'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎243] (262/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
243
ELM.'s ship 4 Fox' passed up in tow and was quickly engaged,
and within a quarter of an hour the enemy's fire was silenced,
when the squadron ceased firing. At five p.m., Commodore
Lynch weighed and stood up the river, anchoring abreast of the
King's Wharf, and ahead of H.M.'s ship 6 Fox,' the Admiral
having previously taken and burnt the stockades on the right,
or Dalla, bank of the river. At 5.15 p.m., two stockades, just
above the Indian Naval squadron, opened fire, whereupon the
heavy guns of the steam frigates replied by a crushing fire of
shells, by which the magazine was blown up and the works
silenced.
At four a.m. on the following morning, H.M.'s 51st Regiment
was landed from the 4 Ferooz' and ' Sesostris,' and the 9th and
35th Madras Native Infantry from the 6 MoozutFer' and 6 Ze-
nobia,' which latter had joined during the night. Having
landed the troops, and obtained Admiral Austen's permission.
Commodore Lynch proceeded up the river with the 4 Sesostris,'
' Moozuffer,' and 4 Zenobia,' and, anchoring abreast the upper
stockade, landed parties from his ships, under Commander
Campbell, and burnt the stockades without opposition, the
enemy having evacuated them previously to the landing of the
party. Being now abreast the Great Pagoda and the line of
the principal stockade at the upper end of the open plain, these
three frigates commenced shelling with considerable effect, the
shells bursting over the Pagoda, until ordered to cease firing by
signal from the Admiral. Commodore Lambert, of the ' Fox,'
frigate, second in command, proceeded on board the 6 Ferooz,'
and desired Commodore Lynch to steam up to the assistance of
H.M.'s brig 4 Serpent' and the 6 Phlegethon' steamer, which had
attacked the stockade at Kemmendine, but found the enemy's
fire too much for them. Accordingly, the 'Ferooz' and 'Moo-
zuffer' weighed and stood up, and anchored at dark, ahead of
the 4 Serpent,' about three quarters of a mile below the Kem-
mendine stockade. On the following morning (the 13th of
April), flood-tide having made, the four ships dropped up in
company—the river being too narrow to allow a ship to swing
at anchor—abreast the stockade, upon which they opened fire;
this not being returned. Commodore Lynch landed a party
from the vessels and burnt the stockade, which was found
to have been evacuated. The 'Ferooz' and 'Moozuffer'
now rejoined the Admiral off Rangoon, anchoring in the
same position as on the previous day, abreast the great Pagoda,
which the squadron shelled during the night, by orders of the
Admiral. At two in the morning the squadron ceased firing,
to allow the advance of the troops, then near the stockade.
fallen to tlie latter—cleared tlie coast for nearly a mile, and made a splendid
andmg-place for the troops, who were now eager to commence land operations on
the lollowing morning. The Navj had acted as a pioneer of true civilisation."
R