In March 1824 Britain and Burma stumbled into war, a conflict brought about by mutual antagonism, territorial design, and ignorance of two totally alien cultures. The first Anglo-Burmese war of 1824 was started on three 'fronts'. In the north-west, a small British-Indian force entered Assam in an attempt to retake the province from the Burmese. This was defeated by hostile terrain and the May monsoons.

In the south, a large British-Indian naval landing took place at Rangoon,, at the mouth of the Irrawaddy. This was to become the main theatre of operations. In the west, a small BritishIndian force was tasked to defend Chittagong from Burmese Arakan, and this theatre is represented here by this scenario.

The Naaf River was the border between Chittagong and Arakan provinces, the former a British Indian province, the latter Burmese. Near the coast of the Bay of Bengal was the town of Ramu in Chittagong, not far from the coastal town of Cox's Bazar. For the 150+ mile long ChittagongArakan border, the British had only 3000 men to defend the province. Of this a force of 1000 men were sent to guard the border near Ramu, with orders to hold until reinforced.

Unbeknown to the British, a force of 12,000 Burmese under their most competent general, Maha Bundula, had assembled in Arakan. Sometime in early May 1824 8000 of these Burmese led by the Rajahs (princes) of Arakan, Sandaway, Ramree and Cheduba entered Chittagong. After blocking the road to Ratnapulling, and forcing the British force to retire to Ramu, the Burmese tried to cross the Naaf River at dusk on the 14th of May, but were foiled by two 6pdr guns sighted on the ford (A3 on the battlefield map). On May 15th the Burmese forced a crossing upstream and advanced west along the north bank, seizing a water tank (G2) several hundred metres from the British camp (F4). This sets the scene for the battle.

TERRAIN

The Arakan region has some really inhospitable terrain, jungle, wide rivers, steep ravines and narrow creeks, and further inland, steep forested mountains. At the coast, rivers are very wide with mud and swampy mangrove in abundance. Some valleys are cultivated, mostly rice paddies, and in some of these areas water tanks had been dug. These were minireservoirs with high earth embankments which made ideal square earthworks. Three of these were a feature of this battle.

THE BATTLEFIELD

The accompanying map is not exact, being based on a written report of the action. However the features significant to the battle are detailed. on the southern edge is the Naaf River, very wide and unfordable, except at the crossing (A3). There are water tanks (D4, G4, G2) and a large dry paddy field surrounded by a three foot (one metre) high earth wall (F4), in which the British camp is placed. Both of these provide heavy cover against small arms. There is a track from the camp leading to the crossing half a mile away, perhaps 800m. This is flanked by muddy fields, swamp patches and clumps of water-logged trees. Movement in these areas should be at half rate and have a disordering effect on close formation troops. The area around the water tanks is fairly flat, damp soil, easy to dig, with odd clumps of bushes to provide light cover.

BRITISH-INDIAN FORCES

CinC: Captain Norton
1st Bttn, 23rd Bengal Native Infantry (45th Bengal Inf): 500 Sepoys
2nd Bttn, 20th Bengal Native Infantry (40th Bengal Inf): 100 Sepoys in 3 Companies Chittagong Provincial Companies & Mugh Levy: 400 men
1 Gun Section, Bengal Artillery: 2x 6pdr pack guns, elephants, civilian coolies/ammunition carriers

The Chittagong Provincial infantry are a locally raised, regular trained militia of poor quality armed with musket and bayonet. The Mugh Levy are a local irregular militia, probably not even regular trained. Treat as poor militia. The Sepoys are European officered, and drilled in British style (Napoleonic) tactics. Treat as average morale, as they were not quite as good as British regular line.

These can be deployed in areas G4, G5, B-F it is known that the Burmese are to the north-east, holding a water tank in superior numbers, with others in trenches in between. orders are to hold until reinforced, the remainder of the 23rd NI regiment being expected (from A3). If no reinforcements arrive, then retire in good order to the ford. Deploy first.

