miners, the greatest praise is due •, the work
executed by the men was most laborious, and the zeal and
talent with which their energies were directed by Lieut.
Aullins, are must creditable to him. He was ably seconded
by Lieut. Trevor, and lam mainly indebted to ;,hest offi-
cers and the men under them fog enabling the troops to
reach the enemy's position.
To Lieut.-Col. Sturt, c,oliirnaoling the wing of the
' force and to Major Wigetone, sbtemandiag be right wing,
my best acknowledgments aro due, for the aid I have re-
ceived from them, and for the gallant manner in which
they brought their troops into action.
I bek to bring to the Major-General's notice Major Ffol-
slich, H.M.'s SOth Regiment, Major Cotton, G7th N. 1.,
Major Armstrong, 4th Seikh Local Regiment, Captain
Irby, H.M.'s 51st K.0.L.1., and Captain Armstrong, of
18th R.I. Regiment, and the officers and men of
the detachments under their respective commaalds : the
whole of them behaved with great gallantry, and are
entitled to my best acknowledgments.
My best thanks aro due to Captain Bruce, Deputy As-
sistant Adjutant-General, for the ableniannor in which he
has performed his duties, and for the assistance he has
afforded me on every occasion.
To Captain Garden, Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster-
General, I have to tender my best acknowledgments, for
the very efficient aid I have received from him in his de-
partment, the duties of which have been very arduous.
I would bring to the notice of the Major-General Lieu-
tenant Pihner, H.M.'s 51st K.0.L.1., Brigade Quarter-
master Ist Madras Brigade, who, by permission, accompa-
nied this expedition. He has rendered the most essential
service to the force, in carrying orders and in seeing them
executed, in many cases of emergency and urgency, and
has undergone great fatigue and shown much zeal ior the
service. He is a most able Staff officer, and I would re-
commend him strongly to the Major-General's notice.
Lieutenant Thompson, my Aide-de-Camp, has been of
the greatest service to me, and has shown great intelligence
as well as displayed great gallantry, and I would recom-
mend him strongly to the notic3 and favour of the Major-
General.
To Surgeon Andrews, 67th N. 1., and the medical de-
partment, I have to return my best thanks for the perform-
ance of their very arduous duties in the care of the sick
and wounded; and to Assistant-Surgeon Murphy, -Staff-
Surgeon to the Division, in particular, my special thanks
are due ; he was the senior medical officer until the arrival
of the reinforcements from Rangoon, and all the arrange-
ments made by him have been most perfect. On the 19th
inst., the wounded men were attended to by him under a
very heavy fire, and though wounded (I am happy to say
very slightly), it did not doter him a moment from the
zealous discharge of his duties ; he has performed them
throughout in the most unwearied and able manner, accom-
panying the men in the boats to the steamers, and seeing
them carefully attended to and diapepied of : I consider the
force fortunate indeed in having a medical officer of his
talent and character in such trying circumstances, and I
feel assured the Major-General will accord his approbation
of the services of this officer.
The deficiency in the Commissariat Department was sup-
plied from Rangoon, Lieut. McKellar being sent from thence.
The duties; havebeenmostablyand creditably performed by
this officer; and the force,ever spice his arrival has been most
regularly and amply supplied with provisions, although
uspondrter. cirHeuismsvtearnyceosffiefoigronetat
sodbiffiorcduilotaytfor,ommw. anctonofdotroaton-
r
Horton, I am grieved to say, died on the march from
Kyomtano, on the 18th inst., of cholera, brought on, I
fear, by over exertion and fatigue in tho discharge of his
duties. He was a most energetic officer, and is a loss to
the service.
Captain Smith, the Deputy Commissioner, has accom-
panied the force throughout this service, and has been
most zealous in obtaining for us every aid the country
could supply.
The co-operation of the naval force has been most effec-
tive, and has conduced greatly to the success of the expedi-
tion ; and I feel deeply indebted to Commodore Lambert,
and to Captain Tarleton and his officers and men, for the
aid and assistance they have so promptly given us on every
opportunity or occasion of difficulty.

,
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f- • e —C'-
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down, as well as many other gallant soldiers ; b -th- - ~.- -
breastwork was at once carried, and the enemy fled iii%est-
fusion, the few who stood being shot or bayoneted orrtlii,
entrance of our men.
INIASI"'
Lieutenant Troyer, of the Engineers, with - Corporaf.erlf -
Livingstone and PrivatoPreston, of H.M.'s 51st K.0.L.1.,
first entered the enemy's breastwork, the two former each
shooting down one of the enemy opposing their entrance.
The lead devolved on them, and ou Sergeant Preston, of
H.M.'s .51st K.0.L.1., and Sergeant Major : Quin, of
H.M.'s SOth, when Lieutenant Taylor, Ensign Wolsely,
and Colour-Serjeant Dunahoo, fell in the advance. i
Our two guns, which fell into the enemy's hands on the
4th of last month, were here recaptured ; they had been
fired with the most de Iklly effect, an I were well served to
, the last ; in attempting to carry off one of them 12 men
were left dead by a discharge from our 9-pounder gun.
The enemy sustained,. I understand, a heavy loss in
killed and wounded. His whole force and means were
concentrated in this position, and I imagine he must have,
had about 4,000 men in these breastworks, which eitend- .
ed 1,200 yards in length.
The Chief, I am sorry to say, escaped, but I lost
no time in sending on Major Cotton, of the 67th N. 1.,
with 100 men of his own regiment, and 10J of the
51st K.0.L.1., under Captain Irby, to Kyomtano,
about two miles distant. Hero they found Captain Fytcho
on the opposite bank of the nullah.
Myat-toon's force being broken up and dispersed, it re-
mained for Captain Fytche and Captain Smith, the De-
puty Commissioners, to take measures for his pursuit and
apprehension. Parties of Captain Fytche's Kareens were
immediately detached for the purpose ; the report brought
in stated that he was moving about with merely a few
followers in different quarters ; and a number 'of his prin-
cipal followers surrendered themselves.
The inhabitants of whom there was a very large num-
ber, probably 10,000 to 20,000, had concealed themselves
iu the jungle, but began to come in on the 20th, and,
under directions from Captain Fytelie, commenced to
move off, with such property as they had, in boats, of
which there were an immense number in the creek or
nullah.