into the trenches; many Burmese were slain in the short conflict that ensued; they were driven, at the point of the bayonet, into the jungle in their rear; and several guns, with many small arms, taken. In this affair, the British had two killed, and several, including five of the naval detachment, wounded. Lieutenant Dobson having landed immediately after the troops, was one of the first to enter the enemy’s works.
In a general order, issued at Rangoon, on the 12th December, Sir Archibald Campbell again “acknowledges his highest obligations to Captain Chads,” and “requests that he will communicate to Captain Ryves, who so effectually supported the post of Kemmendine, his warmest thanks.” The passage concludes thus: “the conduct of both officers and men during the whole affair was characteristic of the British navy! What can be said more to their Honour?”
On the evening of the 12th, a deserter from the enemy informed Sir Archibald Campbell, that Maha Bandoola had re-collected his beaten troops, and received considerable reinforcements on his retreat; which latter circumstance had induced the chiefs (to whom he had for the present resigned his command) to determine on one more great effort to retrieve their disgrace. For this purpose, it afterwards appeared, they succeeded in forming a force amounting to between twenty and twenty-five thousand men; with which they returned to Kokeen, distant four miles from the Shwe-da-gon pagoda, and immediately commenced intrenching and stockading with a judgment, in point of position, such as would do credit to the best instructed engineers of the most civilized and warlike nations. The deserter also declared it to be their intention to attack the British lines on the morning of the 14th (pronounced a fortunate day by their soothsayers), determined to sacrifice their lives at the dearest rate, as they had nothing else to expect than to do so ignominiously, by returning to the presence of their monarch, disgraced and defeated as they had been. This information was too circumstantially given to be disregarded, and Sir Archibald
