Battle of Ramu

Last updated

Battle of Ramu
Part of the First Anglo-Burmese War
Date13 to 16 May 1824
Location
Result Burmese victory
Belligerents
National flag of Third Burmese Empire (Konbaung Dynasty).svg Burmese Empire Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Empire
Commanders and leaders
War Flag of Konbaung Dynasty.svg Maha Thiha Thura Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Captain Noton  
Strength
Between 2,000 to 4,000 infantry
200 cavalry
Total: 2,000 to 4,000 (The British had estimated that there were at least 10,000 men)

350 Bengal Army Regulars
250 Provincials
400 Arakanese Levies
2 Six-pounder guns

Total: 1,000

Contents

Casualties and losses
Less than 200 killed or wounded 6 officers killed and 2 wounded
250 killed, wounded or captured
Entire force disintegrated

The Battle of Ramu, fought in May 1824, was one of the opening battles of the First Anglo-Burmese War. On May 10, 1824, the Burmese under General Maha Bandula launched an invasion of Chittagong from Arakan as the southern part of a two-pronged attack aimed at Calcutta. They offered to end the invasion if the British were to hand over some Arakanese rebels that had taken refuge in the Bengal Presidency. The British commander at Ramu, Captain Noton (also spelled Cotton in some sources), rejected the offer, and the Burmese detachment under Lord Myawaddy Mingyi U Sa attacked. [1] After three days of fighting the British troops, a mixed force with a total strength of several hundred men, [2] was routed and forced from Ramu on May 17. [1] The British losses in killed, wounded and missing amounted to more than half the strength of the garrison. [2] The Burmese however failed to exploit their advantage, [3] and Maha Bandula's army would withdraw to counter the British occupation of Rangoon. [2]

Campaign background

In 1824, the Burmese armies marched into the Bengal Presidency to force the British into surrendering Arakanese rebels taking shelter. Maha Bandula, was supported by twelve of the Burmese best divisions, including one under his personal command, all totaling 10,000 men and 500 horses. Bandula's plan was to attack the British on two fronts: Chittagong from Arakan in the southeast, and Sylhet from Cachar and Jaintia in the north. Bandula personally commanded the Arakan theatre while Thado Thiri Maha Uzana commanded Cachar and Jaintia theater. [4]

British forces in Chittagong under Colonel Shapland consists of around 3,000 men from 13th Bengal Native infantry, 5 companies of the 2nd battalion 20th Native infantry, 1st battalion of the 23rd Native Infantry and a local corps of Arakanese levies. [5]

Early in the war, British forces were pushed back by the battle-hardened Burmese due to the difficulties of fighting in the jungles of Manipur and Assam. [4]

While Bandula remained in Arakan, a 4,000 strong Burmese force under the Lord Myawaddy, advanced into Chittagong. According to G.P. Ramachandra, the Burmese made several efforts to make peaceful contact. [6]

According to a British witness: [6]

"Captain Noton [the British commander] communicated with two horsemen who approached the opposite bank of the river, who disavowed any hostile intention of the Burmese towards us, but desired only that some rebellious subjects under our protection should be delivered up to them offering at the same time to explain further the views of the Burmese, provided Captain Noton would allow them to cross the river with a guard of 100 horsemen and guarantee the safety of that party."

Noton did not trust the Burmese and rejected the offer. It appears that the British were the first to open fire:

"On the evening of the 14th, the enemy's whole force is concentrated on the opposite bank of the river apparently with the intention of crossing at a favourable opportunity [some units] were detached for the purpose of annoying the enemy on their Encampment, and preventing them crossing the river, should they attempt it. Several rounds of grape and shrapnel were fired from the nine-pounders with effect, and appeared to create much confusion."

