'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎242] (261/622)

242
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
By the evening of the 10th of April, the entire fleet was con
centrated, under the command of Kear-Admiral Austen, at a
point below the Hastings Sand, and it was resolved by the
Military and Naval Commanders-in-chief to proceed, on the fol
lowing morning, to the attack of Rangoon, the most important
city and chief port of the Burmese Empire. The following
was the part taken by the Indian Naval squadron in the attack
on its defences, which were considered impregnable by the
King of Ava and his generals.
On the morning of Sunday, the 11th of April, each ship
having two transports in tow (with the exception of the 'Ze-
nobia,' which vessel unfortunately grounded on the De Silva
Shoal, and was not in company), crossed the Hastings Sand,
and anchored a little below the stockades protecting Eangoon,
having cast off the transports wdien clear over the Hastings
shoal. At 9.30 a.m., almost immediately on anchoring, the
enemy opened fire, which was returned by the 'Ferooz,' 4 Sesos-
tris,' and 4 Moozuffer,' the 'Berenice' and 'Medusa' having
anchored some distance below. Within ten minutes of opening
fire the magazine of the principal stockade at King's Wharf,
was blown up by a shell from the squadron.* At ten o'clock,
* Admiral Austen writes to the Supreme Government:—
" Upon the East India Company's steamers, ' Ferooz,' 1 Moozuffer,' and 1 Sesos-
tris,' taking up their positions, fire was opened upon them from the stockades on
either side, which was returned with shot and shell. In the course of an hour an
explosion took place, the importance of which was only afterwards discovered. It
was that of a stockade mounting nine 18-pounder guns, well planted, and would
doubtless have done great mischief to our shipping, if not thus accidentally
silenced so early."
Lieutenant Laurie, of the Madras Artillery, author of the " History of the
Burmese War," says :—
"We beheld the 4 Ferooz,' under Commodore Lynch, moving on, evidently to
take up position opposite the stockades. With the animated crowd of soldiers on
her decks, she was a grand picture in motion. Next came the £ Sesostris.' At
length the Burmese, unable to stand this gradual augmentation of the steam
warriors in front of their position, fired at the frigates, and the operations began.
The ' Moozuffer i Ferooz,' and ' Sesostris,' also the 'Medusa' and ' Phlegethon —■
the two latter, from their drawing little water, approaching nearer and nearer the
coast — came severally into action. The fire from the vessels, Queen's and
Company's, was kept up with terrific effect against Dalla, on our left, and the
Rangoon defences on our right. At first, the enemy returned the fire with con
siderable dexterity and precision; but, shortly after the 'Fox'had come up,
and poured in her broadside, and the ' Serpent' had moved on to destroy, by
eleven o'clock the firing on our right almost ceased. However, the war-steamers
kept on thundering forth against the works on both sides of the river, utterly
destroying the stockades on the shore at Rangoon, and cannonading Dalla wi
decided effect. The large stockade, south-west of the Shoe Dagon, was set on
fire by a well-directed shell, which caused the explosion of a powder magazine.
.... The shot flew over the decks of the war-steamers; on board one, e
4 Sesostris,' Ensign Armstrong, of IT.M.'s 51st Regiment, was mortally woun e .
Several shots struck the vessels; the 'Moozuffer' was maimed a little, an e
4 Ferooz' had a part of her rigging shot away The fire of the enemy prove
fatal to many on board the shipping; but the casualties were by no mean
numerous on this day. These highly successful operations by both the Queeu
and the Hon. Company's Navy—the chief work, doubtless, of the 11th iavi g