'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎351] (370/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
351
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of reinforcements, owing to tempestuous weather, and he
deemed it essential to leave a strong garrison at Bushire.
Meanwhile the troops began to arrive, and, early in March, the
< Assaye/ ' Ajdaha,' 4 Falkland,' 4 Berenice/ (with General Have-
lock and his staff), and several transports, sailed in quick suc
cession for the Shatt-ul-Arab, with troops. On the 18th of
March, Sir James Outram left Bushire in the 6 Ferooz,'that
tried soldier, Brigadier-General John Jacob, C.B., remaining in
command of the garrison, with only the 4 Euphrates,' Lieutenant
Constable, to assist him. The position of this force was one of
considerable danger and difficulty, as it was known that a large
Persian army was within forty miles of Bushire, and might,
probably, take advantage of the absence of the greater portion
of the Expedition, to make an attack. Still more anxious was
the position of Lieutenant Constable. This officer, having
stripped his brig to her lower-masts, took her over the two and
a-half miles of shoal water between the town and anchorage,
and up the creek which runs until it loses itself in the swamp
behind Bushire. He then re-embarked everything on board,
crossed top-gallant yards to make a brave show, borrowed three
82-pounders from the 'Clive,' and took up his station on the
left flank of the British entrenched camp. Had the Persian
attack, which was daily anticipated, really taken place, the
position of Lieutenant Constable and his little brig would have
been a critical one, as retreat was impracticable without de
serting his ship.
By the 24th of March, the entire force destined for the
attack on Mohamra, assembled in the Shatt-ul-Arab,* and, on
* Captain Adams writes to us of the c Assaye's' doings at Busliire and at Ma'amer,
the rendezvous in the Shatt-ul-Arab:—" Taking the ' Assaye' into action at Bushire
I was ordered by Sir Henry Leeke to carry her as close as I could without
grounding. I took her close in and anchored with three inches of water under
her keel, and reported to the Admiral that it was as close as I could get her.
During the bombardment I remained on the bridge, the Admiral and Captain
Jenkins being on the quarter deck. The ' Assaye' grounded, and then learning
their magazines were on the other side of the town towards Hallilah, we listed the
ship to give good elevation and had the luck to blow up one or more powder
magazines. The Admiral, Captain Jenkins, and Clarkson went on shore,
leaving me to get the ship off, which I did. At Ma'amer, previous to the
bombardment of Mohamra, G-eneral Havelock and a lot of troops had come in
advance, but owing to Bushire being threatened, they got short of provisions,
so we knew not what was to be done as we had strict orders not to land on Turkish
soil for fear of compromising our Government. I offered to supply his troops
with salt and fresh provisions on alternate days, and rigged a stage with spare
spars and booms, and having moored our large boat at the end, sent Johnston, the
purser, and a lieutenant, to see that no one landed, and bought any number of bul
locks and sheep. Havelock dined with me one Sunday with Chitty and his staff, and
was delighted with our 68-pounders and the 4 Assaye' in general. I was to have
dined with him in the c Berenice,' but half an hour before dinner time, I received
a despatch ordering the Cavalry and Horse Artillery to Bushire instantly. As
the tide served I ordered Worsley to one transport, Tronson to another, Clarkson
to a third, and so on, with men to get them under weigh, and in less than three-
quarters of an hour, they were all sailing down the river with pilots from our