East Indies.
The Times, 1824-12-28T00:00:00

(From the CalcWhfi G.overuiment Gazetle of July 31.) Trti. EmtDEnmic.._The epidemic fever which we adverted to latelv :ontinues to prevail throughout Calcutta, and it is supposed that already about three fourths of the population, bothi European and Native, have been affected by it. T he disease is attende d with intense headachle. violent pains In the limbs, and red inflammatory patches all over the body. li'hen these symptoms, which generally East thrce or four (days, are removedl. extreme languor and debility remain for some tLile. W hole famnilie. are sufferiig under the comIdlint togetlier, and in umany houses scarcely a servant is lelt to wait u pon the sick. F'ortunately, no fatal cases have occurred, at least not ore has conme within our knowicoge. Nearly three-t!ttrths of otir press estabishmtent are laid tip withi the same dimease, anid a few lays ago, in one public office in town, only three assistants out of torty-ive, were able to attend to their duty. The Hien. Company'sshipResearch, withi the pilot-vessels Cedlia, Torcli Planet, and llenr.l .lfer Iot left the Chiittagong river yester- day for Cheduba, having on boarl three comnpanies of the 2d batal- ]ion, 20th; titly European artillervnen, two 6-pounders, and twvo 1-owil:ter, utnder the command of Lieutenant K. Camipbell, of thle 431 regiment Native Infantry. It is runiourel that an aitack is meditated on the island by our golden-rootecd friends: antl it in not very improbable that they will make the attemtpt, considering the tew troops vre have there. Lieutenant Hothani of our division of artillery proceeds in charge of thc gun. Captain Webb. of the artillery, and Lieutenant ,rowzn, of fis Majesty's 44til regimtent, procced in the vessels to Chetitiba, on sick certificate, and ol thc arrival of the vessels at the islanl\, they K? thence to Calcutta in the Cecilia, which has bcen or- *lered to that place after landing the troops. The lHetnry Merton and cne of the other pilot-vessels remain at Cheduba, and the Ife- searca t7ili turn to Chittagong,surveying the coast on her trilp back." ' eFICIAL. The following copy of a despatch receiYed from Brigadier Gene. .al Sir Archibald Campbell, K.U.B. and K.C.T.S. Coimrnanding the British Forces at Ratsgoon, is published for general Informa- twon TO GEORGE SWINTSGN, ESQ. SECRETARY TO GOVERN. MtENT, &C., FORT WIL5.tAM. Sir,-Sincc I had the honour of addressing you on the 16th ultimo, wre kave had several partial affairs with the enemy. except in one Nolitary 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 rend of last month it was stated to mrre by some prisoners of war, and cotrrborated by a few Rangoon people who had escaped from the jungle, that the Bumiese Chief had received positive orders from Court to make a general attack upon our line and drive us atonce out of the country. Every movement of the cuemy plainlv indicated that something was intended; large bodies of troops were for two socetssive days seen crossing the river above Kemendine from the )allah to the Rangoon aide, and I felt the more inclined to give cred It to the report from being well aware that liad any such order beer received by the Burman %3eneral, certain disgrace or even deca- ipitalion would be the inevitable consequence of his disobeying it. O z r re mzorning of Ist instant, every rdoubt on the subject was re- m-loved. Thre column3of thc enemy,estimated at 1,000 men each, wenr seen crossing the front of our position moving towards our right: a nd the jungle ih front of the Great Dlagon Pagoda and Alongthe who)eextentofourlino to the left, was occupied by a3arge foro-; but on this slde,from the nature of the ground it was impossi. ble to ascertain tither the disposition or strength of the enemy. The colhunis moving on our right son came in contact with the piquets of the 7th and 22il regiments of Madras Native Itifantry, whichi re. ceived the attack with the greatest steadiiess, none of then] vielding one inch of ground. The enemy theni penetrated in conelderable force betwveen two of our piiquets and took post on a hill about 406 yartds from our pnitiotn, occupying an old pagoda and some houses in fPont, from which they comroenced a feeble and harmless lire from some jingals and swivels. I instantly repaired to the point of attack withi a gun and a horwitzer from the Bengal Artillery, and three com- panies of Native Infantry, viz. one company of the 7thi and two of i2d Regitment, the whole under the comnmand of C(aptain Jones of the latter corps. After a short but well-directed fire from the artil- lery, r ordered Captain Jones to advance with his three companies and drive doe enemy fro his post at the point of the bayonet ; and 1 hald rhc rathifacbl on 'of seeing mny orders carried into effect in the enwt cool and gallant style, the