the formidable position occupied by the enemy's centre division on the Napadee Hills. Arriving in the vicinity, the British artillery commenced a sharp cannonade; BrigadierGeneral Elrington's troops drove the enemy from the jungle, and six companies of the 87th. Royal Irish Fusiliers carried the posts at the bottom of the ridge; the Burmese were driven from the valley to their principal works on the hills, which appeared very formidable; as the heights could only be ascended by a narrow road, commanded by artillery, and defended by stockades crowded with men armed with muskets. When the artillery had made an impression on the works, the 13th. and 38th. regiments, the latter leading, rushed into them, overthrew all opposition with the bayonet, and forced the Burmese from hill to hill, over precipices that could only be ascended by a narrow stair, until the whole of the position nearly three miles in length, was captured. Scarcely a shot was fired in return to the enemy's continued volleys, and the six companies of the 87th. advancing through the jungle to the right, drove everything before them on that side.

On the 5th of December the enemy's right wing was driven from its post. The division employed under BrigadierGeneral Cotton consisted of two hundred and fifty of the Royal Regiment, two hundred and seventy of the 41st., two hundred and sixty of the 89th., the light company of the 28th. Madras Native Infantry, and one hundred pioneers. The immense army of Ava was thus forced from its positions, and the Burmese legions sought safety in flight. After this success the army continued to advance; the Burmese evacuated Meeaday, and took post at Melloon, at the same time they renewed their offers for terminating the war; but this appeared to be with the view of gaining time to re-organize their forces for a more determined resistance.

The conditions of peace not being ratified by the stipulated time, hostilities were resumed on the 19th. of January, 1826, on which day the 13th. and 38th. regiments embarked in boats under Lieutenant-Colonel Sale, to assault the main face of the enemy's fortifications at Melloon. At the same time Brigadier-General Cotton, with the flank companies of the 47th. and 87th. regiments, and the 89th., under Lieutenant

Colonel Hunter Blair, the 41st. regiment and the 18th. Madras Native Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Godwin, commanding the first brigade of Madras troops, and the 28th. Madras Native Infantry, with the flank companies of the 43rd. Madras Native Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Parlby, were to cross above Melloon, and, after carrying some outworks, were to attack the northern face of the principal work. The whole of the boats quitted the shore together; but the current and breeze carried the 13th. and 38th. to their point of attack before the other divisions could reach the opposite bank of the river, and Lieutenant-Colonel Sale was wounded in his boat; but the two regiments landed, formed under the command of Major Frith, of the 38th., (who was wounded in the assault,) and rushed forward with such intrepidity that they speedily became masters of these formidable works. When Brigadier-General Cotton saw that they were carried, he ordered the brigade under Lieutenant-Colonel Blair, of the 87th., to cut in upon the enemy's line of retreat, which was performed with much effect.

On the 28th. of January, the 87th., with the flank companies of the 28th. Native Infantry, and detachments of the Governor-General's body-guard and artillery, under Brigadier Hunter Blair, were sent from Tongwyn, to attack the position of Moulmein, eleven miles distant. The position, being a great annoyance to the surrounding country, was destroyed, and the troops returned to camp the same evening.

The army advanced upon the Burmese capital, and the legions of Ava resolved once more to try the fortune of war. They met the British in the open fields near Pagahm Mew, where an action took place on the 9th. of February. The 13th. Light Infantry led the right attack, supported by the 38th. and 89th. regiments. That on the left was supported by the 41st. Part of the Burmese troops, broke by the 38th., retired into a well-constructed field-work, but were so closely pursued that they had not time to form for its defence: here from three to four hundred of them perished either by the bayonet or plunging into the river to escape. The result was another defeat to the enemy.

After this victory the army continued its advance upon

Ummerapoora, the capital, situated upon the shores of a beautiful lake; and when within four days' march of that city the king of Ava sent the ratified treaty, paying the expenses of the war, and relinquishing a considerable portion of territory. In one of the conferences the negotiators had objected to the payment of money, and stated, that by using great economy, they might furnish a million baskets of rice within a year, but they did not grow rupees; and if the British had any objection to the rice, there was abundance of fine trees in the forests, which they might cut down and take away in lieu of the money.

