the bank. In this attempt the difficulties opposed. to us by the jungle and muddy rivulet were of an almost insuperable nature; but the detachment having at length arrived at the north-east corner of the stockade, immediately formed and carried it with the bayonet, the enemy dispersing and flying in all directions, pursued by our detachment towards another strong and extensive stockade under the hills, where it was imagined they were prepared to offer a determined resistance; they however merely passed through it in their way to the hills, and the detachment advanced, took possession, and passed the night in it. From all the accounts which have reached me, and from the number and extent of the stockades they had constructed, I cannot estimate the number of the enemy in this affair at less than five thousand, of whom the greater part are supposed to be Assamese, and the remainder Burmahs ; their dispersion and flight towards the hills (in the greatest disorder and confusion) and passes into Assam, the capture of all their standards, gingals and eight gilt chattalis, are the fruits of this affair. It is impossible for me to close this report without endeavouring to do justice to the good conduct of Captains Johnston and Bowe, who led the attack at the head of the grenadiers 1st battalion 10th regiment, Lieutenant M'Laren, detachment staff, and Lieutenant Ellis, 23d regiment light infantry. The latter young Officer set a most noble example in dashing into the nullah and fording it neck high, followed by such of the troops as had not passed on elephants, which mainly contributed to our success. I am happy to say that this service has been per formed with little or no loss, only two men being. wounded. I have, &c. H. BOWEN, Lieut.-Col. Comg. Copy Copy of a Report from Lieutenant-Colonel Bowen ›› to Mr. Scott, Political Agent on the Bengal' Eastern Frontier, dated Juttrapore, 22d February 1824. SIR, 1 HAVE the honour to acquaint you, that agreeably to your requisition the detachment under my command again disembarked yesterday morning at eight o'clock, and after a march of two hours fell in with the enemy's stockades at Doodpatlee. Several spirited attacks were made upon the enemy under cover of a heavy fire from three six pounders, all of which I am sorry to say failed, and after a most severe action, which lasted from ten o'clock A. M. till evening, I was compelled to draw off the detachment, and return to Juttrapore, leaving two European Officers and one hundred and fifty men (between the enemy and our present position) at the strong post of Tiloyn, as a measure of observation and safety. a I regret to say, that our loss has been severe : return of the killed and wounded is herewith transmitted; the enemy's force may be fairly computed at two thousand Burmahs, including cavalry, and they fought with a bravery and obstinacy which I have never witnessed in any troops. It is impossi ble to estimate their loss, but it must be very severe. As you personally witnessed this action, it will not escape your observation, that the troops opposed to us at Doodpatlee, are a very different description from those who fought at Bickrampore and Burcollah, the former being wholly Burmese,, and at the latter two places chiefly Assamese. I have, &c. H. BOWEN, Lieutenant-Colonel, Return Return of Killed and Wounded during Operations against the Burmese, at Doodpatlee, on the 21st February 1824. 1st Battalion 10th Regiment Native Infantry.-1 lieutenant, 14 sepoys killed; 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 ensign, 1 subadar, 4 jemiadars, 6 havildars, 6 naiks, 84 sepoys, 1 lascar wounded. European Officers.-Lieutenant Armstrong, killed; Lieutenant-Colonel Bowen, wounded slightly, Ensign Barberie, severely. 2d Battalion 23d Regiment Native Infantry.-2 sepoys killed; 1 captain, 1 havildar, 1 naik, 21 sepoys wounded. European Officer wounded, Captain Johnston, severely. Rungpore Light Infantry.- naik, 3 sepoys killed; 2 naiks, 4 sepoys wounded. Copy of a Dispatch from Lieutenant-Colonel Bowen, Commanding in Cachar, to the Deputy AdjutantGeneral, dated Camp, near Juttrapore, 25th February 1824. SIR, I REGRET to have to report to you, that Lieutenant A. B. Armstrong, of the 1st battalion 10th regiment of native infantry, was killed in action with the Burmese on the 21st instant, at Doodpatlee; this valuable Officer was shot at the head of the grenadiers among the stakes and spring guns, which were planted all round the enemy's stockades outside for a distance of from twenty to thirty yards, concealed for the most part in long grass. It is my painful duty to mention by this opportunity, that Captain Johnston, of the 23d regiment native infantry, and Ensign Barberie, of the 10th regiment native infantry, are in a very dangerous state; the former was shot through the thigh bone, and the latter had his leg shattered to pieces, which has since been amputated. I trust it will not be considered presumptuous in me to express' my hope, that something may be done for these two Officers in the event of their recovery, and in consideration of their brave and gallant conduct in the actions of the 13th, 18th and 21st instant. Captain Johnston, has been twenty years in the army, has seen much actual service, has never been absent from his corps during all that time (except on sick certificate for four months), and has rendered me the greatest assistance throughout. I cannot close this letter without deeply lamenting our failure at Doodpatlee, and the loss we have sustained, and I sincerely hope his Excellency the Commander in Chief, will concur in opinion with Mr. Scott, the Governor-General's Agent, and myself, that we were justified in following up our former rapid successes in our attack at Doodpatlee, in order to prevent the junction of the Assamese and Burmese armies, and the invasion of our own territories, which they had repeatedly threatened by letter; since (notwithstanding our failure) it has caused the enemy to evacuate their strong stockades at and around Doodpatlee, and to proceed in disorder · in the direction of Munnipore and Assam, of which authentic accounts reached me yesterday. It has now been ascertained by people sent to examine the evacuated stockades at Doodpatlee, that the enemy had between four and five hundred men killed and wounded; they were wholly composed of Burmese, and they fought desperately, reserving their fire to the last moment, and seldom missing their object. I beg leave to supply an omission in my report of this affair under date the 22d instant, and to state that that Major Newton, with an hundred and fifty men of the detachment left to protect the stockades at Juttrapore, joined me by order on the evening of the 20th, near Doodpatlee. I have, &c. H. BOWEN Lieutenant-Colonel Comg. THE following copies and extracts of dispatches, addressed to the Government of Bengal, not hav ing been received in regular course from that Government, are now taken from the Calcutta Gazettes: Copy of a Dispatch from Brigadier- General Sir Archibald Campbell, K. C. B. commanding the British Forces at Rangoon, to George Swinton, Esq. Secretary to the Bengal Government, dated 12th May 1824. SIR, YOU are already apprised of the different periods of sailing of the transports with the troops from Bengal and Madras composing the expedition, which the Right Honourable the Governor-General in Council did me the honour of placing under my command. Owing to calms and very light winds, the Bengal division did not reach the place of rendezvous at Port Cornwallis before the end of last month, and the Madras division not until the 3d instant, at which period several ships from both Presidencies were still absent. I had however determined to sail with the force assembled, and ́ would have done so that very day, had I not been prevented by a general report of the scarcity of fresh water on board the Madras transports, some of them not having more than four day's consumption. This difficulty was very speedily removed by Captain Marryatt, of His Majesty's ship Larne, whose indefatigable exertions in collecting and ap pro |