Star.
London, England, 1824-11-24 00:00:00

the
-
the eastern side of the island of Cheduba, with the
transport Anna Robertson in company, on the night o
the 12th of last month, and found the other tianspor t
and his Majesty's ship the Slaney, already there.- I
immediately conferred with Captain Mitchell, and on
the 13th, Lieutenant Matthews of that ship made a bold
and very intelligent reconnoissance up the small river
on which the enemy's town is situated, and in our en-
tire ignorance of the localities, his report was of essen-
tial use to me in arranging the disembarkation.
The ships lay three miles from the shore outside of a
mud flat which stretches parallel with the land, and is
nearly dry at low water, and the coast on this side is
covered with jung!e to the edge; indeed, the mouth of
the river is not distinguishable at a very little distance.
We moved towards it on the morning of the 14th with
as many men as the boats would hold-200 of his
Majesty's 13th Light Infantry Regiment, and 100 of
the 20th Native Infantry.
On the southern bank, at a short distance up, was an
outpost, which was immediately taken possession of by
a small patty from the leading boat, the Burmese re-
tiring from it without resistance. The river varies in
breadtb from about 4.0 to 100 yards, the jungle on both
sides extending far into the water. About half a mile,
farther up the ground is cleared and cultivated, and
the enemy became visible lining a trench of 300 yards
extent, on the edge of the northern bank, with their
right flanked by a bridge over the rivers. They per-
mitted our boats to range along until the headmost ar-
rived opposite their right, and then opened a fire of
mtaNttry and swivels, accompanied by a flight of ar-
rows. The bank was steep and somewhat difficult, but
two or three parties of the 13th were soon on its sum-
mit in spite of the enemy's efforts, who opposed them
with considerable boldness; a tew minutes firing fol.
Jowed, while the remaining boats landed their men,
and they fled, leaving-upwards of twenty killed, and
many wounded. Their village or town commences
near the spot at which we had 'landed, and I imme-
diately moved up the street in pursuit; on arriving at
the end of it (about a quarter of a mile), we found a
stockade, into which they had retired, and from which
they opened a fire as soon as we appeared. It was a
square of about 200 yards each face, the outward piles
from 16 to 20 feet high, and an embankment and a
parapet within them, salient gateways, in each face, and
a triple row of railing round the entire exterior; ap-
peared to be in good order, and the fire was from seve-
ral six pounders, as well as swivels of various calibre,
and musketry.
I immediately lodged parties at such points close to
the work, as afforded tolerable cover; ordered the
howitzer and two or three ship guns ashore, together
with the remainder of the sepoys ; and meantime marked
off a battery within 100 yards of their front gateway.
The weather now became exceedingly unfavourable, but
as all gave their most hearty and zealous endeavours
to the execution of what was pointed out to them"our
want of proper materials, implements, and workmen
was surmounted. Repeated feints upon the enemy's
left sufficed to turn his attention from our working par-
ties on his right, and during, the night of the 16th, two
nine-pounders and a carrona'de, on ship-cartiages, were
placed on the battery, the hut that masked it pulled
down, and it opened in the morning. Its fire was soon
decisive on the gateway, which having been their last
thoroughfare, was not so strongly embanked as the
others. Having prepared some seamen with axes and
ropes. to accompany the column, I ordered it forward:
it moved rapidly to its point, headed by Major Thorn-
hill's Company of his Majesty's 13th ; a few moments
sufficed to complete the destruction of the wounded
spars, and we were speedily in the stockade, followed
by the reserve, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hampton of
the 20,11 Native Infantry. The Burmese Chief in com-
mand was killed near the point of attack : they aban-
doned their interior defences (a trench and breastwork),
and fled through their rear gate, leaving a great num-
ber killed,
ConsiJering that throughout these little operations
our investment was very close, and the enemy's fire kept
up without any intermission, 1 am happy to say that our
loss has been singularly small.
Where all evinced not only ready obedience but the
utmost zeal, it would be difficult to remark upon indi-
vidual claims to notice, but my thanks are due to Lieut.-
Colonel Hampton, commanding the detachment of the
%Rh Native Infantry, and to Brevet-Major Thornhill,
of his Majesty's 13th, for die manner in which they and
their officers and men fulfilled their duties; the latter
officer was wounded by a spear while leading his men
into the stockade. lam also much indebted to Lieut.
,Matins, of the 13th, (Brigade-Major) for the active and
valuable assistance he afforded me throughout.
I must do myself the pleasure to acknowledge the
cordial co-operation that I received from Capt.Mirchell,
of his Majesty's ship Slaney, who accompanied me at
the disembarkation, and to whose readiness in affording
me every assistance his ship could supply, the service
was importantly indebted ; and the exertions of his
seamen, under the immeJiate command of Lieutenant
Matthews, in getting the guns landed acd assisting in the
battery, contributed essentially to accelerate the result.
On the 19th, one of our reconnoitring parties, under
Captain Aiken, of his Majesty's 13th, succeeded in cap.
turing tire Rajah, who was concealed with some of his
followers in the jungle, a few miles in the interior. It
aopears that of 600 Burmese, who about a month pre-
vim to an attack were sent over to assist in the defence
of the island, little more than 300 survived the contest
unhurt; and the Chedubans, whom they had mustered
to assist in the defence of the stockade, have also suf-
fered considerably. The surviving Burmese passed over
to the main land.
Having made such arrangements regarding the islend
as circumstances admitted, 1 re-embarked the European
part of my force in conformity with your orders, and
sailed with the ships Ernaad and Anna Robertson on the
3d of the present month, leaving Lieutenant-Colonel
Hampton with his detachment of the 20th Native In-
fantry, and his Majesty's ship Blaney, in possession, and
on the most friendly understanding with the inhabitants.
On the Gth we lost sight of the islands ; on the 9th we
made Negrais, with the intention of visiting and report-
ing to you the situation of the detachment you had
ordered there ; but the weather becoming so threatening
as to render it unadvisable to risk ships in such a situa-
tion, I stood on for this place, and anchored off the bar
of the river this day.
I enclose returns of our killed and wounded, and am
happy to add that most of the latter are doing well.—
I have, acc.
(Signed) M. MTBEAGH, Brig.-Gen.
List of Officers, Seamen, and Marines, belonging to his Majesty's
ship Stoney, CRADLES MITCHELL, Esq. Commander, who IWO
ICosais or WOUNDND at the reduction of the island of Cheduba.
JobsTarr, corp. mar. killed; John Thompson, quarter-master,
wounded dangerously; Louis Paget, able, wounded dangerously
16116,`.

