upon moving with the whole of my disposable force to ascertain what their intentions were, leaving the convalescents of the 23d, the whole of the provincials, and one hundred Mugs, to protect the cantonment and sick, in case the enemy might detach a party to outflank me. I moved off about five P. M, the detachment 23d native infantry leading. On our arriving near to the stockade (about half a mile), a heavy fire was opened upon us from the hills on the left of the road, which the enemy had taken possession of in numbers and fortified; their larger guns were fired from the further hill, and the smaller ones from the lower, thereby completely commanding the road. The naik of the provincial battalion, who had come to give the report with the Bengallee in the first instance, told me that we were very near the plain where the stockade was, I consequently pushed on with the detachment of the 23d, and reached the plain. I then returned with a few men to bring on the guns, directing Ensign Campbell to follow, should I not join him in a short time. It was then to my disappointment that I found that two of the elephants had thrown their loads and blocked up the road. This, Captain Pringle reported to me, was the fault of the mahouts. To extricate the gun, which, together with the gear, was hanging to the elephant, we were obliged to cut the ropes, but from the inexperience of Lieutenant Scott (having never seen guns carried on elephants before), and none of the golundauze being present, after many trials, and failing in all, I was obliged to leave it, and take steps for carrying away the ammunition, which the other elephants had thrown off, and also that which had been left on the road by some coolies, who had run off. Previous to this, I had been joined by Ensign Campbell. We with difficulty succeeded in getting it away, chiefly by the exertions of the sepoys, the 1824. Pp Mugs Mugs having hid themselves in the jungles, with the exception of a very few, who assisted the sepoys. After this was effected, I proceeded quietly with a small party of sepoys and an elephant, and brought in the gun, with as many things as I could find, though several articles are missing. To give the men some rest, and an opportunity of procuring water, I took up a position on the plain, and there remained on the alert during the night. One of the Mugs fancied he saw some Burmahs creeping towards us, and commenced a running fire, which was with difficulty stopped, otherwise we remained quiet. The enemy were firing and shouting during the whole time. From the circumstance of the ammunition coolies having deserted, and the guns being rendered perfectly useless, by the great deficiency in the detail of artillery, and not placing any confidence in the Mugs for support, should we again have experienced a fire from the hills, even by taking a circuitous route, and there being no possibility of procuring supplies for the men, I deemed it most prudent to return again to Ramoo, there to await the arrival of Captain Trueman's dedachment, as well as to obtain further information as to the strength of the enemy's force. On my return to Ramoo, I was surprised to hear that the Jemadar with his party from Rutnapullung, had arrived about two hours before. I regret to say our loss has been severe; in all seven missing and eleven wounded. I am sorry to say that Ensign Bennett is among the latter, being severely wounded in the left arm, though I trust not of any very serious consequence. Ensign Campbell likewise received a hurt in the right ancle, from a spent ball, and also some shots in his legs. The whole of the wounded are doing well. I beg to state that there were a few of the Mug lovy, that were under the immediate eye of Captain Pringle Pringle (to whom every credit is due for his exertions) who behaved with great coolness and much to my satisfaction, as well in firing upon the enemy as in assisting our sepoys in carrying off the ammunition. The men of the detachment of the 23d native infantry advanced with great steadiness, notwithstanding the suddenness of the attack upon them, and the very heavy fire that was kept up for upwards of three hours from a hidden foe; and I deem it but justice to Ensigns Campbell and Bennett on the occasion to report, that they both deserve the greatest credit for their coolness and exertions throughout. I beg to add, that Lieutenant Scott shewed every anxiety to bring the guns forward, but was prevented by the circumstances above-mentioned. I have, &c. T. NOTON, Captain, commanding at Extract from a Letter from the Governor-General in Council to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors, dated Fort William, 25th May 1824. WE regret to report that the Chittagong district has been invaded by the Burmese in very large force, and that the enemy has been successful in cutting off a detachment at Ramoo, consisting of the right wing of the 23d native infantry, under the command of Captain Noton, and three conpanies of the 20th, commanded by Captain Trueman, with two guns and a detail of artillery under Lieutenant Scott; also a party of provincials and the Mug levy, commanded by Captain Pringle. We think it right to add, that the eight companies of regulars above-mentioned were greatly reduced, Pp 2 both both in numbers and' efficiency, by the fatal effects of the climate of the southern parts of the district, and were already under orders to retire to the cantonment at Chittagong. It is not in our power to report the further progress of operations in Assam, Brigadier M'Morine having deemed it necessary to halt at Gowahati, the capital of Western Assam, since his arrival there on the 28th March. By the last accounts he had dispatched a small party of his force in advance to Kalliabar. Mr. Scott had succeeded in penetrating across the hills of Jyntia, from Sylhet, into Assam, with a detachment of the 23d native infantry, and reached the Berhampooter at Noregong, about seven days march east of Gowahati, on the 28th ultimo. The peace at Cachar has not been disturbed since the date of our last dispatch, but we have reason to believe that the Burmese have again entered Munnipore in force. By the last accounts Rajah Gumbhur Sing was about to embark in the enterprise for recovering that principality from the Government of Ava, with such force as he could raise, supported by arms and money from the British authorities, Extract from a Report from Lieutenant-Colonel Povoleri, commanding at Chittagong, to the Adjutant-General of the Army, dated 19th Mays 1824. WITH deep regret I acquaint you, for the information of His Excellency the Commander in Chief, with the reports which reached me last night, that Captain Noton's detachment of the chief part of the right wing of the 1st battalion 23d regiment, are cut off, after hard fighting the whole of the 16th; I fear all the Officers have fallen, but Lieutenant Scott, of the artillery, who escaped, wounded. Captain Brandon, with the left wing, learning the disaster, is returning; he will retreat on Brigadier Shapland's division. The Officers who will have fallen are Captain Noton, Lieutenant Grigg, Ensigns Campbell, and Bennett, 1st battalion 23d regiment; Captain Trueman and Lieutenant Codrington, 2d battalion 20th regiment; Doctor Maysmore, artillery Captain Pringle, Mug levy. Extract of a Report from Lieutenant-Colonel Shapland to the Adjutant-General of the Army, dated Chittagong, 20th May 1824. I HAVE the honour to report, for the information of His Excellency the Commander in Chief, that, being joined by the detachment of the 1st battalion 23d regiment native infantry, I returned to Chittagong this morning with the detachment which was advancing towards Ramoo, when the disastrous event occurred at that place. I enclose a report of the Officers who have escaped after the action. Copy of a Report from Lieutenant Scott and Ensigns Codrington and Campbell to Brigade-Major White, dated Camp, Chittagong, 20th May 1824. SIR, INFORMATION having been required relative to the retreat of Captain Noton's detachment from Ramoo, on the 17th instant, we, being the only surviving Officers, beg leave to forward a condensed statement of the circumstances which have fallen under our observation, for the information of Brigadier Shapland, C. B. commanding the district The |