Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-06-12
OREIGN.

THE BURMESE WAR.-We should be happy to
lay before our readers more full and satisfactory
account of the Burmese War than our limits will per-
NIT An abridged history of it was given in the
Quarterly Review principally founded on the nara
tive of n ajor Snodgrass. The Burmese are bold,
athletic, temperate race of men; and the charac-
ter they exhibited during this lamentable and des-
tructiy contest, eXcites the admiration and sympa-
thy of the reader
The British government in India have been charg-
ed with embarking in the Burmese war with unne-
cessary precipitation-they attempt to justify them
selves by representing it as entirely unavoidable.
Bengal was threatened by three confede rated enc
mics Runject Singh on the north west, the Bur-
mans, on the east, and the Usurper of Bhartpore in
the centre. The Durmans it is sad were prepar-
ing for the immediate invasion of Calcutta !; and
nothing but prompt measures could prevent gen.
eral scene Of bloodshcd. The Burmans were also
proved, it is declared to have engaged the princes
of India in their designs and Mana Bandoola mar
ched into Arracan with golden letters, Intended to
bind the Governor General India.
5000 or 5000 men were despatched, under the
command of Gen. Campbell, to proceed up the Ran
COON river, in the midst of their country. The ar
ray was embarked in transport vessels, conveyed by
the ships Liffey and Larne and on the 18th May
1924, reached the town of kangoon The inhabit
ants at the order of the governor, had fled into the
Jungle so that after little resistance from the gar
rison in the batteries the British entered the deser
| ted town. As in Napoleon's campangn in Russia
every thing was removed or destroyed which might
have served for food clothing to the invaders; 81
that they found only empty huts standing in tn
midst of a country of extensive swamps and ric
| fields Not canoe was to be found and the coun
try appeared to have been laid waste in every di
rection. The Importance of Rangoon had been ex
Itremely overrated--it was poor, miserable, and fiji
THY. The neighbouring jungles we're impossible
and within their shades the Burmese army formed
an invisible but efficient Gordon of watchful troop
|around the British army.
They at length began to erect sockades, lin whic
they manifest superior skill and Judgment within lit
tile more than pistol shot of their lines; four Eng
lsh companies, with 400 sepoys, and two field piece
Idrove them back and at the distance of five mile
had sharp but successful action with them. The
| afterwards took Kemmennine--a strong post on
neighbouring hill! but the enemy seemed more tina
ever resolved on resistance. Sc Not an inhabitar
4 returned to his home," and none but soldiers wer
to be found. The great Pagoda 1888 feet in heigh
marked the centre of the British position and tn
: was resoIutely but unsuccessfuly attacked by tn
Burmans, who soon afterwards found it necessar
to evacuate that part of the country. About TO,
IS Thousand men formed the little army which marcl
ed across the immense plains that lie between tn
place and the capital and the description OF the
enterprise and success reminds the reader, in SON
r, respects, of the Spanish army in Mexico und
"a Cortez.
I'd Some very interesting particulars given in Il
n narrative, of the boldness and ntrepdty of the Blu
re mans in defending themselves by land and waite
" They fought with desperation when attacked in the
&c stockades; and they made use fire ships OF rat
er RATS built of osiers willow, set on fire and CT
re culated by their pliancy to embrace the Engli
H. ships in the river which were preserved only by Il
". greatest watchfulness and care.-N. Y. ID. Adu