men intimately acquainted
with every forest track, could make a rush down upon the town
during the absence of so many of its defenders.

The general felt it imperative, however, to attack without delay
and, early on the morning of the 15th, he moved out with a force of
1500 men against Kokein. They marched without molestation through
the forest and, on reaching its confines, could see the truly
formidable nature of the works that they were to attack. The moment
they issued from the forest, a dropping fire was opened upon them
by parties of the enemy, in flank and rear; and no time was lost in
preparing for the assault.

The 13th Light Infantry and the 18th Madras, with 60 cavalry, under
Brigadier General Cotton, were ordered to move round the stockade
and assault it on the left rear; while the rest of the troops, some
800 strong, with 100 cavalry under the general himself, were to
attack in front. The enemy's works consisted of a central
entrenchment, connected with two large entrenched stockades on its
flank, but somewhat advanced in front of it.

As soon as the force under General Cotton had gained its position
in the rear of the enemy, a gun was fired, and the whole force
moved forward to the assault.. The Burmans regarded the attack by
so insignificant a force upon their works with such contempt that
they did not, for some time, fire a shot; but continued chanting a
war song, swaying themselves to its cadence, stamping and beating
time with their hands on their breasts.

This delay proved fatal to them. When they opened fire, their
assailants were already close to the ditch and, leaping down into
this, were sheltered from the fire of the defenders. Scaling
ladders were speedily placed and the troops, running up them,
leaped down into the entrenchment. Astounded at this sudden entry
into the works they had deemed impregnable, the Burmese hesitated;
and the assailants, being joined by their comrades from behind,
rushed impetuously upon the enemy.

The column in the rear had greater difficulty--for they had several
strong stockades to carry before they reached the central work--and
lost four officers and eight men killed, and forty-nine officers
and men wounded, in the 13th Regiment alone. Fifteen minutes after
the first shot was fired, the whole of the works were in our
possession and the Burmese, who gathered in a confused mass, had
been decimated by our volleys. They were now in full flight, many
being cut