'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎358] (377/622)

358
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
above, there were, says Captain Huiit, 44 several minor batteries
of from two to four guns on either bank, and just outside the
west face of the town, on the right bank, was a very carefully
made and strong work for ten guns." These batteries were
worked by six hundred regular artillerymen, exclusive of the
other arms of the Service.
The following graphic account of the action at Mohamra, by
Lieutenant A. Stiffe, appeared in the " Bombay Gazette" of the
2nd of June, 1857 :—" The accounts published in the local papers
of the naval battle at Mohamra seem to me in many respects so
imperfect that I think a naval man's view of the affair, which
does not yet seem to have been presented to the public, may be
of sufficient interest for insertion in your paper, though at so
late a period. In the first place, too much cannot be said in
praise of Commodore Young's admirable plan of protecting the
vessels by a breastwork of screwed hay-bales, which were quite
bullet proof. This he alludes to very modestly in his despatch,
which, by the way, is throughout a remarkable contrast to the
bombastic style of the celebrated despatch from the last
Commander-in-chief, off Bushire, and which is still fresh in all
our memories. Of this arrangement the sole credit is, I believe,
due to him, and without it the loss of life must have been ten
fold what it was; indeed, I believe that the men could never
have stood to their guns under the close fire of grape and mus
ketry they were subjected to, as the steamers, excepting the
6 Semiramis,' have no musket-proof bulwarks, but only single
thin plank, scarcely breast high, the ' Assaye' only having
hammock nettings, the proper barricade of a ship-of-war. The
effect of numerous casualties on the morale of an untried ship's
company would have seriously lessened our chances of success.
One thing appears altogether to have escaped notice. At the
rendezvous, forty or fifty miles from Mohamra, lay thirty-eight
large ships and steamers, crowded together in a narrow and
rapid river. The whole were taken in tow, each steamer towing
two or three ships, some of them upwards of two thousand tons,
in an incredibly short time, without the slightest confusion or
accident, and proceeded up the river safely. It was a fine
sight. The smoke of the steamers spread over the country like
a pall. Horsemen could be seen galloping along the banks
to bear the news to the Persians that the great English Fleet
was on its way. About twenty miles below Karoon the Persians
had constructed a redoubt, but this was found on our approach
to have been abandoned. The only vessel late at the rendez
vous was the 'Assaye,' which vessel had parted her hawsers,
having two of the most unwieldy transports to tow, and she did
not arrive till next morning. The mere presence of this ship
(the 4 Assaye') in the river shows great spirit in her officers,
for the late Commodore and the General, both I believe,