'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎277] (296/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
277
east of Pantaniio, a strong force proceeded to attack him, and
the result was the most sanguinary disaster of the war. This
Expedition, consisting of one hundred and forty-three seamen,
sixty-two marines, and twenty officers, from H.M.'s ships
6 Winchester,' 'Fox,' and 4 Sphinx,' and three hundred men of
the 67th Bengal Native Infantry, under Major Minchin. with
two 3-pounder field guns from the 4 Phlegethon,' the whole
under the command of Captain Loch, C.B., of the 4 Winchester,'
left Donabew on the 3rd of February, 1853, and, on the follow
ing morning, found themselves opposite the strong entrenched
position occupied by Mya-toon. Captain Loch was an enter
prising and very gallant officer, but deficient in judgment and
totally unfitted for independent command on shore. Despising
his enemy, he neglected the ordinary precaution of employing
scouts, and advance and flanking parties, to apprise him of the
position of the enemy in the thick jungle through which he
had to penetrate; and thus it happened that the first intimation
he had of their proximity was a heavy and destructive fire,
while he was ignorant of their numbers and the strength of
their position. Captain Loch made repeated and gallant at
tempts to storm the enemy's position, but without avail; and, at
length, after Captain Price, of the 67th, Mr. Kennedy, First-
Lieutenant of the 4 Fox,' four seamen and marines, and four
Sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. , were killed, and Captain Loch (mortally), fifty-one sea
men and marines, and eighteen Sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. , were wounded, the
force was compelled to retreat, leaving behind the dead and
both field-pieces. The disaster necessitated a second Expedi
tion, which General Godwin placed under the command of Sir
John Cheape, and to act in support Commander Rennie under
took, at Sir John's request, a flank movement with his small band
of eighty seamen and European marines of the 4 Zenobia.' During
this service it is difficult which to admire most, the boldness
and caution of his advance, or the judgment with which he
effected a retreat when forced to fall back; throughout Com
mander Rennie, who was as good a soldier as sailor, brought to
bear the experience he had acquired in the China War, when, as
First-Lieutenant of the 4 Sesostris,' he commanded the shore
parties from that ship on every occasion when a naval brigade
was employed.
Commodore Lambert, Acting Commander-in-chief, arrived at
Bassein in the 4 Proserpine,' on the 19th of February, and, after
warmly congratulating Commander Rennie on his success,
entered into explanations of Captain Loch's disaster, and
stated that he had despatched the 4 Moozuffer' to Calcutta with
despatches for the Governor-General. Commander Rennie
proposed starting from Bassein with his men to co-operate in
the Expedition against Mya-toon under Sir John Cheape, not
withstanding that the Military Commandant at Bassein de-