Page 338 - INDIANNAVYV1

30<) HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. '

Duriiig the uight tlie boml)-ketch continued to throw shells
into the town, and, on the following day, the bombardment was
partially resumed ; but the destruction of the South Fort was
decisive in bringing to terms the Imaum's Vakeel, Meer Futteh
Ullah, now appointed Dowlah, who, on the morning of the 2nd
of Januar}^ came off to wait on Captain Bruce, a concession
hitherto unheard of. Having afforded Captain Bruce the
strongest assurances of a full concession of all demands, that
officer landed on the 4th, accompanied by the captains of the
ships of war, and rode to the house of Futteh Ullah, who received
him with the utmost consideration ; the late Dowlah was present
at this interview, but placed on a seat at some distance from
possession of the North Fort. They efTected a landing about half-past two o'clock
under cover of the guns of the 'Topaze ;' but, on getting to the fort, the door
was barricaded ; and tlie party having no means of escaladiug the wall, and
being unable to force the gateway, the assailants were reluctantly compelled to
retreat to their boats, under a galling fire from the matchlocks of the Arabs, and
with a heavy loss in killed and wounded. Although foiled in their object, no
words can do justice to the merits of the party employed on this entei-jirise ; the
coolness and detennined spirit of gallantry which actuated every individual was
never more conspicuous than on this trying occasion. Both officers and men
were observed going round and about every side of the fort, seeking in vain for a
hole to creep througli, or in any way to gain access to the area of the work
;
while many were falling by a murdei'ous fire from the matchlocks of the enemy,
who, unseen and in security, took deliberate aim at their victims through Ioojd-
holes in the walls, and by hurling shot, stones, and quickhme on their heads
from above. This is one of the melancholy instances which occasionally occur
on expeditions of this nature ; and while we regret the loss of those brave men
who fell in this affair, no blame can be attached to any party. That experienced
and gallant officer wlio commanded the force, Captain Lumley, had doubtless very
strong reason to believe that the fort was abandoned, and, from the circumstance
of no men having been seen in it, and not a gun having been fired from it since
nine o'clock, it was but reasonable to conclude so, and in his zeal for the acquisition
of an important object of the expedition, namely, the destruction of the North
Fort, he dii-ected it to be taken possession of as the best means of terminating
hostilities, and securing British interests by a speedy acquiescence with our
reasonable, and just demands. The shells from the bomb-ketch were thrown
into the town with admirable effect during the night, and (at 1,200 yards range)
penetrated the flat roofs of the houses and through two floors, and exploded in
the lower apartments, destroying whole families. The explosion of some shells
in the early part of the night caused two extensive conflagrations in the town,
which destroyed the prison and Governor's stables, &c. The attack of the North
Fort recommenced on the morning of the 26th of December, at a few minutes
after six. Our fire was returned by the enemy from the North and South Forts,
Bunda, Five Gun, and North Gate Batteries, and kept up throughout the day.
By ten, the North Fort having been rendered untenable, was abandoned, and by
noon it was occupied by a detachment of Marines, Bombay Artillery, and Sepoys,
landed under the command of Lieutenant W. Moriarty, and by three the guns
were spiked, their carriages destroyed, and three mines sprung, which completely
destroyed it. In consequence of the state of the weather, the operations against
the South Fort did not commence till the 29th. The ' Benares ' and ' Antelope
cruisers, and Thames bomb vessel, were warped close to the South Fort ; the
'
'
depth of water not admitting of tlie ' Topaze ' being also warped near enough,
her fire was directed in keeping the town batteries in check. By half-past ten in
the morning of the 30th, the South Fort was taken possession of, and demolished
in the same manner as the North one. On the following day the enemy opened
a cannonade partially ; but our object having been fully accomplished, our
squadron sliifted beyond the reach of the fire."