The Burmese then proceeded to attack the British force occupying Ratnapallang, fourteen miles south of Ramu. Captain Noton, commanding from Ramu, decided to attack the Burmese position, leaving the convalescents of the 1/23rd, the whole of the Provincials, and around a hundred levy, he marched out of Ramu on the evening of 11 May with the rest of his detachment, including the two 6-pounder guns. [7]

The British found the Burmese occupying the hills overlooking the road on the east side and built a stockade at Ratnapallang. While Captain Noton was able to advance past these hills towards the stockade, they experienced difficulty in bringing up the guns due to the inexperience of the mahouts who drove the elephants. [7]

The British exchanged fire all night around the stockade but were forced to withdraw in the morning due to the ammunition coolies deserting and the guns thus being unserviceable. Noton withdrew to back to Ramu, with a loss of seven missing and eleven wounded. He was reinforced joined by three companies of the 2nd battalion of the 20th Bengal Native Infantry. [7]

Forces

The British forces consisted of around 350 regulars: five companies from the 1st Battalion of the 23rd Bengal Native Infantry, three companies from the 2nd Battalion, 20th Bengal Native Infantry, 250 men from the Chittagong Provincial Battalion and about 400 Maghs (Arakanese) Levies. Noton also had under his command two 6-pounder guns. [7]

The Burmese army left the capital with 4,000 and gathered levies along the way gathering up to a total of around 10,000 by the time they reach Arakan. The British estimated at least 10,000 infantry and 200 cavalrymen at Ramu, however, actual numbers are likely lower as the Burmese forces split into several columns under Myawaddy Mingyi U Sa, Uzana and Maha Bandula himself. Furthermore, the British regarded much of the intelligence gathered on Burma to be inadequate and unreliable.

Battle

On the 13th morning, Myawaddy's forces had been reinforced and encouraged by their success, advanced from their stockade in Ratnapallang and occupied the hills east of Ramu across the river which flows by the town. Despite the disparity in strength, Noton resolved to hold Ramu, for he was confident that further reinforcements would arrive from Chittagong.

During 14 May, the two 6-pounder guns managed to prevent the Burmese from crossing the river, but on the 15th they managed to cross the stream, and took possession of a tank near British position. The encampment was surrounded by a three-foot levee and was protected on its right flank by the river; some sixty feet right flank was another tank, which was held by a rear was also a tank, held by a strong unit of Provincials. The Burmese infantry made good use of natural cover and despite heavy fire proceeded to occupy the tank in front without difficulties. In the next two days, Burmese entrenched themselves closer and closer to the British lines despite heavy fire. The levies and Provincials at this point were greatly demoralized and were barely prevented from deserting.

Captain Noton began to consider withdrawing but he had received information leading him to believe that reinforcements would arrive from Chittagong next day, and chose to hold his ground. Skirmishing continued all night but by the next morning, the Burmese positions had been reinforced and were entrenched within thirty yards of the British pickets at the tank.

As the Burmese began to close in, the levies and Provincials fled along with the elephants from the gunnery teams leaving the regulars severely outnumbered and without artillery support. Noton, with only 400 exhausted men attempted to retreat before the Burmese could attack. They managed to maintain order for about half a mile before being finally caught up by the Burmese cavalry, who charged and routed the remaining British troops.

Wilson describes the closing stage of the battle as: [8]

"(A) small body of Horse attached to their force, by whom the men that fell off from the main body were instantly cut to pieces, filled (our) troops with an ungovernable panic, which rendered the exertions of their officers to preserve order unavailing."

Aftermath

Casualties

The British force suffered around 250 killed, wounded or captured. Among the six European and three Indian officers, only three survived with two being wounded. [7] The six officers: Captains Trueman and Pringles, Lieutenant Grigg, Ensign Bennet, Assistant-surgeon Maysmore and Noton himself were killed. Lieutenants Scott and Campbell were wounded while Lieutenant Codrington escaped. The British force at Ramu had been thoroughly destroyed with British prisoners being marched back to Ava. The British considered their operations in the Chittagong frontier "unsatisfactory throughout" with little knowledge of the terrain, sickness being prevalent, difficulties in logistics and lack of friendly locals. [6]

The Burmese losses were unknown but were suspected to suffer at most 200 killed or wounded most of them from the British artillery. [7] The Burmese commander at Ramu, Myawaddy, however, witnessed the firepower of British regulars and would at that point attempt to avoid engaging them in open combat.

