Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-17
THE BURMESE WAR.

nent OF the British armies IN the East is OF deep
interest to the people of the United States,
whether it tend to the consolidation or extension
of British power and possession, or whether it
leads, as in the case of China, to open Eastern
ports to the world. So far we have kept our
friends well advised of the progress of hostities
against the Burmese empire on the part of Grea
Britain, deriving, however, much more of the in
formation laid before them from American than
from English sources, the American missionaries
there having written very ineligible and interest
ing accounts, which we have published at length.
We now give, with abridginent, the English &C
count of the taking Of Martaban and Rangoon:
~. ~ Com. advertiser.
From the Calcutta Morning Chronicle, April a.
Martaban was taken on the 5th by the
Moumen brigade, commanded by Lieut.. Colonel
Reynolds, c. b., of the 18th foot, and consisting
of the right wing of that regiment, the right
wing of Her Majesty's 80th, the Madras regiments
quarted at Moulmein, and the artillery. The cap
ture work of comparative facility, the troops
having been landed under protecting fire from
the ships, led by Her Majesty's ship Rather and
advancing rapidly, in conjunction with the artile-
ry, upon the works of the enemy. The whole
operations lasted only four or five hours.
After its capture the troops re-embarked, and
proceeded to the Rangoon river where they and
the Madras troops joined the Bengal force, and the
operations against Rangoon commenced. On
Easter Sunday, the 18th, the entire squadron pro-
ceeded up the river, not intending, however, to
commence operations on that day. but the steam
ers towing the transports up having taken them
higher up than was intended they came within
the range of the river batteries Of the Burmese,
which Immediately opened upon them, and re-
ply was inevitable
A terrific cannonade was then commenced on
both sides, the steamers opening their broadsdes
the river face Of the Burmese works on both
banks OF the river, and entirely demolished them,
both at Rangoon and Dalla Her Majesty's ship
Serpent then proceeded up to Kemmendine upon
the works at which place she opened fire, but the
return was SO severe and the enemy's guns so
well served, that the brig obliged to haul off,
and send down the river for aid, when two war
steamers were sent to her assistance. With these
the Kemmendne batteries were slenced, and
a landing having been effected, the enemy de-
serted the works, which were occupied by
sailors and marines from the ships, and European
troops
During the cannonade and sh cling on Sunday,
besides the destruction of the Burmese works on
the river face, the enemy suffered great loss by
the explosion of their powder magazine, shell
from one of our guns falling it, and causing it
to blow up with terrific sound. On Monday,
the 10th, the land operations commenced, the
troops effecting their debarkation under the pro-
lection of the ships guns, all the boats of the
squadron being employed in effecting the landing.
Here the brunt of the work commenced, as it was
necessary, soon after landing to attack and cap
ture strong stockade short distance in shore,
where the enemy fought most CALAMITY and caused
considerable loss to our force.
On Tuesday the 18th, there was pause, which
was occasioned by the unavoidable delay in land
ing the heavy guns from the ships, the last Of
which did not arrive in the camp, if we may SO
call the bvouac of the troops, till midnight on the
18th. On the 14th, in the morning, the entire
force broke ground, and advanced toward the,
great pagoda stockade, throwing out skirmishers
the Burmese also fighting well in their fashion,
and knocking over many of our men.
Nothing, however, could check the advance of
our soldiers, seconded by tremendous fire of ar
tiery, and they advanced rapidly but steadily to-
ward the stockade, taking some minor ones in
their forward movement. At length, toward noon,
it was resolved to deliver the general assault,
which was made by all arms with the greatest
spirit and intrepidity, on the Northeast angle of
the Pagoda hill and stockade, when the enemy
gave way and reiterated at all points. They never
expected that the assault would have been made
at this point, fora gate was found open there,
through which our soldiers rushed and instantly
occupied the place, when all the fighting was con-
cluded by 2 O'Clock in the afternoon.
The official accounts from the various officers
engaged confirmed the entire accuracy ofthe above
summary of the proceedings. The following re-
marks from the London Times will throw some
additional light upon the condition of affairs:
Two distinct operations, each successfully con-
Quoted, and each resulting in the capture of an
important town, are reported in the eorrespon-
6anco haf The first of tbasa 1c tho
upon Martaban. This place, which in the last
war not attacked until the sixth month of hos
tties, was destined the present occasion to
furnish the Opening scene OF the campaign. 1t is
a town Of considerable strength and note, being
frontier station ofthe Burmese, from which in form
Ell times they invaded the territories of Siam, and
where in latter days they have been brought into
immediate contact with ourselves.
So near, indeed, is own garrison of Mou-
nein, that it was feared the Burmese would an
tcipate an attack, and advance upon US in force
from Martaban before due preparations could be
made to receive them. Accordingly, the earliest
measures of the Indian Government were directed
to the reinforcement of Ioulmein, and as it was
known that large numbers of Burmese troops had
been poured iato Martaban, it was thought not
unlikely that the garrisons of the two places
mis- ht into collision before the arrival of the
expedition in the waters of Rangoon.
These considerations probably suggested the
operation which was executed with such COM
plete success. The Madras division of the fotil-
la anchored off Moumein on the 5th of April,
took the garrison on board, and conveyed them in
a few hours to Martaban. Next morning the
troops We're landed and led to the ASSAULT be-
fore noon the whole place was in our possession,
and the detachment returned to Moulmein the
same evening to prepare for the movement on Ran
COON.
The junction of the Aloulmein combatants with
the Bengal division effected without difficult
ty at the appointed rendezvous, and the combined
forces proceeded up the river in pursuance of the
plans devised. Alter the waterside defences of
the Burmese had been demolished by the fire of
the shipping, the troops were landed, and as soon
as the heavy artillery could be brought up, the
general assault was made
In about the same time that had been expend-
ed on the capture of Martaban, Rangoon was in