Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/448

 and 5th Dec, was twenty-nine officers and men slain, one hundred and thirty-three wounded, and one private missing. Brigadier-General Cotton, in his report of the victory obtained over Sudda Woon, says to Sir Archibald Campbell, “the operations of this day naturally connecting me with his Majesty’s navy and the flotilla, I hope it will not be construed into presumption my venturing to bring to your Excellency’s notice the most cordial co-operation and valuable assistance I derived from his Excellency Commodore Sir James Brisbane, who directed, personally, the whole of the boats which cannonaded and cleared the advance of the troops, from their disembarking above their position to their entering the enemy’s works.”

The beneficial results of this battle were immediately apparent in the disappearance of the enemy’s flanking parties, and the re-establishment of a free communication along the river; but in order to realise all the advantages to which it was calculated to lead. Sir A. Campbell immediately advanced in pursuit of the retreating army. “Aware that the Burmese had been long employed in fortifying the banks of the river from Meaday to Paloh, it became an important consideration to endeavour to turn these positions, naturally strong, and extremely difficult of access. For this purpose,” says Sir Archibald, “I determined to march upon Meaday, with one division by the route of Watty-goon, Seeyangoon, Seindoop, and Tonkindine, turning the positions as high as Bollay, while the column under Brigadier-General Cotton should march by the road of Neoun-benzeik, nearly parallel with the river, and in communication with the flotilla, on board of which I had placed a force consisting of H.M. royal regiment and details, commanded by Brigadier Richard Armstrong, to act in close and constant co-operation with the naval forces under Commodore Sir James Brisbane.”

From the rapidity of the current, and the numerous shifting sand-banks, it became absolutely necessary to track or kedge the heavier boats along the banks of the river, until the flotilla reached Yeondoun, a military post, recently occupied