It took four days' continuous labour to get the little army across, as it was necessary to make large timber rafts to carry the carts, horses and bullocks, guns and stores.
Hearing that a force was posted, some fifteen miles away, to intercept the detachment that was marching from Bassein; Colonel Godwin, with a party, was sent off that night to endeavour to surprise it.

The Burmese, however, took the alarm before they were attacked; and scattered in all directions, without firing a shot.
The army marched along the right bank, and arrived before Donabew on the 25th of March.

Communications were opened with General Cotton's force, below the town; and both divisions set to work to erect batteries.
The Burmese made several sorties to interrupt the work, and one of these was accompanied by Bandoola's seventeen elephants.

The troop of cavalry, horse artillery, and the rocket company charged close up to the elephants; and opened fire upon the howdahs, filled with troops, that they carried.

In a short time most of these and the drivers were killed; and the elephants--many of which also had received wounds--dashed off into the jungle, while the infantry fled back into the stockade, into which a discharge of shells and rockets was maintained, all day.
The next morning--the 1st of April--the mortar batteries were completed; and these, and others armed with light guns, kept up a continuous fire into the enemy's camp.