Myawaddy's column then joined Bandula's column on the march to defeat British forces at Gadawpalin, and went on to capture Cox's Bazar. The destruction at Ramu caused extreme panic in Chittagong and in Calcutta. [9] The Burmese victory too contributed to the Barrackpore mutiny of 1824 where tales of mystical prowess of the Burmese was exaggerated. However Bandula, not wanting to overstretch his lines, stopped Myawaddy from proceeding to Chittagong even though it was lightly held. Had the Burmese taken it, it would open the way to Calcutta. A threat to Calcutta could have potentially forced the British into giving more favourable terms in the peace negotiations to the Burmese kingdom or at least contribute more troops on the Arakan frontier rather than to Rangoon.

Furthermore, the British occupation of Rangoon and naval assault forced the offensive to halt and return to Burma. Myawaddy and his veterans would return to Arakan while Bandula brought the rest of his men back to Rangoon to face the 11,000 strong expeditionary force under Sir Archibald Campbell.

The British would later return to Arakan with a much larger army of 10,000 men including two Royal regiments, cavalry and thirty artillery pieces led by high profiled officers such as War of 1812 veteran Joseph Wanton Morrison and Colquhoun Grant. Although the British would finally defeat Myawaddy and his depleted men in the Battle of Mrauk U on April 1, 1825, Morrison and many of his men suffered greatly from tropical diseases.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Anglo-Burmese War</span> 1824–1826 war in Asia

The First Anglo-Burmese War, also known as the First Burma War, was the first of three wars fought between the British and Burmese empires in the 19th century. The war, which began primarily over the control of what is now Northeastern India, ended in a decisive British victory, giving the British total control of Assam, Manipur, Cachar and Jaintia as well as Arakan Province and Tenasserim. The Burmese submitted to a British demand to pay an indemnity of one million pounds sterling, and signed a commercial treaty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Admin Box</span> WW II Battle in February of 1944 in Burma

The Battle of the Admin Box took place on the southern front of the Burma campaign from 5 to 23 February 1944, in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Danubyu</span>

The Battle of Danubyu was a battle between the British Empire and the Konbaung Dynasty as part of the First Anglo-Burmese War.

The battle of Prome was a land-based battle between the Kingdom of Burma and the British Empire that took place near the city of Prome, modern day Pyay, in 1825 as part of the First Anglo-Burmese War. It was the last-ditch effort by the Burmese to drive out the British from Lower Burma. The poorly equipped Burmese army despite the advantage in numbers suffered a defeat. The British army's subsequent march toward north threatened Ava, which led to peace negotiation by the Kingdom of Burma.

Myawaddy Mingyi U Sa was a Konbaung-era Burmese poet, composer, playwright, general and statesman. In a royal service career that spanned over six decades, the Lord of Myawaddy served under four kings in various capacities, and was a longtime secretary to King Bagyidaw. Multi-talented Sa is best remembered for his innovative contributions to classical Burmese music and drama, as well as for his brilliant military service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajput Regiment</span> Military unit

The Rajput Regiment is one of the oldest infantry regiments of the Indian Army, tracing its origin back to 1778 with the raising of the 24th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. The 1st battalion of the regiment was formed in 1798.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bagyidaw</span> King of Burma

Bagyidaw was the seventh king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma from 1819 until his abdication in 1837. Prince of Sagaing, as he was commonly known in his day, was selected as crown prince by his grandfather King Bodawpaya in 1808, and became king in 1819 after Bodawpaya's death. Bagyidaw moved the capital from Amarapura back to Ava in 1823.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maha Bandula</span> Burmese general

