'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎510] (529/622)

510
HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY.
Brigade did not remain long in existence, and indeed it had no
raison d 'etre, for, as European troops kept pouring into the
country in a manner that suggested to the minds of the dis
comfited rebels, the idea that the sea vomited forth transports
filled with white soldiers, there was no lack of Artillery to
supply its place. Accordingly, in December, 1858, the Bombay
Detachment returned on board ship, and that stationed at Surat
was broken up early in May, 1859. being for the last three months,
under the command of Acting-Lieutenant Bewsher, Lieutenant
Sedley having been appointed to the command of the ' Clive/
which sailed on the 2nd of March for Zanzibar.
On the 31st of August, 1858, the Bengal Regiments stationed
at Mooltan broke out into open Mutiny, and Lieutenant G. T.
Holt, of the Indian Navy, stationed there as Senior Naval
Officer,* under the orders of Captain Daniell, commanding the
Indus Flotilla, whose headquarters were at Kotree, was enabled
to do good service to the State. On the forenoon of that day,
the 62nd and 69th Regiments of Bengal Native Infantry, and a
Company of Native Artillery, broke out into open mutiny, and,
after a severe action, were driven back with slaughter by the
Bombay Fusiliers, detachments of European Regiments, and a
troop of Artillery, which were stationed to guard this im
portant post. At the time of the outbreak. Lieutenant Holt,
with his wife and child, was living a mile out of cantonments,
having with him only a small guard of the Bombay Marine The navy of the East India Company.
Battalion, who proved faithful to their salt. On learning what
had occurred. Lieutenant Holt, with great presence of mind,
sent a pressing order by a ferry-boat to all the ferries for a dis
tance of 150 miles down the Chenaub to remove all boats to
the opposite side of the river, and thus prevented the mutineers
crossing, or the neighbouring people from joining them. This
ferry-boat, which was flat-bottomed, reached Mithenkote, 150
miles from Mooltan—at the junction of the five rivers, Sutlej,
Chenaub, Jhelum, Ravee, and Indus—in twelve hours, having
left the orders at each ferry for the withdrawal of the boats, a
result she was enabled to accomplish owing to the wind blow
ing strong down the river at this time of the year, and the
current running at the rate of seven or eight knots, while from
her draught of only a few inches, she was enabled to take
short-cuts in the bends of the river. Lieutenant Holt, then,
with the small guard of the Marine Battalion, defended his
house against the rebels for two hours, and eventually suc
ceeded in making good his retreat to cantonments with his
family, though, unhappily, Mrs. Holt received such a shock
in-cliief of the Indian Navy. His ExceUency the Commander-in-chief of the
Army, and the Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy, are requested to issue
all subsidiary orders that may be required."
# Lieutenant Holt was also Assistant Magistrate and Port Officer at Mooltan.