'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎347] (366/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
347
'iH,
information I had received." Speaking of the services of his
personal staff, the General says of Mr. Purser Johnston, of the
warfare, before quitting the town ; but, while relating the circumstance to Rear-
Admiral Sir Henry Leeke, a flag of truce from the shore was reported, and the
bearer (Mirza Ismail, collector of customs in the town) came off with a written
apology from the Governor, who, with the chief officers of the garrison, was
stated to have been outside of the walls examining into the condition of the
exterior defences at the time ; every regret was expressed; the act was attributed
to the ignorance of the artillerymen, with hopes that it would be overlooked.
To this the Admiral and myself replied that, so far as we were personally
concerned, we were willing to credit the statements of the Grovernor, and accepted
the apology, though the act itself, in whatever way originating, must stigmatize
the Persian Grovernment and its officers in the eyes of all civilized States. Mirza
Ismail returned with a summons to the shore. While this was going on, a note
from the Major-G-eneral commanding announced his intention of advancing on
the town the following morning, and the Admiral disposed his fleet in order of
battle, for first dismantling the newly-erected outworks, and then moving with a
view of breaching the south wall of the town. The following morning, as the
tide served, the ships were in the positions assigned to them. A second flag of
truce had come off, begging twenty-four hours' delay, but this was promptly
rejected, and at near eight o'clock the signal was hoisted to engage. Shot and
shell were aimed at the redoubt south ot the town, but with little effect, owing
to the great range, though eventually the enemy assembled there to oppose the
troops were dislodged, and beat a retreat with their guns into the town. The
ships, in the meantime, had moved upon the town, and such was the ardour
displayed to get close to the works, that every ship was laid aground at the turn
of high water, and for four hours continued to cannonade the defences, which
were active in replying the whole time. Many of their guns, however, were not
of sufficient calibre to reach the ships, but the perseverance of the Persian
gunners in firing from the more heavy pieces was admired by every one. Their
shot told very often on the hulls of the 'Victoria,' 'Falkland,' ' Semiramis,'and
'Ferooz, which latter vessels, under Captain John Young and Commander James
Rennie (if comparisons are admissible where all exerted themselves alike) had
the posts of honour for the day. Details of the affair it is unnecessary for me to
enter upon. It will suffice for me to report that, some of the guns being silenced,
on the approach of the army, under Major-General Stalker, C.B., to breach the
wall on the gate side before the assault, the Persian flagstaff was felled in token
of submission. This was at noon. The Persian flag has since been recovered by
myself, and presented as a joint trophy to the chiefs conducting the combined
operations in this Expedition, who, with every officer and man in it, whether
soldier or sailor, have certainly won for themselves an honourable name. After
surrender, some little hesitation was shown on the part of the Grovernor and
garrison to come out of the town : an assuring note, coupled with the threat of
an assault in half-an-hour, was, however, sent in by a freed captive; and on
the expiration of the time that officer was seen issuing with his suite from the
gate. I moved forward with a party to receive and conduct him to head-
where, after tendering his sword, he met with a gracious reception from
the Major-Greneral and Rear-Admiral commanding the forces. Shortly after
wards the Sirhang, or Commandant, submitted, the entire garrison at the same
time laying down their arms on my proceeding into the town with assurances of
saiety from the Major-General Commanding-m-chief. The British colours were
-T^ed at 4.30 p.m. on the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. flagstaff by Lieutenant Clarkson, of
tne Indian Navy, the troops under orders to garrison the town moving at
sunset into the place."
After the capture, the following Proclamation was issued by Major-General
btalker, O.B., commanding the Persian Field Force :—
he town and outworks of Bushire, after a four hours' cannonade, having
surrendered unconditionally to a combined naval and military force assembled
e ore the place, were formerly taken possession of in the name of Her Majesty
^ueen Victoria, yesterday afternoon. The British colours were hoisted at the
esi ency flag-staff in the town at 430. p.m., the topmast of His Majesty the Shah