enemy flying in every direction to- wvards their favourite haunt and only plitce of safety, the jungle. fDuring the firing on onr right, parties of the enemy felt the piquets ulottg out line to the left, but never appeared in anv force, and re- tired on the first fire from our advanced posts. T1hus entled the niiuhty attauk that was to have driven us into the sea: defeated with the greatest case by three weak compazies of sepoys antI two pieces of artillery, although such an enemy might be well appalled at the appearance of the r4hole British litie under armns. I f..m some prsonera wrho were taken, I amn Informed that 12,000 men were-marched to the attack: the left columns were ordered to enpage with vlgour, and as sooni as they had succeeded in penetrating oui line, theatack wasthen totave become general. Such were the ardera igsued, but nothing more contemptible than the conduct of the eiaeniy on that day was ever witnessed. They paid for their fulfy, leaving JIast N0 men dead on tfhe field. We had not one man either hillAi or wounded. *5efotre dayligfit on the follo-wiing morning, sonme hundred men of the Dallah force entered the town of Dallah, firinvy in the direction of our pst. Captain 1sack of the 8thi Madras Native Infantry, cornmanding, putshed forward with a few men, and was, I regret to say, unfortunately shot, the l;'-"reese mutilating his body with tle mcat sav'oge brutality during the few minutes it remained in their power. " While the enemy abstained from converting their town to the purpose of annoying us, 1 also respected anti afforded it every protec. tion,alzhough uninhabiced by one individual ;but wlhen they thought Vroper tt make it a mighty scene of savage warfare, I rased it to the ground. " Numerous reinforcemnents daily joined the enemy's arny in our front,-a thing mnuci to be deplred,as tending to increase the distress and disconitent already prevailing In their lines; and having observed a dispnsition to recross part of their force to the Dallah aide of the river, I deternmined on the 8th instant to make as general an'attack as the very woody and inundated state of the cotntry would pOssi- bly admit af. For that purpose I formedi the force to be employ- ed Into two columns of attack,one proceeding by laud under thecom- mand of that excellent and indefatigable efficer Brigadier-Geeneral A'Bean, fbr the purpose of surrounding the enemy on the land- side, while 1 with the other proceeded by water to attack their stock- aded position, along the banks of the river in front. 'To this post the enemy appeared to attach the greatest imnportaore, and the stockades were so constructed as to afford a mutual support,presentlng difficul- ties apparently not to be overcome without a great sacritice of lives. I therefore resolved to try the effect of shelling, and consulted with Captain Afarryat upon the employment of such armed vessels as he might select to breach, in the event of our mortar practice nTot suc. ceeding. The shells were thrown at too great a distance to produce the desired efeect, and the swampy state of the country would not ad- mitof any advance. The armed vesselP, viz., the )aekllite, trans- port (lately in flis Mlajest ss service), the Honourable Company's cruisers, Teignanoath an(d Bhetis, commlanded by Captain Hardy and Lieutenant Green, and the Penaing Government vaclt, the Jes- sie, Captain Pointon, the whole under thie command of Lieutenant IFrazer, of Hlis Majesty's ShipLan-te, now' took their stations accord- ing to a dispoiinoll made by Captain Alarryat, and opened a fire which soon silenced that of 14 pieces of artillery, swivels, and mus- ketry 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 ofttie 3d, 10th, and 17th Native Inf'antry com. manded by Alajor Valiab of thle latter corps, ordered to lead the at- tack andi supported by lieutenant.Colonel Godwin, with 260 men of iAis jAlajesty's 41st Xegiment, and one company from the Honour- able Company's Dladras Etropean regiment. The assault was made in the best order and handsomest style; Mlajor Wahiab, wihh the Native Infantry, landied and immediately attaclked the breach, w7hile Lieutenant-Colonel Godwin almost at thie same ixstant, pushed ashore a little higher up, and entered the wozk by escatade; the enemiiy kept up a sharp, but ill-directed fire while the troops were landing, but as usual, fled on our making a lodgment In the place. I now ordered Colonel Godwin to re-embark witll the detachment of- thie 41st regitnent and attack the second stockade, which was imne' diately carried In the same style. Tbe third stockade was eVacnated by the enemy. "The cool and gallant conduct of both Eilropean and native troops on this occasion was to me a most gratifying sight; To the' oflicert and msen of the breftching vessels every praise is duei and I muchl regret that severe