Alexander Cranley (midshipman), who had charge of the gun-boats on this occasion, “were as highly satisfactory” to Captain Marryat “as creditable to themselves.”
In his official report of this affair, Sir Archibald Campbell says, – “I cannot do adequate Justice to the sense I entertain of the ability and readiness with which I find myself at all times supported by Captain Marryat and the officers and crew of the ship under his command: nor ought I to omit mentioning, that the officers and crew of the transport ship Moira are volunteers on every occasion when the enemy is likely to be met with.”
Major Snodgrass makes a brief allusion to the capture of the stockades, upon the Dalla creek; but be is again silent respecting the navy.
On the 4th September, the Sophie returned to Rangoon, with provisions and a few volunteer seamen. Captain Ryves reported the loss of seven men, who had died of cholera morbus, and that he had been obliged to give his sloop a thorough caulking, in consequence of the severe weather she had encountered when proceeding to Calcutta. About this time, the gig of the Larne found floating the remains of an English sailor, whom the Burmese had first tortured to death, and then sawed in halves.
The captured stockades now became the site of constant warfare, the Burmese proving peculiarly tenacious of any passage being opened up the creek leading to Thontai, (the capital of Dalla, and the retreat of the Rangoon people). The gun-vessels, row-boats, and soldiers left in defence of these works, were each succeeding night assailed with musketry from the surrounding jungle, and the officers and men of the navy were constantly in their boats, watching, grappling, and towing away fire-rafts.
On the 5th September, at midnight, a straggling fire was again heard in the direction of the Dalla stockade, and shortly afterwards a rocket was thrown up, the signal previously arranged with the detachment, in case of immediate assistance being required. With the advantage of a strong flood tide, the boats of the Larne proceeded rapidly to the
