'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎369] (388/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 331>
determine their number to be five. In our farther progress
towards Ismailiyeh, where we came to an anchor at eight p.m.,
we, for the first time, entered into communication with the
inhabitants of the country, from whom we learnt that the Per
sian Army had passed up the opposite bank on their way to
Ahwaz two days before, and that, at Subaut, they buried Agha
Jan Khan, killed at Mohamra. Leaving Ismailiyeh at five a.m.
on the 31st of March, we reached Oomarra about three p.m.,
where we ascertained positively that the Persian Army had
reached Ahwaz the previous morning. Time being of im
portance, the vessels resumed their progress towards Ahwaz,
now distant only fifteen miles, at three a.m., on the 1st of
April. At seven we first observed the enemy's cavalry vedettes
(who retired at our approach) stretching along the right bank ;
and, having made good our advance to within two and a half
miles of their position, we could clearly discern their battalions
of infantry, with a large body of horse on the right flank,
crowning a low range of hills of sandstone formation which
trended westward in a direction at right angles to the river.
Here, in the view of the Persian force, we overtook a boat
carrying a disabled gun, and took possession. Some time was
now occupied in reconnoitring the country, and, there being
reason to believe either that Ahwaz had been totally aban
doned, or was so weakly garrisoned as to be liable to a
coup-de-main, an attack upon the town w r as speedily deter
mined on.
44 The details of the plan will doubtless be reported to you by
the naval and military commanders ; but I may be permitted to
observe that its adoption fully justified the previous reputation
of Captain Rerinie for daring and intrepidity, while the judicious
disposition of the small force under the command of Captain
Hunt, of H.M.'s 78th Highlanders, insured its successful execu
tion. The gunboats having taken up the position assigned to
them under the shelter of an island within range of the enemy's
camp, the troops landed, and were formed up in a manner to
assume the appearance of fifteen hundred men rather than three
hundred, to which number they were in fact limited, and, at the
same time, Captain Rennie proceeded in person in the 4 Comet'
(Captain Selby commanding) to support the former, and, as far
as possible, to cover the march of the latter. As we advanced,
the last of the enemy's pickets were seen to retire on the main
body. The battalions on the heights gradually disappeared,
and, one hour later, when the occupation of the town had been
effected, we descried the wdiole Persian Army, with their rear
not twelve hundred yards distant from us, in full retreat on
Dizful. Among the wheeled vehicles the private carriage of
the Shazada was clearly discernible. I must not omit to men
tion that twice, as the troops proceeded, the enemy endeavoured
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