The British made no response; but charged, with a cheer, and were soon lost to sight in the trees.

Their regular volleys could be heard, at short intervals, above the scattered rattle of the Burmese musketeers; and their cheers frequently rose, loud and triumphant.

In half an hour the red line emerged again from the jungle, having destroyed the stockades the Burmese had erected; captured several guns, a quantity of muskets, and entrenching tools thrown away by the Burmese; and killed a large number of the enemy.
During the day the enemy made repeated efforts to send fire rafts down the river from above Kemmendine.

These rafts were constructed of bamboos, upon which were placed great numbers of earthenware pots, filled with petroleum.

These rafts were skilfully constructed, and made in sections so that, when they drifted against an anchor chain, they would divide--those on each side swinging round, so as to envelop the ship on both sides with fire.
The sailors from the sloops and gunboats rowed up to meet the rafts and, although a heavy fire was kept up by the enemy, from the jungles lining the banks, they succeeded in towing most of them safely to shore; while the rest grounded on a projecting spit, off Kemmendine.
So diligently did the Burmese work at all points throughout the day that, by the afternoon, their whole line of circumvallation was covered with earthworks; behind which they lay, entirely hidden from sight.
"If they could fight as well as they dig, and build stockades," Sir A.Campbell remarked, "they would be one of the most formidable enemies in the world.