The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-28 00:00:00

UN.

TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 1824.

INDIA.

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, CALCUTTA, JULY 29.
(OFFICIAL.)
_ _

The following. Copy of' a Dispatch received from Brigadier
General Sir Archibald Campbell, K.C.B. and K.C.T.S. com-
manding the British forces,at Rangoon, is published for gene-
ral information :
GLonci: S'.vratTore, F.sq. Secretary to Government, Secret
and Political Department, &c. &e. &c.
FORT WILLIAM.
Sin—Since I had the honour of addressing you on the 10th
ult. we have had several partial affairs with the enemy, except
in one solitary instance invariably sought for on. our part, and
all ending in the same brilliant manner that has hitherto
marked the gallant and intrepid conduct of the troops under
my command. About . the.cott ,oe, los month 'it was stated
by some prisoners of war, and corroborated by a few Rangoon
people who had escaped from the :
jungle, that the Burmese
Chief had received positive orders froto:Court to make a gene-
ral attack upon our line, and .drive us at once out of the coun-
try. Every movement of the enemy plainly indicated that
something was intended large birdies of troops were, for
two successive days, seen crossing the river above Kemen-
dine, from the Dallah to the. Rangoon side, and I felt the
more inclined to give credit to the' report, from being well
aware that had any such order been received by the Burman
General, certain disgrace or even decapitation would be the
inevitable consequence of his disobeying it. On the Morn-
ing of the Ist inst. every doubt'on the subject was removed.—
Three%columns of the enemy, estimated at 1,000 men each,
were seen crossing the front of purposition, moving towards
our right : and the jungle in front of the Great Dagon Pagoda,
and along th'e whole extent of our line to the left, was oceu.
pied by a large force ; but on this side. front the nature of the
ground, it waa impossible to ascertain either the disposition or
strength of' the enemy. The columns moving on our right
soon came in contact with the piquets of the 7th and :IN regi-
ments of Madras Native Infantry, :which received the attack
with the greatest steadiness, none of them yielding one inch of
ground. The enemy then penetrated in considerable force he-
t ween 'two of our piquets, and took post on a hill about 400
yards from our position, occupying an old Pagoda and some
houses in front, from which they commenced a feeble and
harmless fire front some jingals and swivels. I instantly re-
paired to the point of attack with a gun and a howitzer from the
Bengal Artillery, and 3 companies of Native inflinfry, viz.,
one company of the 7th and two of the '3.'d regiment, the whole
under the command of Captain Jones of the latter corps._
After a short but well directed tire from the artillery, I ordered
Captain Jones to advance with his 3 companies and drive the
enemy from his post at the point of bayonet, and 1 had the
satisfaction of seeing my orders carried into erect in the most
cool and gallant style, the enemy dying in every direction to-
wards their favourable haunt and only place of safety, the
jtingle; During the fire tin our right, patties of the enemy felt
the punreta along our line to• the- left, bat never appeared in
any force, and retired on the first tire front our advanced posts.
Titus ended the mighty attack that was to have driven us into
the sea : defeated with the greatest ease by $ weak companies
of mepoye and two pieces of artillery Officinal' such an enemy
might be well 4ppulfed at the appearance of the whole British
line under arms.

