G. A. Henty 
On the Irrawaddy 

The British waged three costly wars against the Burmese Empire during the 19th century. The costly wars took the lives of over 15, 000 British and Indian soldiers. When the final war ended in 1885, Great Britain controlled all of northeastern India and Burma. In this book a young man by the name of Stanley finds himself involved in the events swirling around the First Burmese War. (Goodreads)