434     THE BURMESE WAR     1824

" The Teignmouth shortly afterwards resumed her station, and was constantly engaged with the enemy's war-boats, which had long guns in their bows, and annoyed her a great deal. In the afternoon, finding the Burmese were making every effort to gain possession of Kemmendine, and as that post was of the last importance, both in a military and naval point of view, Captain Chads ordered the Sophie up for its support, with three more gun-boats, and those already there, under Lieutenant Kellett, to remain. Observing, also, that the enemy upon the Dalla side had begun to throw up works, he likewise directed the Satellite, in charge of Lieutenant Dobson, with a party of seamen from the Arachne, to the support of the Good Hope transport, and several small gun-vessels, already for some time stationed there.

" Early on the 3d of December, the Sophie took her station off Kemmendine. The enemy again brought fire-rafts down, with their war-boats firing shot over them, to prevent the approach of the British. The Sophie cleared the rafts, but the Teignmouth was touched by them, and on fire for a short time, sustaining, however, no serious damage. "British seamanship," says Major Snodgrass, " finally triumphed over every device of the crafty and ingenious enemy." During this day     THE BURMESE WAR-boatmen became extremely daring, finding their shot went further than those of the British ; upon which Captain Chads sent Captain Ryves two long 9-pounders, and enabled him to keep them further off. Still, however, they continued to evince surprising boldness, and it was thought right to endeavour to give them a check. Accordingly, the latter officer placed the whole. of his disposable force of Europeans, about 80 in number (including Lieutenant Goldfinch, Messrs. Pickey, Coyde, Scott, and Murray, midshipmen; Lieutenant Curtis Clarke, of the Bombay marine; Mr. Lindqu1st, in charge of the row-boats ; and Messrs. George Boscawen, midshipman in the hon. company's service), under the orders of Lieutenant Kellett. This force was put into the Arachne's pinnace and eight other boats, and, as the moon went down on the morning of the 4th of December, they shoved off, and pulling upon the contrary shore to the enemy, by daylight came abreast of and boldly made a dash at them : the Burmese were completely taken by surprise, but did not run till the British were within pistol-shot, when their confusion was great, and they fled with all haste, keeping up a smart fire. Lieutenant Kellett, in the pinnace, came up with some of the rearmost, which were soon run ashore and deserted ; and Lieutenant Goldfinch, passing him whilst taking possession, captured one bearing the flag of the Burman chief, her crew also flying into the jungle. The chase was continued three or four miles, when Lieutenant Kellett judged it prudent to secure his prizes, having an enemy of considerable force in his rear, up another branch of the river. The result of this gallant attack

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