Extract of a Dispatch from Brigadier-General Sir Archibald Campbell, dated 19th May 1824. INFORMATION having been received that five rafts were constructing and war boats collecting at no great distance up the river, Commodore Grant some days ago sent the boats of his ship under Lieutenant Wilkinson, of the Liffey, for the pur pose of reconnoitring. They fell in with and destroyed one boat (the crew escaping) having seen several others, which effected their escape. Our boats had two seamen wounded by musketry from the shore. On the evening of the 14th, it was thought farther advisable that the river should be explored considerably higher up, and for this purpose Lieutenant Wilkinson, with the boats of the Liffey, accompanied by forty rank and file of His Majesty's 41st regiment, under Lieutenant M'Lean, went about eighteen miles up, receiving a smart fire of musketry from the villages on either bank, both in going and returning. At one place in par-ticular the enemy assembled in considerable force,. but were speedily dispersed by the fire from the boats; on which occasion Lieutenant Wilkinson expressed himself in terms of high admiration of the determined gallantry and coolness of the party of His Majesty's 41st regiment. They had three rank and file wounded. A work having been observed in preparation at the village of Kemmendine, only four miles distant from the shipping, which, if allowed to be completed, might prove a very serious annoyance, the Commodore and I determined upon destroying it, for which purpose a sufficient number of boats were ordered from the fleet under the command of Lieutenant Wilkinson, and I ordered the grenadier company of His Majesty's 38th regiment, under Captain Birch, to be embarked on board of them. The The whole were in readiness and sailed a little before day-light on the morning of the 16th. Herewith I beg leave to inclose Captain Birch's report of the result, which leaves me to regret the loss of a valuable Officer, Lieutenant Kerr, of the 38th regiment, who, with one rank and file, was killed, and nine rank and file wounded. On the part of the navy that enterprising and active Officer Lieutenant Wilkinson, and five seamen were wounded. The spirited decision of Captain Birch and Lieutenant Wilkinson, and the gallant manner in which their orders were carried into effect by both Officers and men merit every praise, and must have left a strong impression upon the enemy of what they have to expect should an opportunity offer of bringing them fairly into contact with the British Arms. Copy of a Report from Captain Birch to BrigadierGeneral Sir A. Campbell, K. C. B. dated Rangoon, 16th May 1824. SIR, I HAVE the honour to inform you, that in obedience to your orders, I this morning embarked with the grenadier company of His Majesty's 38th regiment under my command on board the boats of 'His Majesty's ship Liffey, commanded by Lieutenant Wilkinson of the royal navy, having four row boats for the conveyance of the soldiers, for the purpose of dislodging the enemy from the village of Killyumdine and adjacent villages. Agreeably to my instructions I landed the troops at a small village about a mile from Killyumdine, where I observed a party of the enemy had stockaded themselves, and immediately attacked their po position, which I carried after exchanging a few rounds and killing ten or twelve of the enemy. I then endeavoured to penetrate the jungle towards the village of Killyumadine, for the purpose of assailing it by the rear, while the boats attacked it in front, but I regret to say that I found the jungles so impervious as to prevent me from executing this part of my instructions. I therefore re-embarked my detachment and proceeded in the boats. On approaching a point higher up, intending to land, we found ourselves suddenly exposed to a heavy fire from a stockade, till then unobserved, and as any attempt to retire would have exposed the detachment to certain destruction, and would have given encouragement to the enemy, which I felt convinced you would have highly disapproved of, Lieutenant Wilkinson, R. N. and myself resolved upon immediately landing and storming the stockade. We had many unforeseen difficulties to overcome, the enemy having placed bamboos and pikes so as to make landing both difficult and dangerous. Nothing, however, could withstand the gallantry and determination of both soldiers and sailors, who shortly established themselves within the stockade, defended by about four hundred men, who were quickly driven out at the point of the bayonet, leaving sixty dead. The enemy were well armed, a great proportion having muskets; and a small field piece was taken in the stockade, and I must do them the justice to say. that they fought with very great spirit, many of them receiving our charge with their spears. I again re-embarked my party and proceeded to the opposite side of the river, where we drove the enemy from a third stockade, which we destroyed in the same manner as we had done the two former. In concluding, I regret to state, that Lieutenant Thomas Kerr, of His Majesty's 38th Regiment, and one private was killed, and nine privates wounded, in taking the second stockade; and I have further to regret, that Lieutenant Wilkinson, of the Royal Navy, was severely wounded through the thigh, with eight or nine of his crew, one of which has had his arm subsequently amputated, I have much satisfaction in reporting the conduct of the Officers and men under my command, to have been steady and soldier like. I hope I may be allowed to express the highest admiration of the cool and intrepid conduct of Lieutenant Wilkinson, Royal Navy, who, although severely wounded, continued to render me the greatest assistance in giving directions from his boat, also of the Officers and men under his command. I have, &c. R. BIRCH, Capt. H. M. 38th Reg. Copy of a Dispatch from Brigadier-General Sir Archibald Campbell, K. C. B. to George Swinton, Esq. Secretary to the Bengal Government, dated Rangoon, 1st June 1824. SIR, HEREWITH I have the honour of transmitting you a return of the ordnance captured at this place on the 11th ultimo, including ten small pieces brought from Negrais. The strength of the enemy in this arm, so far exceeding any thing reported, is now I conceive very much crippled, as in the different encounters we have since had, nothing larger than gingals, or small pieces, have been found with them. I have, &c. A. CAMPBELL, Brig. Gen. Return of Ordnance captured at and near Rangoon, May, 1824. Iron long Guns, serviceable, mounted-1 twenty 1824. LI four four pounder, 1 twenty ditto, 1 eighteen ditto, 2 ten ditto, 3 nine ditto, 1 three ditto, 7 six ditto, 5 five ditto, 1 four and half ditto, I four ditto, 1 two and half ditto, and 3 two dittototal 27. Dismounted-2 six pounders, 3 five and half ditto, 4 four ditto, I three and half ditto, 1 two and one eighth ditto, and 1 one ditto-total 12. Iron long Guns, unserviceable, mounted-2 twelve pounders, 1 six ditto, 5 five and half ditto, 1 four and half ditto, and I two and half ditto-total 10. Dismounted-1 ten pounder, 8 nine ditto, 2 six ditto, 1 five and half ditto, 4 three ditto, 1 one and half ditto, 1 three quarters ditto, and 8 one half ditto-total 26. Carronades, serviceable, mounted-3 eighteen pounders, and 1 twelve ditto-total 4. Dismounted-3 twenty-four pounders, 4 eighteen ditto, and 6 twelve ditto-total 13. Carronade, unserviceable, dismounted-1. Iron Swivel, serviceable, mounted-1. Brass Swivels, serviceable, dismounted-2. Brass Guns, serviceable, dismounted-3 one pounder, and 2 three quarters ditto-total 5. Iron Gingals, unserviceable-9. Of the above guns, 5 brass and 5 iron were cap tured at Negrais. Shot, twelve pounder J33 Ditto, nine ditto 30 Gun-powder, computed at lbs. 2400. W. BURTON, Major, |