Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/362

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NAVAL OPERATIONS IN AVA,

the same time, all of these were, by uncommon skill and exertion, towed off and rendered harmless[1].” The activity and zeal of Mr. Lindquist, commanding the row-boats stationed at Kemmendine, were very conspicuous on this occasion.

About the same period, Captain Henry Hardy, of the Teignmouth cruiser, then stationed just within the bar, and employed in examining a creek, to which Captain Marryat had directed his attention, destroyed eleven large country boats, some already loaded, and some loading with stone, for the purpose of blocking up the entrance of the river. The check sustained by the Burmese, on the 1st July, did not alter their plans, and they continued gathering strength in front of the lines and giving constant annoyance. It again, therefore, became necessary to repel them to a greater distance; and on the 8th, a column, about 1500 strong, under Brigadier-General Macbean, moved upon Kummeroot, a stockaded position about five miles from the Shwe-da-gon pagoda, whilst Sir Archibald Campbell embarked, with 800 men, for the attack of a fortified and commanding point of land, which not only obstructed the navigation of the river above Kemmendine, but afforded an excellent situation for the construction of fire-rafts, by the judicious employment of which, the enemy contemplated the destruction of our shipping. The result of these movements was thus reported by Sir A. Campbell, July 11, 1824:

“Having observed a disposition to re-cross part of their force to the Dalla side of the river, I determined, on the 8th instant, to make as general an attack as the very woody and lauadated state of the country would possibly admit of. For that purpose, I formed the force to be employed into two columns of attack; one proceeding by land, under the command of that excellent and indefatigable officer Brigadier-General Macbean, for the purpose of surrounding the enemy on the land side; 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 to constructed at to afford mu-
  1. Quarterly Review, xxxv, 516.