'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎284] (303/622)

284
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
the command of the c Sesostris.' On the occasion of Com
mander Campbell leaving Bombay for England, the "Bombay
Times" took the opportunity of eulogizing his great services
daring the twenty-four years he had passed in India, especially
in the recent, war, and added:—"With the largest and most
arduous division of the duties imposed upon them, the Indian
Navy has here, as elsewhere, come off with the smallest share
of honours and requital." In May, the following officers pro
ceeded to the eastward to reinforce the squadron in Burmah
Lieutenants Brooman and Dickson ; Mate Rushton; Midship
men Munro, De Belin, Strong, Bewsher, G. Lewis, and Ogilvy.
In March, Rear-Admiral Sir Fleetwood Pellew, who had arrived
at Calcutta to take the Command-in-chief of Her Majesty's
ships, proceeded to Burmah, and, having hoisted his flag on
board the 6 Winchester,' Captain Shadwell, then lying at Monl-
mein, sailed in her to Madras and Trincomalee. The Expedi
tionary force to Burmah, officially known as the "Army of
Ava," was broken up on the 1st of July, 1853, when there were
left in the country two divisions, under the command, respec
tively, of Brigadiers-General Sir John Cheape and Steel, com
prising three hundred and forty-six officers, four thousand three
hundred and thirty-four European soldiers, and eight thousand
two hundred and forty-two Sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. . General Godwin embarked
on board the 4 Zenobia,' for Calcutta, where he arrived on the
8th of August, only, however, to die on the 26th of October,
at Simla, in the house of his old friend and companion-in-arms,
Sir William Gomm, the Commander-in-chief. General God
win suffered much unmerited vituperation from a portion of
the English and Indian press, but he was eminently popular
with those under his command, and, on the occasion of the
farewell banquet given by the officers at Rangoon, he struck a
responsive chord in every breast, when, referring to the com
plaints regarding his want of enterprise in not having marched
on Ava like his predecessor. Sir Archibald Campbell, he said
" that whatever the public and press might say in regard to his
conduct of the w 7 ar, he could honestly state he had done his
duty in obeying orders and acting up to his instructions."
Of the Indian Navy squadron employed in Burmah, there
remained behind, on the conclusion of hostilities, the 'Zenobia,
Commander Rennie, the 4 Berenice,' Lieutenant Berthon, and
the 6 Medusa,' Lieutenant Eraser. Commander Drought took
the 4 Sesostris' from Prome to Caicutta, where she was docked
with six feet of water in her hold, and transferred to the^Bengal
Marine, being replaced by her sister-ship, the 4 Queen, whidi,
however, was of little use, as she was in the last stage of decay
and decrepitude. Of the officers who had sailed in the
4 Sesostris' from Bombay all had been invalided, except
Purser Gibbon, Mate Turner, and Midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. Capel.