General Maha Bandula was commander-in-chief of the Royal Burmese Armed Forces from 1821 until his death in 1825 in the First Anglo-Burmese War. Bandula was a key figure in the Konbaung dynasty's policy of expansionism in Manipur and Assam that ultimately resulted in the war and the beginning of the downfall of the dynasty. Nonetheless, the general, who died in action, is celebrated as a national hero by the Burmese for his resistance to the British. Today, some of the most prominent places in the country are named after him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">26th Indian Infantry Division</span> Military unit

The 26th Indian Infantry Division, was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. It fought in the Burma Campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maha Bandula Park</span>

The Maha Bandula Park or Maha Bandula Garden is a public park, located in downtown Yangon, Burma. The park is bounded by Maha Bandula Garden Street in the east, Sule Pagoda Road in the west, Konthe Road in the south and Maha Bandula Road in the north, and is surrounded by some of the important buildings in the area such as the Sule Pagoda, the Yangon City Hall and the High Court. The park is named after General Maha Bandula who fought against the British in the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Mrauk U</span> Independent coastal kingdom of Arakan (1429–1785)

The Kingdom of Mrauk-U was a kingdom that existed on the Arakan littoral from 1429 to 1785. Based in the capital Mrauk-U, near the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal, the kingdom ruled over what is now Rakhine State, Myanmar and southern part of Chittagong Division, Bangladesh. Though started out as a protectorate of the Bengal Sultanate from 1429 to 1531, Mrauk-U went on to conquer Chittagong with the help of the Portuguese. It twice fended off the Toungoo Burma's attempts to conquer the kingdom in 1546–1547, and 1580–1581. At its height of power, it briefly controlled the Bay of Bengal coastline from the Sundarbans to the Gulf of Martaban from 1599 to 1603. In 1666, it lost control of Chittagong after a war with the Mughal Empire. Its reign continued until 1785, when it was conquered by the Konbaung dynasty of Burma.

The military history of Myanmar (Burma) spans over a millennium, and is one of the main factors that have shaped the history of the country, and to a certain degree, the history of Southeast Asia. At various times in history, successive Burmese kingdoms were also involved in warfare against their neighbouring states in the surrounding regions of modern Burmese borders—from Bengal, Manipur and Assam in the west, to Yunnan (the southern China) in the northeast, to Laos and Siam in the east and southeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Min Bin</span> King of Arakan

Min Bin was a king of Arakan from 1531 to 1554, "whose reign witnessed the country's emergence as a major power". Aided by Portuguese mercenaries and their firearms, his powerful navy and army pushed the boundaries of the kingdom deep into Bengal, where coins bearing his name and styling him sultan were struck, and even interfered in the affairs of mainland Burma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Chittagong</span>

The city of Chattogram (Chittagong) is traditionally centred around its seaport which has existed since the 4th century BCE. One of the world's oldest ports with a functional natural harbor for centuries, Chittagong appeared on ancient Greek and Roman maps, including on Ptolemy's world map. Chittagong port is the oldest and largest natural seaport and the busiest port of Bay of Bengal. It was located on the southern branch of the Silk Road. The city was home to the ancient independent Buddhist kingdoms of Bengal like Samatata and Harikela. It later fell under of the rule of the Gupta Empire, the Gauda Kingdom, the Pala Empire, the Sena Dynasty, the Deva Dynasty and the Arakanese kingdom of Waithali. Arab Muslims traded with the port from as early as the 9th century. Historian Lama Taranath is of the view that the Buddhist king Gopichandra had his capital at Chittagong in the 10th century. According to Tibetan tradition, this century marked the birth of Tantric Buddhism in the region. The region has been explored by numerous historic travellers, most notably Ibn Battuta of Morocco who visited in the 14th century. During this time, the region was conquered and incorporated into the independent Sonargaon Sultanate by Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah in 1340 AD. Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah constructed a highway from Chittagong to Chandpur and ordered the construction of many lavish mosques and tombs. After the defeat of the Sultan of Bengal Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah in the hands of Sher Shah Suri in 1538, the Arakanese Kingdom of Mrauk U managed to regain Chittagong. From this time onward, until its conquest by the Mughal Empire, the region was under the control of the Portuguese and the Magh pirates for 128 years.

