'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎258] (277/622)

258
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
at the upper end of the Panlang creek, which joins the Irra-
waddy to the Rangoon River, and arrived off Prorne on the
morning of the 9th of October. On the squadron nearing the
city the enemy opened fire, which was returned by the steamers,
which anchored above the town, thus completely turning the
position. A small force was landed that afternoon, and, after
a brief struggle, cleared the lower end of the town; on the fol
lowing morning, the remainder of the troops and a detachment
of seamen, under Commander Rice, R.N., were disembarked, and
soon the important city of Prome was in the occupation of the
British with trifling loss, owing to the defences having been
taken in flank, a movement which redounded to the credit of
the military and naval chiefs. The squadron then returned
to Rangoon, Sir John Cheape—the chief engineer at the siege
of Mooltan—being left in command. In his report to the
Secretary to the Supreme Government, Commodore Lambert
says :—Nor can I speak too highly of Commander Camp
bell,^ the officers and men of the Indian Navy and the Bengal
Marine."
The Governor-General, in publishing the despatches of
General Godwin and Commodore Lambert, relative to the cap
ture and occupation of the city of Prome, observes:—"His
thanks are also due to Commander Campbell, of the Indian
Navy, whose merit has been acknowledged by the Commodore.
The Governor-General in Council has viewed with high appro
bation the services of the officers and men, who, upon this occa
sion and for several months past, have been employed in boats
upon the river, subject to severe exposure, and engaged in
harassing duty, which they have performed with the utmost
alacrity and cheerfulness, and with conspicuous advantage to
the public service. To the officers, seamen, and marines of
H.M.'s ships, of the Indian Navy, and of the Bengal Marine,
who have been serving upon the Irrawaddy, and to Commander
Tarleton, who long commanded them, the Governor-General
in Council is desirous of offering his hearty thanks." I he
British Navy had to deplore the loss near Prome, on the 8th of
October, of Rear-Admiral Austen, who died of cholera on board
the 'Pluto,' in the seventy-fourth year of his age. His remains
were conveyed, in the 4 Rattler,' to Trincomalee, for interment,
and Commodore Lambert became Commander-in-chief of Her
Majesty's ships and vessels in the China seas, until the ar
rival, in the following year, of Vice-Admiral Sir Fleetwood
Pellew.
# The following is a memorandum of the amount of ammunition expended by
the ' Sesostris' in the three actions at Rangoon, Bassein, and Prome : ~r^ 1 ine ,! ^
of 8-inch and 32-pounder shot and shell, five hundredweight of leaden ba s, ir
tons of powder, one thousand rounds of great gun, five thousand rounds o
ammunition ; also Congreve rockets and 8-inch carcases. One oincer o
'Sesostris, Lieutenant Windus, was wounded at Prome.