Two canoes and the elephant were sent forward; the men proceeded forty miles in boats along the coast, then landed and marched ten days, through a country almost covered with water, with scarcely sufficient ground to rest upon. The tents were destroyed by the wet, and abandoned; the elephant proceeded in advance, feeling for the rivers; the canoes, conveying the sick, were dragged by Coolies and soldiers wading in the water, and in this state the two companies reached Cottiar bay, on the 18th of December. Boats being in readiness, they embarked for Trincomalee, and with difficulty crossed the bar; soon afterwards the wind changed, the sea became rough, and it was found impracticable either to prosecute the voyage, or to return across the bar with leaky open boats. With much danger and difficulty they gained a rock in the bay, where the soldiers passed the night, huddled together, menaced with being swept off when the tide arose, and destitute of provisions and fresh water. The wind and rain abating, they again embarked on the following morning, and on arriving at the inner harbour, were met by the boats of the ships of war, which had been cruizing for them, but were unable, from the roughness of the weather, to rescue them from their perilous situation, on the preceding night. On passing the “Orlando” frigate, the seamen cheered, but the soldiers gave a feeble response. On landing, twelve men were sent to the hospital, four lieutenants, one serjeant, two drummers, and forty-seven rank and file, under Captain Creagh, in rags, their feet and legs bare, and ulcerated, emaciated and tottering from exhaustion and hunger, entered the fort; the pitiable remains of two hundred picked men, who marched out only three months before, forming two fine flank companies equal to any service. On landing, Lieutenant William Home, found his brother, Ensign Home, dead in the hospital. Ensign Home belonged to a battalion company of the regiment, part of which was detached at Minnery,--a most unhealthy post, where nearly all the non-commissioned officers and soldiers had died. Two days after the arrival of the flank companies of the EIGHTY-SIXTH, from the interior, a General Order was issued, in which the Commander of the Forces in Ceylon expressed his “acknowledgments to Major Marston, Captain Creagh, and to all the officers and soldiers of that distinguished corps, for the gallant and important services rendered by them in suppressing the Kandian rebellion, at the same time, he cannot conceal the deep regret he feels at the severe loss which has fallen on the detachment, and the death of a gallant officer, Captain Archibald McLean, and many brave soldiers.”