da hill. Major Piper therefore took
two companies of the 38th and, descending the hill, drove the
Burmese, in confusion, back to the jungle.

In the morning it was found that the enemy had entrenched
themselves upon some high and open ground, within musket shot of
the north gate of the pagoda. It was separated from the gate by a
large tank; but as their jingals and musketry were able, from the
point they occupied, to sweep the plateau and the huts occupied by
the troops, a party of the 38th and the 28th Madras Infantry went
out, and drove them off. As soon, however, as our troops fell back
the Burmese reoccupied the position and, for the next few days, a
constant skirmishing went on at this point; while an artillery fire
was maintained, by the assailants and defenders, along the whole
line down to Rangoon, and the enemy's batteries at Dalla kept up an
incessant fire on the shipping. Kemmendine was attacked time after
time, and many attempts made to launch fire rafts down the river.

The work was very harassing for the troops. Night and day they were
expecting an attack in force; and there was a general feeling of
delight when, on the evening of the 4th, orders were issued for a
general movement against the enemy.

The latter had, by this time, brought the greater portion of their
guns up from the jungle, and placed them in their entrenchments;
and it was therefore in the power of the British to strike a heavy
blow. A division of the flotilla of gunboats was ordered up the
creek by the town. These opened a heavy fire upon the enemy's
flank, thus attracting their attention to that point and, after the
cannonade had continued for some little time, the two columns of
attack--the one eight hundred strong, under Major Sale; the other
five hundred, under Major Walker of the Madras army--issued out.
The latter was to attack the enemy facing the town, the former to
force his way through the centre of their position. He had with him
a troop of horse, that had landed only the previous day.

Major Walker's force was the first to encounter the enemy. Their
resistance was, for a time, obstinate. Major Walker and several
other officers fell, in the attack on the first line of
entrenchments; but the soldiers carried it at the point of the
bayonet and, as the enemy broke and retreated, followed them so
hotly that the works in the rear fell into their hands with but
slight opposition.

Major Sale's column now began its attack on t