This story was corroborated by wreaths of smoke, rising at various points.
The troops pressed forward at the top of their speed.

On entering the town, they found that the native population had all been forced to leave and, piling their arms, they set to work to extinguish the flames; which they did not, however, succeed in doing until nearly half the town was destroyed.

Fortunately the fire was checked before it reached the great magazines of grain, and other stores, for the army.
The belief that the negotiations had been only pretexts to arrest the advance of the troops against the town, until the expected reinforcements arrived, was confirmed by the natives; who presently came in from hiding places where they had taken refuge, until their army retired.

They said that, as soon as the news came of the fall of Donabew, fresh levies were ordered to be collected in every part of Upper Burma; while the whole population of the province had been employed in adding to the defences of the town, which had been already very strongly stockaded.
It was a disappointment to the force, which had hoped that the occupation of Prome would bring about the submission of the court of Ava; and enable them to be taken down the river in boats, and embark, before the rainy season again set in.

Nevertheless, the prospect of passing that season at Prome was vastly more pleasant than if it had to be spent at Rangoon.