“His Lordship in Council accordingly desires, that you will be pleased to express to Lieutenant-Colonel Godwin the very high sense which Government entertain of his conduct on this occasion. You will also be pleased to convey to Lieutenants Keete and Bazely, of H.M. sloops Arachne and Sophie, the acknowledgments of the Governor-General in Council for the zealous and gallant exertions of themselves and the British seamen under their command.”
The capture of Martaban, “long considered as a place of some note, both in a political and commercial point of view, as the capital and mart of an extensive province, but more especially as a frontier fortress and depôt of military stores, where the Burmese armies were usually assembled in their frequent wars with the Siamese,” is thus briefly related by Major Snodgrass:
“Owing to light and contrary winds, the expedition did not reach its destination so soon as was expected; and instead of taking the enemy by surprise, they found him fully aware of their approach, and that every preparation had been made for their reception. The governor, Maha Oudinah, a bold and resolute chief, had fortified with skill and labour every commanding eminence about the town, and its distance from the coast, nearly 20 miles, offered many serious obstacles to the approach of our troops. By land, difficult forests, marshes, and extensive plains of rice-grounds, still covered with the inundations of the monsoon, prevented a movement from the coast in that way; while the intricate navigation of a shallow, winding river, presented many impediments to an approach by water. The latter course, however, was at once resolved on, and by toil and perseverance, the vessels were finally anchored nearly a-breast of the town; and the governor evincing no disposition to come to terms, an assault took place, when the enemy was driven with severe loss from every part of his defences.” The destruction of the war-boats, and Lieutenant Keele’s subsequent services, have not been considered worthy the Major’s notice.
After arranging matters at Martaban, Lieutenant-Colonel Godwin despatched a party against Yeh, situated to the eastward, which fell without resistance. By the capture of these places, the previous reduction of Mergui and Tavoy, and the voluntary submission of the whole coast of Tenasserim, the British obtained possession of very large stores of grain, ammunition, and ordnance, together with numerous boats fit for the conveyance of troops, and the command of
