1824	The Burmese War	427

officer; Alligator (28), Captain Thomas Alexander, C.B. ; Slaney (20), Captain Charles Mitchell; Arachne (18), Captain Henry Ducie Chads ; Larne (20), Captain Frederick Marryat; Sophie (18), Captain George F. Ryves ; Liffey (50), commanded, pro tem., by Lieutenant George Tincombe. * Of this force only the Larne was at Rangoon, the Sophie having been despatched to Bengal for provisions, &c.

The district of Tenasserim was now selected as the theatre of war, it having been found impracticable to carry on hostilities in the direction of Ava. A part of the 139th regiment and the 7th Madras native infantry, accompanied by the company's cruisers, with some gun-boats, were detached on the 2d of August, under the orders of Colonel Miles, C.B., from Rangoon. Tavoy was the first place attacked and taken ; after which the forces embarked for Mergui, and arrived there on the 6th of October. The batteries were silenced in an hour, the troops were landed, escaladed a stockade, which defended the place, and took the town ; after which Colonel Miles returned to Rangoon, having left a garrison in Mergui.

The enemy having returned and occupied some stockades in the Dalla creek, Captain Marryat, with two mortar-boats and some gun-boats, manned by the crew of the Larne, proceeded to dislodge them on the 2d of September. Major Richard Lacy Evans commanded the land forces on this occasion. At 6 a.m. the boats opened their fire or the stockade, and by 9 o'clock the magazine was blown up and the guns silenced, but the enemy still held possession of the stockades, and kept up a very galling fire of musketry. The Burmese had learnt from former attacks the necessity of widening their ditches in front of their stockades, and on this occasion it was found impracticable to fix the scaling ladders, the place being secure by the river side. Major Evans landed with 150 men, and, approaching through the jungles, advanced in their rear ; the boats instantly dashed forward towards the main stockade, and the whole was soon carried. Higher up the creek, Captain Marryat and Major Evans destroyed 30 boats, laden with arms and ammunition. In this sharp and brilliant affair, Captain Marryat speaks highly of Lieutenant Fraser, Mr. Henry Hodder, acting master of the Larne, Mr. Duffill, and Mr. Alexander Cranley, midshipman. Sir Archibald Campbell, in detailing the account above mentioned, speaks in the highest terms of Captain Marryat.

The Burmese no sooner found the benefit which might accrue to their enemies, by the permanent occupation of a stockade which commanded the creek leading to Thontai (the capital of Dalla), than they resolved to attempt a recapture. They proceeded in their usual harassing manner, night after night, approaching under cover of the jungle, and keeping up a continued

* Marshall.

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