Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/425

 , beyond a few small canoes, which had been with difficulty procured. Energy and perseverance, however, aided by the cheerful and hearty exertions of the soldiers, finally triumphed over every obstacle. Rafts were constructed to cross the artillery, stores, &c.; and by continued labour, day and night, on the 18th, every man had reached in safety the right bank of the Irrawaddy .” On the 24th, Sir Archibald halted at a village, from which he had a tolerable view of the enemy’s works, distant only four miles. A fleet of war-boats lay above them, at a little island; and on the approach of a reconnoitring party from the British camp, “they came out in very pretty style, and commenced a cannonade. The flotilla was also seen lying at anchor some distance below, and every thing seemed to promise a speedy trial of strength with the now confident and emboldened garrison .” On the 25th, the army moved upon Donoobew, and endeavoured to invest the main stockade at long gun-shot distance: it was, however, found much too extensive to admit of its being surrounded even by a chain of posts, by so small a force; and a position was consequently taken up. While this was going forward, the enemy manned his works, and fired upon the British troops; “his cavalry hovered on their flanks, while they continued in motion; and every thing about the stockade bespoke system and judgment in the chief, with order, confidence, and regularity in the garrison .” Captain Alexander, not yet aware of the near approach of Sir Archibald Campbell, had previously moved the armed flotilla up to an island about a mile below the white pagoda, where he waited, in most painful anxiety, the arrival of the land column; and was each night annoyed by the distant firing of the Burmese war-boats, and of guns brought down to the bank of the river, which sometimes did mischief, and was always extremely harassing. On the 26th, he was relieved from suspense by the sight of the Deputy-Quarter-Master-General, who had been sent with a small party to open a communication with Brigadier-General 