'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎259] (278/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
259
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The 4 Sesostris' and 4 Medusa' remained at Prome to assist in
the defence of the town, which the enemy made an attempt to
barn on the 12th of October, but were driven off after setting it
on fire in three or four places. The chief Burmese general at
Prome, a son of the famous Bundoola of the first war, surren
dered himself, and was placed temporarily on board the ' Sesos-
tris.' General Godwin pushed on reinforcements to Prome with
the intention of continuing the advance on Ava, and Captain
Loch, C.B., of H.M.S. 4 Winchester,' remained as senior naval
officer on the Irrawaddy. In November some sharp fighting
took place at Prome, in which the officers and men of the
4 Sesostris' and 4 Medusa' bore a prominent part. On the 2nd
of that month. Captain Loch and Sir John Cheape, with eighty
men of the 18th Royal Irish, embarked at daylight on board the
4 Medusa,' for the purpose of reconnoitring the right bank of the
river from Padangmew to the White Pagoda, one mile and a
half below Prome. The 4 Medusa' steamed down the river, ac
companied by three boats of the 4 Winchester,' three of the
4 Sesostris,' and one of the 4 Medusa.'* The boats were anchored
about three hundred yards above the White Pagoda, while Cap
tain Loch proceeded to Pandangmew to communicate with the
commander of the steamer 4 Enterprise;' on returning again to
the White Pagoda he landed the General and his escort, and a
naval brigade of seventy-four officers and men.
Captain Loch says in his report:— 44 Sir John Cheape ordered
an advance, and immediately on our crowning the terrace be
neath the Pagoda, the enemy's skirmishers, who lined the jungle,
were discovered, evidently expecting that we should come on by
the lane beneath the Pagoda On their being driven in, a fire
was opened by them from the high ground inland, their stockade
being unoccupied. They were immediately driven from their
different posts with the utmost expedition, until we attained
our object; viz., a distinct view of the two stockades which they
are throwing up, and a knowledge of the country in the vicinity.
At this time the enemy were in possession of two commanding
positions between us and their stockade, which they were im
mediately driven out of. The heat was now so intense, and
three men having received strokes from the sun, I halted under
cover of the enemy's look-out houses for an hour. Having
# The following were the details of this force :— < Winchester's ' boats. Grig,
Commander F. Beauchamp Seymour (volunteer), Mr. Gregory, naval cadet, five
men, three marines ; barge, Lieutenant Hillyar, Mr. Round, mate, Assistant-
Surgeon Slade, fifteen men ; pinnace, Lieutenant Pearse, Mr. Bond, mate, thirteen
men. 4 Sesostris's' boats.—Pinnace, Lieutenant Lewis, Mr. Capel, midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. ,
Assistant-Surgeon Welsh, fourteen men, eleven artillerymen; 1st cutter, Lieu
tenant Windus, eleven men; 2nd cutter, Mr. Duval, mate, eleven men. ' Medusa's'
cutter, Mr. Harries, midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. , ten men, six artillerymen. The Commander
Seymour, above mentioned, is now Vice-Admiral Sir Beauchamp Seymour,
commanding the Channel Squadron, an officer noted at this time for his fire-
eating proclivities.
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