From some prisoners who were 'taken,. J am informed that
12,0011 men were marched to the tared: ; the left columns. were
ordered to engage with vigour, and es soon as they , had suc-
ceeded in penetrating our line, the -attack was then to have be-
come genital. Such were the orders issued—but nothing more
contemptible than the conduct of the enemy on that. day was
ever witnessed. They, paid for their folly, by leaving at least
one hundred meti•dead on the field. NV e had-not one man either
killed or wounded.
Before day-light **tale following morning same hundred men-
of the Ilallah fore
e entered the tawa or ballah, tiring in the
direction of our Poo. Capt. lsaack, of the o,ll.l4adras Native
Infantry, commanding. pushed furwara with a few men, and
was, I regret to say, unfortunately shot—the Burmese motUt.
}sted his body with the moat savage brutality during the few,
minutes it remained in their power.
While the enemy. abstained from converting their town to the
purpow-of annoying us,. I also respected and afforded it every
protection, although uninhabited by one individual ; but when
they thought proper. to make It a mighty scene of savage war-
fare, I razed it to the ground.
Numerous reinforcements daily join the enemy's army in
our front; a thing much to he desired, as tendingl, to WercuAefhe
distress and discontent already prevailing in their lines ; and
having observed a disposition to re-cross part of their force to the
Dallah side Of the river, I determined tin the tith inst. to make
as general an-attack as the very woody and Inundated-state of the
country would possibly admit of. For that purpose I formed
the force to be employed into two colunms of attack; one. pro-
ceeding by land under the-command ot' that excellent and Inde-
fatigable officer, Brigadier General ill‘Bean,,for the purpose of
surrounding the enemy on the-laud aide, while I with the other
proceeded by water to attack their stockaded position along the
banks of the river in front. To this post the enemy appeared
to attach the greatest importance, and the stockades were so
constructed as to afford mutual support, presenting difficulties
apparently clot to be overcome without a great sacrifice of
I therefore resolved to try the effect of shelling, and consulted
with Captain Marryat upon the employment of such armed
vessels as he might select to breach, in the event of our mortar
practice not succeeding. The shells were thrown at too great a
distance to produce the desired effect, and the swampy state of
the country would not admit of any advance. The armed ves-
sels, viz, the Statellite transport, lately in His Majesty's service,
the /Jon. Company's cruisers Teignmouth and Thetis coin-
mantled by Captain Hardy and -Lieutenant Greer, and the Pe-
nang Government yacht, the Jessie, Captain Poynton, the
whole under the command of Lieut. Fraser, of II is Majesty's
ship Larne, now took their stations according to a disposition
made by Captain Marva:, and opened it fire which soon silen-
ced that of fourteen pieces of artillery, swivels, and musketry
from the stockades, and in one hour the preconcerted signal of
breach practicable was displayed at the mainmast head. The
troops, as previously arranged, entered their boats on the signal
being made, consisting of a detail of 3d, 10th, and 17th Native
Infantry, commanded by Captain Wallah of the latter corps,
ordered to lead the attack, and supranied by Lieut. Colonel
.Goodwin with 260 men of His Altawiff's 41st Regiment, and
one company from the /lon. Company's Madras European Re-
giment. The assault was made in the best order and hand-
somest style; Major %Vian) with the Native Infantry landed,
and hniviedietely attacked the breach, while Lieut. Colonel
Godwin, almost at the same instant, pushed ashore a little high-
er up, and entered the work by escalade; the enemy kept tip a
sharp but ill-directed tire, while the troops were landing, but
as usual tied on otir making a lodgment in the place. I now
ordered Colonel Godwin to re-embark with the detachment of
the 41st Regiment, and attack the second stockade, which wits
immediately carried in the same style. The third stockade was
evacuated by the enemy.
The cool and gallant conduct of both European anti Native
troops on this occasion was to me a most gratitymg sight. To
the otlicQrs and mend the breaching vessel every praise is due ;
and I must regret that severe indisposition prevented Captain
arryttt froM being present to witness the result of his arrange.
ments. _

The inundated state of the country did not admit of any com-
munication with Brigadier-Oeneral Macllenn from the ship-
,
ping, nor dill I know the result of the opmtions of his cultiniv
until I returned to Rangoon in the evening. Nothing room
be more brilliant and successful. Ile took •by assault lifer
strong stockades in the most rapid succeaiiion, titrowivd the
enemy into the utmost consternation ; and he had also inc 11t'od
fortune to fall in with a large body Hying from the coat/ale at-
tacked by the shipping, of whom a great number sere killed.
The Brigaitier.lienend assures me the ardour tipt!iii "141"
was irresistible, and speaks highly of the able rid
be received
frotn Brigadier Mac Crotgh- Ile also reports piost favourably
urn the judicious and gallant style in Which Majors Sale anti
frith of his Majesty's 13th and 38th regiments, letl the troops
under their respective commands.
anti upwards of 800 of his best troop* were left dead on the
stockades were thus taken from
ground : 38 pieces of artillery, 40 iewjvai, and 300 muskets,
were also captuied, a loss of no small imporuince where fire-
the erten): in one day,
arms are so scarce. Three of the enemy.* chiefs, whose tisanes
are not yet known, were found among the dead. The chief de-
struction of the enemy was by the land column.
Our loss has been comparatively small-40 rank and tile
killed; i Captain and 35 rank and tile wounded.
To Brigadier tleneral Macltean my particular thanks are
doe upon this and on all occasions. To Lieutensnt•Colonel
Tidy and 3lajor.laekson, Deputy Adjutant And Quartermaster
Clerion.ll, tout to my personal Stith', 1 fm eery_ much indebted