'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎223] (242/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
223
of the Indian Navy were able to render essential service. On
the 28th of December they seized a large quantity of ammu
nition on its way to the enemy; and, on the night of the 29th,
the commander of the 6 Conqueror,' having received intimation
that his vessel was to be attacked, pushed but into the middle of
the stream, and made every preparation to give a warm welcome
to his intended captors, who, however, did not put in an
appearance. On the 30th the steamer 4 Meanee' reached Shere-
Shah-ke-puttun from Ferozepore, with .£50,000, and a large
supply of ammunition, and was ordered on to Sirdarpoor to the
assistance of the 'Conqueror.' Acting-Master Davies tem
porarily proceeded on board the 6 Beeas ' with a party of men
to protect the boats and stores in her vicinity, and, after
the main portion of the brigade had landed from the
'Napier' to join the army, she also proceeded out into the
stream to prevent the passage of the enemy's boats up the
river.
The detachment of the Indian Navy was brigaded with the
Bombay Artillery, under the command of Major (with the rank
of Brigadier) Leeson of that corps, and worked in two watches,
under the command of Lieutenant Berthon and Mr. Davies.
The battery was made of sandbags and platforms, laid down
by the sailors, and the guns were supplied from the park of
artillery. Colonel Cheape, C.B., was now Chief Engineer, and,
on the 27th of December, siege operations were commenced in
real earnest by the capture of the whole line of suburbs
between Seetul-Ke-Maree and the canal, by one Bengal column,
while the two Bombay columns carried, after a desperate
resistance, and crowned with guns, the important points of
Seedee-lal-ke-Beyd and Mundee Awa. The attack was now
directed to the city, within the walls of which the enemy was
almost entirely confined.
While some batteries were ordered to breach the curtain
next the Khoonee Bhoorj, or Bloody Bastion, others, including
the Indian Navy battery, # which consisted of two 8-inch
howitzers and four 18-pounders, directed their fire against the
Delhi gate. On the right attack a heavy fire was kept up
between the 28th and 30th of December, when, at ten a.m., a
shell from a mortar pierced the supposed bomb-proof dome of
the Jumna Musjid, or mosque, in the citadel, which, says
Edwardes, " formed the enemy's principal magazine, containing
400,000 lbs. of powder, and, in an instant, the sacred edifice
and 500 souls were blown into a thousand fragments." The
lucky shot has been attributed by Edwardes, and other writers,
* An excellent illustration of this battery, sketched by an officer of the 60th
Rifles, which distinguished regiment were constantly employed in the battery
keeping down the matchlock fire from the walls, as they were at close quarters,
appeared in the " Illustrated London News" of that date.