(since dead); Batting Matbews* 1411.leuteltunt, sligbdr; hikes
Marling, boatswain, slightly; Edward Chamberlain, • ilptain's
!reward, Wittily. (Signed) C. U ITC H EL L,
His Stalesty's.sbip Slaney, in Cheduba Roads,
May 28, 1824.
killed, 1 :turista ; wounded, 1 Lieutenant and 4.seatnen.
Osmosis, Mar 18, 1824:

Remus of Kitten and WOUNDED of the Force under the command
of Brigadier bliCazatni, C.B. from the 14th to the 17th of May,
1824, both days inclusive.
Honourable Company's Artillery.—Wounded, 1 gunner ; 1 gun
lascar.—Total, 2.
His Majesty's 13th Light Infantry.—Killed, 1 rank and file;
wounded, 1 Brevet-Major, 1 Ensign; 1 serjeant ; 1 bugler ;16 rank
and file.—Total killed 1 ' • wounded 20.
2d Battalion 20th Regiment Native Infantry.—Killed,l rank and
file; wounded, 1 Lieutenant, 1 havildar, 6 rank and file.—Total,
killed 1; wounded 8.
Followers.—Wounded, 6 lasears.—Total, 6.
Grand Total—Killed, 2 ; wounded, 36.
(Signed) G. W. Id ALI NS, Major of Brigade.
Pastes or OTYMPERS WOUNDED.
His Majesty's 13th Light Infantry—Brevet Major Thornhill,
slightly.
Ditto ditto--Ensign Kershaw, slightly.
2d Battalion 20th Regiment Native Infantry—Lieutenant and
Acting Adjutant M.rgrave, severely.
RETIERN OF ARMS AND ORDNANCE TAKEN IN THE 01113 IT'S WORK AT
CHEDUJIA, WAY 17, 1824.
5 European six pounder guns ; 30 smaller guns, and swivels of
various calibre; 40 European muskets, and a few matchlocks;
12,525 leaden balls of various sizes; 200 six pound shot; a few
hand grenades • 1,080 European
(SiEned) G. W. M A GINS, Major of Brigade.
By command of the Governor-General in Council,
GEORGE SWINTON, Secretary to Government.
The following is an extract of a letter, dated AlAdras,
July SO:
" As soon as the rains are over, and the Bengal troops collected
at Chittagong, it is said that the whole force, about 20,000 men,'
under Sir Edward Paget, will move on the Burmese capital, Um-
merapoora. The troops at Rangoon, who are at least 10,000 strong.,
are to cooperate by sailing up the Irrawaddy River. We have four
brigades of Madras troops at Rangoon wider Brigadier-Gen. W.
fill'Bean, Commanding the 54th Regiment ; the 41st and 89th,
King's; our Ist European regiment; the 7th, 9th, loth, 12th, 16th,
18th, 43d,-and 34th Light Infantry native regiments, together with
a large detachment of artillery and pioneers. You will see the of-
ficial accounts of what has been going on in that quarter of late
but nothing decisive has yet taken place, owing to the continued
rains. The enemy have had a lesson they cannot soon forget at the
several attacks at their stockades, wbcre they have uniformly gaffes ed
severely. They appear to be a brave race of people, and were they
disciplined in a more complete manner, would give us some hard
work. As it is, we must expect a few more broken heads before
the war is over. It would seem that the Burmese have hitherto
been totally ignorant of the Briti'h power; for his' golden-footed '
Majesty, on receiving the accounts of the fall of Rangoon, actually
sent orders to his several Commanders to fight the English sword
to sword, teeth to teeth, and to drive them into the sea. "