Stanley Brooke did not accompany the land column, as the general said to him, two days before: "I have been speaking with General Cotton, and he said that he should be glad if I would attach you to his staff, until the force unites again.

Not one of his staff officers speaks Burmese and, although he has two or three interpreters with him, it will be better, if Bandoola sends in an officer offering to surrender, that he should be met by a British officer.
"In the next place, it may be necessary for him to communicate with me and, assuredly, with your experience of the country, you would be able to get through better than anyone else.

I do not apprehend that there would be any great danger, for we know that every available fighting man has been impressed, by Bandoola; and the passage of our column will completely cow the villagers lying between us and the river.
"I suppose," he said, with a smile, "that you have no objection, since it will save you a long and, I have no doubt, a very unpleasant march; and you will also obtain a view of the affairs at the stockades at Pellang and Donabew." The land column started on the 13th of February, the water column on the 16th, and the detachment for Bassein sailed on the following day.

Stanley was delighted at being appointed to accompany the boat column.

The march through the country would present no novelty to him, and it was probable that the land column would encounter no serious resistance until, after being joined by General Cotton's force, it advanced against Prome.