indisposition prevented Captain M1arryat' from being present to wituess the result of hits arrangements. "The inundated state of the country did not admit of any com. munication withi Brigadier.Generalh Ml'Bears from the shi ppingi n'a did I know tbe result of the operations of hlis coluinn until l returiedi to Rangoor in the evening. Nothing could be miore brilliant an'd successful. lletook by assault seven strong stockades, ih' the mbs rapid succession, throwing the enlemy into the utmost consternaitdn ; and he had also the-good fortune to fall bi with a large '1ody 'flying from a sitockadle attacked by the shipping, of wlhom a great number were killed. The Brlgadier-Generml assures sie the ardoitr of his' co]umn was Irresistible, and speaks highly of the able alti he received' fronm Brigadier N 'Creagh. He also reports most favourably upon thejudiciout and gallatit style in which l;5ajors 3ale and Frith o" lis Majesty's 13th and 38th regimn&t4, led. the troops under tfiei- respective command. " Ten stockades were thus taken from the enemy in one day, and ewardls of 800 of' his best troops were left dead on the ground pieces of artillery, 40 swivels, and 3100 muskets were also cap- Iured,-a loss ot no small Importance, where fire arma are so scarce. Three of tie enenmy's chiefs, whose names are not yet known, were found amnong the teaLtL The chief destruction of the enemy was by the land colunln. " Our loss has been comparatively small-4 rank and file killed; I captain alid 38 rankt and file wounded. " To Brigadier (4eneral AM'Bean my particular thanks are due upon this as on all oocasions.To Lfeutenant-Colonel Tidy and laj'or JaCkson, Deputv Adjutant anti Quarter-Master-Generals, and to my persunal staff, lfetit very much indebted for their indefatigable exertions in carrying on the duties of the service occasionally under every disadvantage; anti I also beg leave to brinig to the notice of the Suprenie Governmenit the name of Lieutenant-Colonel Snor, Deputy Adjutant General to the Madras Division, whose ability, zeal, antI activity, I have often had occasion to remark. I cannot conclude without again adverting to the high feeling which animates every corps and every soldier under my command. Their patience, in frequently u'sdergoing the greatest fatigue, mtarch- ing ever a country almost wholly under water, merits every praise; I and their intrepidity and valour whenever the enemy can be tbund, cannot be sufliciensly extolled. I have, &c. (Signed) A. CAMIPBELL, Brigadier-General. Head-Quarters, Rangoon, July 11, lB24. General Return of Killet, Wounded, and Missing, of the Troops coin posing the Expedition under the command of Brigadier.Ge- nera! Sir Archibald Campbell, K. C. B., serving against the do. minions of the King of' Ava, from the 16th of June to the 12th of July, 1824. Ilead-quarters, Rangoon, Jthy 12, 1824. 21st June-lladras Esropean Regiment-A-Youlrded, two rank and file. 24th June-2d Battalion 10th Native Infantry-Killed, I Snbadar. 1st July-His hMnjesty's 13th Light Infantry-Woundled, 2 rank and file. His Muajesty'il 38tb Foot-_Vounded, I sergeant, an.d 2 rank and file; I rank and file missing. 1st Battalion 22d1 Native In- tan try.-..wounded, I rank and file. 3d July-t3is Manjesty's 41st Foot-Woutnded, I sergre-nt and 3 rank and file. 2d Battalion 8th Native Infantry-Killed, 1 captatin Wounded, I rank and file. 1st Battalion 9th Native Infanety- WVountied, 2 rank and file. 5th J uly-Engineer's Department-Killed I rank and file. His Alajesty's 13th Light Infantry-Wounded, I captain, 1 sergeant, and 1 rank and file; killed, I ran;k and file. Ilia Aiajeaty's 89th ReFitnent-Killed, I rank a.nd file, wounded, 2 rank and file. .MllarasqEurqpcan Regiment-Killed I rank and file; wounded, 2 rank file. let Battalioni Pioncern.-Wounded, 4 rank and rile. 8th July-Hlis Alajesty's 13th Light Infantry-Wounded, I cap- tain, 2 corporals, 5, rank and file, and I lLascar killed, 2 sergeants. Ills Majesty's 30th Foot-Killed, 2 rank anid file; wvounded I sier- geaut. I corporal, and 13 rank and file. I-Xis AMJesty's 41s t'oot.- Wounded, 5 rank andfile. kii-lie Xajesty's9thzRegiment_-Woning- eli, 3 rank file. Ist Battalion 7th NativeIfs&nfry-.Wounded, I rank and file. let Battalion Pioneers-Wounded, 2 rank and file. Total-Killed, I captain, I subadar, sergeant, and 6 rank and tile; wouniled, 2 captains, 4 sergeants, 3 corporals, 66 rank and file, and I Laticar; missing, I rank and file. 2t Battalion 8th Native Infantry-Name of officer killed, Cap- tamn C. 1I. lhaack. Jis Mlajesty's 13th Light Iafantry-Narmes of ofiicers wounded, lBrevet Captain Knox Barratt, severely, arm amputated ; and Cap- tain Johinson, severely and dangerousi'. (Signed) F. S. TIDY, Lieut..Col. D.A.G. By command of the (overnor-GeReral in Council, GEORGE SIVINTON, Secretary to Government. RAST IArDIRS.