Min Khayi was the second king of the Mrauk-U Kingdom from 1433 to 1459.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Min Razagyi</span> King of Arakan

Min Razagyi, also known as Salim Shah, was king of Arakan from 1593 to 1612. His early reign marked the continued ascent of the coastal kingdom, which reached full flight in 1599 by defeating its nemesis Toungoo Dynasty, and temporarily controlling the Bay of Bengal coastline from the Sundarbans to the Gulf of Martaban until 1603. But the second half of his reign saw the limits of his power: he lost the Lower Burmese coastline in 1603 and a large part of Bengal coastline in 1609 due to insurrections by Portuguese mercenaries. He died in 1612 while struggling to deal with Portuguese raids on the Arakan coast itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toungoo–Mrauk-U War</span> War between the Toungoo Dynasty of Burma and the Arakanese Kingdom of Mrauk U

The Toungoo–Mrauk-U War was a military conflict that took place in Arakan from 1545 to 1547 between the Toungoo Dynasty and the Kingdom of Mrauk U. The western kingdom successfully fended off the Toungoo invasions, and kept its independence. The war had a deterrence effect: Mrauk U would not see another Toungoo invasion until 1580.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arakan</span> Historic coastal region in Southeast Asia

Arakan is the historical geographical name of Rakhine State, Myanmar. The region was called Arakan for centuries until the Burmese military junta changed its name in 1989. The people of the region were known as Arakanese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arakan Division</span> British territory

Arakan Division was an administrative division of the British Empire, covering modern-day Rakhine State, Myanmar, which was the historical region of Arakan. It bordered the Bengal Presidency of British India to the north. The Bay of Bengal was located on its western coastline. Arakan Division had a multiethnic population. It was a leading rice exporter.

The restoration of Min Saw Mon was a military campaign led by the Bengal Sultanate to help Min Saw Mon regain control of his Launggyet Dynasty. The campaign was successful. Min Saw Mon was restored to the Launggyet throne, and northern Arakan became a vassal state of the Bengal Sultanate.

References

  1. 1 2 Topich, William J.; Leitich, Keith A. (2013). The History of Myanmar. ABC-CLIO. p. 45. ISBN   9780313357244. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Ritchie, Anne Thackeray; Evans, Richardson (2012). Lord Amherst and the British Advance Eastwards to Burma. Cambridge University Press. p. 91. ISBN   9781108044721. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  3. Tucker, Spencer C., ed. (2009). A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East. ABC-CLIO. p. 1143. ISBN   9781851096725. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 Lt. Gen. Sir Arthur P. Phayre (1967). History of Burma (2 ed.). London: Susil Gupta. pp. 236–247.
  5. Wilson, Horace Hayman (1827). Documents Illustrative of the Burmese War with an Introductory Sketch of the Events of the War. Calcutta: Government Gazette Press. p. 26.
  6. 1 2 3 Ramachandra, G.P. (1978). "The Outbreak of the First Anglo-Burmese War". Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 51 (2 (234)): 69–99. JSTOR   41492830.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pearn, B. R. (1944). "Arakan and the First Anglo-Burmese War, 1824-25". The Far Eastern Quarterly. 4 (1): 27–40. doi:10.2307/2048985. JSTOR   2048985. S2CID   163316258.
  8. Wilson, Horace Hayman (1827). Documents Illustrative of the Burmese War with an Introductory Sketch of the Events of the War. Calcutta: Government Gazette Press. p. 36.
  9. Maung Htin Aung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press.