Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/409

 . The joint crews of the Arachne, Larne, and Sophie, including supernumeraries and the officers and men employed in the flotilla, at this time amounted to no more than 237 persons.

In order to leave no obstruction in his rear. Sir Archibald Campbell, on the 11th January, directed a detachment of 200 troops, under Lieutenant-Colonel R. G. Elrington, of H.M. 47th regiment, to be embarked on board two divisions of gun-boats, commanded by Captain G. T. Finnucane, of H.M. 14th regiment, and Lieutenant Joseph H. Rouband, of the Bombay marine, for the purpose of driving the enemy from the old Portuguese fort and the pagoda of Syriam (the latter doubly stockaded), both which posts they had re-occupied since their last defeat. The naval part of this expedition “was most nobly conducted” by Lieutenant Keele, then just returned from Martaban, who took with him 48 officers and men belonging to H.M. sloops of war.

The detachment landed under the fort, and found the bridge across the nullah removed: to make another, with planks sent for the occasion, gave the navy an opportunity of displaying their usual activity, skill, and steady courage. On this point the enemy kept up a heavy and well-directed fire, by which nearly 30 men were killed and wounded, including among the latter Mr. Atherton, acting purser of the Larne, and five sailors. In a few minutes, however, the bridge was laid, by the blue jackets swimming across with the planks; two of the gun-boats were also brought up the creek. On the soldiers gaining the opposite bank, and rushing upon the works, the enemy instantly fled, although the place was as strong as considerable art and indefatigable labour could render it, and was capable of making a most formidable resistance. Four guns were found in the fort, and upwards of twenty swivels.

At the attack of the Syriam pagoda, next morning, “the sailors assisted in manning the scaling ladders, and Lieutenant Keele was the first person over” the stockade at the foot of the edifice: here ended the military operations, for