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APPENDIX TO THE BURMESE WAR 469 by the nature of their country, have been repeatedly assailed and defeated. The persevering and obstinate efforts of the enemy, to oppose our advance, having failed of success, and his resources and means of further resistance having been exhausted, the King of Ava has, at length, been compelled to accept of those terms of peace, which the near approach of our army to the gates of his capital enabled us to dictate. Every object, the governor-general in council is happy to proclaim, for which the war was undertaken, has been finally and most satisfactorily accomplished. To the consummate military talents, energy, and decision, manifested by Major-general Sir Archibald Campbell, to the ardour and devotion to the public service, which his example infused into all ranks, and to the confidence inspired by the success of every military operation which he planned and executed in person, the governor-general in council primarily ascribes, under Providence, the brilliant result that has crowned the gallant and unwearied exertions of the British troops in Ava. Impressed with sentiments of high admiration for those eminent qualities so conspicuously and successfully displayed by Major-general Sir Archibald Campbell, his lordship in council rejoices at the opportunity of expressing to that distinguished soldier, in the most public manner, the acknowledgments and thanks of the supreme government, for the important service he has rendered to the honourable East India company, and to the British nation. The thanks of government are also eminently due to the senior officers, who have so ably and zealously seconded Major-general Sir Archibald Campbell in his career of victory. Amongst those zealous and gallant officers some have been more fortunate than others in enjoying opportunities of performing special services. The ability with which Lieutenant-colonel Godwin, of his majesty's 41st, achieved the conquest of the fortified town of Martaban, and its dependencies, appears to confer on that officer a just claim to the separate and distinct acknowledgments of the governor-general in council. In like manner, Lieutenant-colonel Miles and Brigadier-general M'Creagh have entitled themselves to the special thanks of government for their services ; the former, in the capture of Tavoy and Mergui ; and the latter, in that of the island of Cheduba. The limits of a general order necessarily preclude the governor-general in council from indulging the satisfaction of recording the names of all those officers whose services and exploits at this moment crowd upon the grateful recollection of the government, by whom they were duly appreciated and acknowledged at the time of their occurrence. His lordship in council requests that those of officers will, collectively and individually, accept this renewed assurance, that their meritorious exertions will ever be cordially remembered. * * * The conduct of that portion of the naval branch of the expedition which belongs to the East India Company has been exemplary, and conspicuous for gallantry and indefatigable exertion ; and it has fully shared in all the honourable toils and well-earned triumphs of the land force. * * * The governor-general in council has not overlooked the spirit and bravery, characteristic of British seamen, manifested by several of the masters and officers of transports and ^ back to top ^ |