"تاريخ البحرية الهندية. (١٦١٣- ١٨٦٣)." [‎٢‎٥‎١] (٦٢٢/٢٧٠)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
251
Another officer of the Service was also instrumental in
effecting the rescue of a ship's company during this war. Com
mander J. Rennie, of the ' Zenobia,' in June, 1853, proceeded
to St. Martin's Island, about fifty-five miles from Akyab, and, in
boisterous weather, extricated a French brig from a position of
great peril. For this act, Commander Rennie received a gold
medal from the Emperor of the French.
The ' Sesostris' returned to Rangoon from Bassein on the
8th of September, having had a narrow escape from destruction
in the Bassein River, where she struck on a rock, with seven
fathoms of water on the other side of her. Here she remained
for two days, when Commander Campbell, having taken every
thing out of the ship, succeeded, by great exertions, in getting
her afloat.
On the morning of the 26th of May, Martaban was suddenly
attacked by a force of between one thousand and twelve hundred
men, with a large force in reserve, but, though the enemy dis-
played unusual resolution, they were driven back by the garrison,
consisting of the 49th Madras Native Infantry, assisted by the
' Ferooz,' which was lying at Moulmein, opposite the town, and,
on hearing the cannonade, landed a company of the 51st Regi
ment at the threatened point. The " Moulmein Times," of the
28th of May, says :—"The 'Ferooz' sent discharges of artil
lery, which made the Burmese seek a more distant point for
be unhappily discovered. The moment their narrative was made known to
Captain Campbell, and he had g:iven orders to afford the boat's crew every care
and comfort, he proceeded on shore to ask Major Roberts of the 9th Madras
Native Infantry, in command of the garrison at Eassein, whether he would
undertake the defence of that important post during the absence of the Hon.
Company's steam-frigate ' Sesostris,' as he was most anxious to proceed forthwith
to the rescue of the shipwrecked mariners in the Andamans. Major Eoberts
pledged himself to exert redoubled vigilance on his part, and in a very short time
steam was up and the gallant Captain of the ' Sesostris' nobly braved the perils
of the bar across the mouth of the River Bassein, which was at that time, owing
to a heavy sea, exceedingly shallow and very dangerous. Under the guidance
of a very correct information which Captain Campbell received from the Com
mander of the Elizabeth,' he made direct to the place of refuge, and was the
means of rescuing from the extremity of peril and danger the suffering mariners
of the ' Elizabeth,' who had subsisted on cocoa-nuts and wild berries and were
very nearly exhausted. Captain Campbell performed this service of generous
humanity in two days ; he took the greatest care of all the ' Elizabeth's' crew,
and, shortly after his return to Bassein, the ' Eire Queen' steamer, on her way to
Calcutta, touched there, and received on board the shipwrecked mariners, and
conveyed them to Calcutta. Captain Campbell's able and gallant conduct at
Rangoon and Bassein is well known, but, I venture to say, that throughout his
service no circumstance connected therewith will ever carry with it a more grate
ful and gratifying reflection to his own mind than that which so nobly prompted
him, without hesitation, to quit a responsible post and proceed to the rescue of
shipwrecked mariners." Eor this deed of prompt humanity, involving responsi
bilities of no ordinary kind, in temporarily leaving a post in time of war. Com
mander Campbell received a silver-mounted spy-glass, having a suitable inscrip
tion, which was raised by subscription, and doubtless there is no act of his
honourable career the contemplation of which affords him more sincere satis
faction.