On the conclusion of this campaign, the following statement appeared in general orders:-"While the Governor-General in Council enumerates, with sentiments of unfeigned admiration, the 13th., 38th., 41st., 89th., 47th., 1st., (or Royals,) 87th., and 45th. regiments, the Honorable Company's Madras European regiment, and the Bengal and Madras European artillery, as the European troops who have had the honour of establishing the renown of the British arms in a new and distant region, His Lordship in Council feels that higher and more justlymerited praise cannot be bestowed on those brave troops than that, amidst the barbarous hosts whom they have fought and conquered, they have eminently displayed the virtues, and sustained the character, of the British Soldier."*

In the same general orders it was announced that "Medals also, bearing a suitable device, are to be distributed to the native troops which at any period during the war, were employed under the command of Major-General Sir Archibald Campbell, including the officers and men of the gunboats serving in the Irrawaddy." This medal, also designed by William Wyon, Esq., contained on the obverse a quaint device-the Asiatic elephant crouching to the British Lion. It was not conferred on the regiments of the Crown, and therefore does not come within the scope of this work. When the medal for services in India from 1803 to 1826 was authorized, a bar inscribed AVA was granted.

The 1st., 13th., 38th., 41st., 44th., 45th., 47th., 54th., 87th, and 89th. King's regiments were permitted to bear the word AvA on their colours, in commemoration of their gallantry during this service.

43

SIEGE AND STORM OF BHURTPORE.

JANUARY, 1826.

BALDEO SINGH had become attached to the British government, with which he formed an alliance offensive and defensive, and procured a guarantee for the succession of his youthful son, Bhulwunt Singh, to the throne; but among many of the rajah's subjects a strong feeling of hostility to the British existed, particularly in the army, and his nephew, Doorjun Sal, headed a party opposed to the alliance. After the rajah's decease his nephew gained possession of the capital, and assumed the sovereign power. Sir David Ochterlony assembled a force (of which the 59th. formed part) and marched on Bhurtpore; but the government having disapproved of the measures taken, the troops returned to Cawnpore. Sir David in consequence resigned, and died at Meerut in July, 1825, his decease being, it is considered, hastened by this event.

It was, however, afterwards determined to carry into effect the engagements entered into with the late rajah, by placing his son on the throne. An army was assembled under General Lord Combermere, the Commander-in-Chief in India, and the siege of the capital, the fortified city of Bhurtpore, was determined upon. in the strength of this place, the fort being upwards of five miles in circumference, and having, in 1805, withstood four attacks of Lord Lake's army, wherein were five king's regiments, which had been repulsed with great loss.

Great confidence was placed by the natives

On the 10th. and 11th. of December, 1825, the British appeared before this celebrated city and fortress. The army amounted to twenty-five thousand three hundred men, of which His Majesty's 11th. and 16th. Light Dragoons, and the 14th. and 59th. regiments formed part, the remainder being made up of Native corps. The garrison was nearly equal in numbers to the besieging force. The Bhurtporees had cut a sluice into the embankment of a lake near the town, to fill the ditch round the works with water, but they were speedily driven from the spot; the sluice was

stopped, and the embankment was turned into a military post, which was entrusted to a company of the 14th. Foot and some sepoys. About eighteen inches of water only had flowed into the ditch, and this sudden seizure of the embankment facilitated the progress of the siege by keeping the ditch nearly empty, and thus prevented the enemy from filling it with water, as was done in Lord Lake's time. The several corps took up their ground, and the investment became complete, orange and date trees from the groves being converted into fascines and gabions.

At an early hour on the morning of the 24th. of December, the fires of two batteries were opened on the town; additional works were constructed, the batteries became more numerous, and the siege was prosecuted with vigour. It was, however, found extremely difficult to effect practicable breaches in the peculiarly-constructed walls of Bhurtpore, as they were in many places thickly studded with large trees of a very tough description of timber, which offered a remarkable resistance to shot. The process of mining was adopted; several explosions took place, and the result soon rendered it evident that the horrors of an assault were drawing near. Great bravery and perseverance were evinced by the garrison; they exposed themselves resolutely to the fire of besiegers, and built up in the night the works which were knocked down during the day, labouring under a ceaseless fire, and evincing a firm determination to persevere in the defence.

Considerable progress having been made towards effecting practicable breaches, it was determined to attempt the storming of the place on the morning of the 18th. of January, 1826, the explosion of the mine under the north-east angle being the signal for the assault. The 14th. and 59th. regiments headed the two attacks, and they were directed to wheel as soon as they had entered the breaches, one to the right and the other to the left, and, continuing their career round the ramparts, to drive the enemy before them till they met. Some delay occurred in the mine, and the soldiers stood seven hours anxiously waiting for the moment to commence the assault, during which time the thunder of the artillery was tremendous. The mine having exploded in an unexpected