BURMESE FORCES

There are four commands each of 2000 irregular infantry organised in 'battalions' each of 250 men. Five of the eight battalions in each command are armed with matchlock musket or bow, short sword, and entrenching tools; the remainder are spear, sword and axe armed. The four commanders are the Rajahs (princes) of Arakan, Sandaway, Ramree, and Cheduba. one should be in overall command, with overall orders to surround and destroy the British force. In reserve off table in H2 is a cavalry regiment of 300 men, armed with 81 spear and curved sword. 

On the 16th of May the Burmese dug trenches (as shown on the map in F2 to H4). These are not linked WW1 style, but a series of 2-man fox-holes a few feet apart, sufficient for a frontage of three 250 man battalions.

On the night of 17th-18th May fresh trenches were dug much closer to the enemy positions, and can be as close as 15m (in squares G4, G3, F3, E3, D3, E2, D2) from the camp and water tanks. These new positions are not revealed until the British player has set up, as the Burmese were adept at such tactics. Alternatively, the Burmese player can opt to deploy in squares D1, E1, E2, F1, G3, F2, G1, G2 H1, H2, H3, and H4 in the cover shown, or off table in reserve. It is unlikely that all 8000 Burmese need to be represented with figures, units could be 'recycled' in waves as required. Burmese infantry were poorly trained, enthusiastic warriors, although they rarely were able to charge home into typical British regular volleys. The cavalry however, were relatively good, so should be classed as poor grade hussars.

THE ACTUAL BATTLE

The British deployed the Mugh Levy and Provincials in the water tank D4, the 6pdrs and bulk of the force in the camp F4, with a Native Infantry piquet in the smaller tank G4. At 0800 on the 16th May the Burmese advanced from the tank G2 to within 300m of British defences, then dug in. For the rest of the day ineffectual fire was traded. Overnight (16th-17th) the Burmese advanced and extended their right flank (into row 2 on the map). Further mutually ineffective musketry was traded all day. During the night of the 17th18th the Burmese advanced to within 15m of British positions, enveloping the British left flank to pour fire from the trenches into the unreliable Provincials and Mugh Levy and the camp. At such range, the sheer weight of musketry outgunned the superior British-Indian training, and at 0900 the Mugh Levy and Provincials broke, routing towards the river crossing. The Burmese immediately occupied the water tank in D4.

The regulars in the camp were then ordered to retreat in good order to the ford. Receiving fire from three sides, they struggled in disorder down the track, the guns being abandoned. The Burmese cavalry were then unleashed in pursuit, hacking down a Sepoy and HQ staff rearguard. The other ranks, too disordered to form square, were then attacked by the cavalry and routed into the river, most men abandoning packs and equipment in their attempt to flee.

A total defeat for the British, the remnants fled to Chekeria, a few miles away. The force lost 300 killed and 250 captured, mostly Bengal Sepoys. Burmese casualties are not recorded. The Burmese under Bundula followed up to within a mile of reinforced British camps near Chekeria, but then turned away unseen after receiving news that British forces had taken Rangoon.

FIGURES

By this time the Bengal Sepoys wore a British style uniform with shorts and a peakless bell-topped shak. In 15mm Two Dragons Productions are the best source of Indian wars figures, and figure HC9 is the correct pattern Bengal Sepoy. Command figures are not available at the time of writing, but should be available during 1996.

For Burmese irregulars, figures E17, E19 and El 10 are ideal although they should have no shields.

Irregular Miniatures produce Burmese cavalry figure, which is suitable for the cavalry regiment. They also produce a Burmese infantryman, but this is in fact a regular infantryman, not present in this battle. A unit of 300 could be fielded for variety if desired.

Two Dragons Productions are at 18 Lipscomb Street, Milnsbridge, Huddersfield, W. Yorks, HD3 4PF. Catalogues cost E2.50 inc p&p. Irregular Miniatures are at 69a Acomb Road, Holgate, York, N. Yorks.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. The Burma Wars 1824-1886, George Bruce, Granade Publishing Ltd (1973), ISBN 0 246 10547X.
2. Victoria's Enemies, D. Featherstone, Blandford Press (1989)
3. The Indian Army, Boris Mollo, Blandford Press (1981)
4. A History of Modern Burma, J.F. Cady, Cornwell University Press, New York (1958)