'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎469] (488/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
469
will have a chance of distinguishing themselves." The seamen
suffered much from dysentery, and four men died* 5 at Moozuffer-
pore, and Mr. McKinley, the gunner, at Mooteeharee, whom
he had described as a 44 steady, trustworthy officer, greatly re
spected by the men." The officers and men of the Detachment
subscribed liberally to place a memorial over the remains of
their shipmates.
Lieutenant Barron reports on the 21st of FebruaryMr.
Acting-Master Butland is away with a party of men escorting
treasure to Patna, from whence he goes on to Arrah; should
another escort not be in readiness to relieve him at Patna, I
expect he will be absent eight or ten days longer: Mr. Cot-
grave with his detachment at Chumparum are all doing well."
On the 6th of March he writes :—" This day important intelli
gence has been received about the rebels. A Gowalah from the
enemy's camp reports that they are a " lac One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees " strong — men,
women, and children included ; another reports that they have
from eight to nine thousand fighting men, and that they have
recrossed the Gunduck. Colonel Bright arrives here on the
10th, with ten officers and three hundred and ten men of the
19th, en route to Mooteeharee to protect the district. I am
ordered by the Commissioner to have the guns in readiness to
join him, and have therefore made the necessary arrangements
for accompanying Colonel Bright's force." Lieutenant Barron
was eager in seizing any pretext for delaying his departure to
Calcutta, in accordance with the orders of Government, and
writes on the 8th of March:—" I am sorry I cannot yet inform
you as to when we are likely to return to Patna. Mr. Cotgrave
has been detained at Mooteeharee with the Commissioner's
approval, and the magistrate of the said place has been directed
to inform you of the same. A copy of your order has been for
warded to the Commissioner by the Collector here, with a letter
from me upon the subject. I mentioned having made the
necessary arrangements for accompanying the guns with Colonel
Bright's force, and I trust you will not disapprove of my having
done this, as the Collector has prepared carts for the ammuni
tion and baggage, which are now drawn up in front of the
barracks. He has requested that we may not go down to
Calcutta; and the residents are surprised at our going away
when reports of the rebels are flying about."
Lieutenant Barron was disappointed in his expectations of
* On the lOth of January Lieutenant Barron writes:—" Dr. Macnamara
cannot imagine what is the cause of the dysentery. No liquor can be had, as all
shops are shut to them. The rations have been changed, and various other
changes made, but still it creeps upon us. I have applied for a change of
quarters, which mav have a salutary effect; but it's not in Moozufferpore only
that troops are suffering, but also at Dinapore, Chuprah, and the stations round
about it is the same. It may be the change of weather, for now the nights are
very cold and the atmosphere damp in the extreme."