reluctant to join him, to advance into the
interior of the empire. He joined the camp on the 13th of February
at Mienza, passing through forests lined with formidable stockades,
a deserted country, and destroyed villages. On the 26th he arrived
at Soomza, of which the governor of the place gave him possession by
retiring from his post. In the meantime, Donoobew had been attacked by
a division of the British force which had proceeded thither by water,
under Brigadier-general Cotton. The outworks of Donoobew were carried,
but the main-work was too strong to risk a further advance, and the
troops were withdrawn for a time. By the 18th of March General Campbell
crossed the Irrawaddy to the west bank in some of the country canoes,
and on the 25th reached Donoobew. He pitched his camp before the
extensive works of Maha Bandoola on the 2nd of April. During that
morning the enemy kept up a heavy fire on our ranks; but towards noon it
ceased. A calm succeeded; but it was the harbinger of a storm. About
ten o'clock, when the moon was fast verging towards the horizon, a sharp
sound of musketry mingled with war-cries roused the sleeping camp.
The soldiers seized their muskets and formed into a line; and this was
scarcely effected, when the opposing columns advanced with an intention
of turning our right, and at the same time keeping up a distant fire
against the left and centre. On their outflanking the right, our two
extreme regiments changed front, and by a constant discharge of musketry
checked every attempt, so that the assailants were compelled to retreat.
A series of various petty actions now took place by river as well as by
land; but in the meantime preparations were being made for the attack of
the enemy's works. The mortar-batteries and rockets began their work of
destruction on the 1st of April, and on the following day the breaching
batteries opened, when two Lascars, who had been left prisoners in the
fort, came out to inform Sir Archibald Campbell that Bandoola had been
killed the day before by a rocket, and that the garrison, in spite of
the remonstrances of the other chiefs, had fled. This information was
quite correct; for the enemy had retired, leaving behind them all their
guns and a large depot of grain. In this service the British commander
was ably seconded by the navy under Captains Alexander and Chads, who
assisted in forcing the stockades, capturing the formidable war-boats,
and conveying our troops to the b