'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎359] (378/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
359
declined the responsibility of ordering so large a vessel to
proceed thither, and it was entirely on her Commander's own
responsibility that she was taken over the bar. Who shall say
what mi^ht have been the consequence of the absence of this
vessel, with her powerful broadside, during the attack? To
Lieutenant Sweny, of the surveying brig, which Government
with praiseworthy liberality attached to the Expedition, who
carefully buoyed 'the channel, the success of this experiment,
for such it was, may be attributed. On the 24th of March,
then, the whole fleet dropped anchor about two miles from the
forts. The 'Assaye/on her arrival, proceeded half a mile in
advance to reconnoitre. The next day, while the troops and
artillery were being embarked in the light steamers and boats
and a mortar-raft was being prepared, the plan of attack was
arranged on board the 4 Ferooz,' and an eminently judicious
one it proved. At least, I can state there were no two opinions
about it in the fleet, which is an exceedingly rare thing in naval
matters. It was by no means the case at the attack on Bushire,
or rather there was only one opinion on that occasion also,
viz., that, as far as depended on the Chief, it was shockingly
mismanaged. The 6 Semiramis'towing 'Clive,'the 'Ajdaha,'
and 'Victoria' towing 'Falkland,' were to engage the forts
from the opposite side of the river, at a range of 900 to
1,000 yards, to distract the enemy's fire; and as soon as
the batteries were somewhat damaged, the 4 Ferooz' and
' Assaye' were to run up close to the north fort and complete its
demolition, the first division then coming also to close quarters.
Had the squadron run at once under the batteries while yet
intact, and the gunners cool and uncowed by the effect of the
8-inch shell, the leading ships must have suffered very severely,
perhaps have even realised the prophecy of the captain of the
French frigate 'Sybille' who had visited the place before, and
was convinced we should lose three steamers at least. That
night the mortar battery was towed up to its position, and was
to commence at dawn. After sunset, on the 25th, the Persians
brought down two field-pieces abreast of the 6 Assaye,' and
opened fire on her, which was effectually returned from that
vessel. The cannonade, which was neither heavy nor sustained,
ceased in about an hour. No injury was done to the 4 Assaye.'
At daylight, next morning, the 26th, while the steamers were
weighing, the first boom from the mortar-raft, the existence of
which was quite unsuspected by the enemy, announced the
commencement of the struggle. This first shell was a lucky
one, for a prisoner subsequently stated that it burst on the
parapet of the north fort, wounding among others the Amir-o-
panj, or brigadier. The Persians replied; and the mortar-men,
although they were protected by a boat filled with hay, which
was anchored in front of them, must have had a hot time of it