On the Irrawaddy, A Story of the First Burmese War
With the exception of the terrible retreat from Afghanistan, none of England's many little wars have been so fatal--in proportion to the number of those engaged--as our first expedition to Burma. It was undertaken without any due comprehension of the difficulties to be encountered, from the effects of climate and the deficiency of transport; the power, and still more the obstinacy and arrogance of the court of Ava were altogether underrated; and it was considered that our possession of her ports would assuredly bring the enemy, who had wantonly forced the struggle upon us, to submission. Events, however, proved the completeness of the error. The Burman policy of carrying off every boat on the river, laying waste the whole country, and driving away the inhabitants and the herds, maintained our army as prisoners in Rangoon through the first wet season; and caused the loss of half the white officers and men first sent there. The subsequent campaign was no less fatal and, although large reinforcements had been sent, fifty percent of the whole died; so that less than two thousand fighting men remained in the ranks, when the expedition arrived within a short distance of Ava. Not until the last Burmese army had been scattered did the court of Ava submit to the by no means onerous terms we imposed.
Genre(s): General Fiction, Historical Fiction, War & Military Fiction
Language: English
Section | Chapter | Reader | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Play 00 | 00 - Preface | Mike Harris |
00:02:49 |
Play 01 | 01 - A New Career | Mike Harris |
00:30:27 |
Play 02 | 02 - The Outbreak of War | Mike Harris |
00:29:16 |
Play 03 | 03 - A Prisoner | Mike Harris |
00:30:35 |
Play 04 | 04 - A Ruined Temple | Mike Harris |
00:29:07 |
Play 05 | 05 - With Brigands | Mike Harris |
00:29:15 |
Play 06 | 06 - Among Friends | Mike Harris |
00:28:40 |
Play 07 | 07 - On The Staff | Mike Harris |
00:28:33 |
Play 08 | 08 - The Pagoda | Mike Harris |
00:28:41 |
Play 09 | 09 - Victories | Mike Harris |
00:29:37 |
Play 10 | 10 - The Advance | Mike Harris |
00:30:19 |
Play 11 | 11 - Donabew | Mike Harris |
00:29:12 |
Play 12 | 12 - Harry Carried Off | Mike Harris |
00:28:44 |
Play 13 | 13 - Preparing a Rescue | Mike Harris |
00:28:40 |
Play 14 | 14 - In The Temple | Mike Harris |
00:29:22 |
Play 15 | 15 - The Attack | Mike Harris |
00:30:16 |
Play 16 | 16 - Rejoining | Mike Harris |
00:30:20 |
Play 17 | 17 - The Pride of Burma Humbled | Mike Harris |
00:30:19 |
Play 18 | 18 - In Business Again | Mike Harris |
00:22:48 |