'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎274] (293/622)

274
HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY,
bright moon, the British force made a circuitous march through
the woods on the enemy's right flank, emerging on his front at
half-past five a.m., when they discovered by his innumerable
fires that they were cooking the morning meal. A position
was now taken up half a mile on the Menghee's front, on the
road by which he would have to advance.
It was just sunrise when the enemy commenced their march
having been overheard by Captain Fytche, who had ridden
down close to their advanced column, rejoicing in the idea ol
cutting up Mungwa and his Dacoits, for whom they had mis
taken the British column, which was supposed to be still at
their former camping ground. Soon after, their advanced
guard, consisting of eight hundred well-armed Ava soldiers,
approached the British position, and, as the guns were partially
hidden from their view, and the small party, consisting of only
e igbty blue-jackets, were kneeling down and almost concealed
by the morning mist, they came on shouting and yelling to
within two hundred yards, when they opened a well-directed
fire of musketry, by which two seamen were wounded. By this
time, the enemy being within good range of the guns, Com
mander Rennie opened on the dense mass with grape and
canister, which effectually stopped their advance, and, on
receiving a second discharge, they broke and fled—a confused
rabble. Forty-eight dead bodies were found on the field, and
fifty prisoners were taken, including the Menghee's two sons.
The pursuit was continued till seven a.m., when a jungle was
reached, totally impenetrable to a European, and the force
halted for breakfast. The object of the Expedition having been
thus crowned with the most complete success,CommanderEennie
marched at ten, without a halt, to Lamena, which he reached at
seven the same evening, the men having marched between
thirty and thirty-four miles since one a.m., no mean exploit,
considering the state of the roads, and that they had to drag
the guns part of the time, for the bullock-drivers took the carts
to the rear directly the enemy came in sight, and did not return
until the force bivouacked for breakfast.
The following day, Commander Rennie left Lamena in the
boats at nine a.m., and, after a long pull, at seven p.m. reached
the 'Nemesis' at Nathaung-Goung, where, at the Deputy-
Commissioner's request, he remained the following day, and,
leaving on the 2nd of February, with the boats in tow of the
steam-vessel, arrived at Bassein at noon on the 3rd. During
the Expedition thus successfully concluded, six guns, one jingall,
and three hundred muskets were captured.*
* The following letter by Commander Rennie, gives farther details of this
remarkable achievement:—
"Bassein, February 4th.
<c When i last wrote you we were on the eve of departure for Bassein, where
we arrived on the 19th, and were immediately applied to by Fytche, the Deputy