'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎470] (489/622)

470
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
engaging the enemy, and, soon after, marched to Mooteeharee,
where he joined Mr. Cotgrave's detachment. He writes on the
30th May" The men are in very good quarters. I have
made the fort into an hospital for the sick, the remainder of the
men are in the opium godown, which is large and roomy. I
found Mr. Cotgrave's men well up in their drill, and every man
in good health. The brigade is exercised for two hours every
morning, in marching and rifle drill; I have also taught them
the bayonet exercise,* which they know perfectly, as also
field-piece exercise. On the Queen's birth-day, I fired a
Royal salute, and the residents and planters round about sub
scribed 260 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. towards sports for the seamen, which went
off very well. The Brigade has always had the good will of the
residents, on account of the difference found between them and
the police brigade stationed before them, who were to be seen
lying drunk in the bazaars day and night." Writing in July,
Lieutenant Barron says :—" The Commissioner wrote to the
Magistrate, requesting to know whether we were required here
any longer; and the planters of the district were asked for
their opinion. They, with the Magistrate, replied that, if we
were removed, the rebels of the next district, Goruckpore,
would immediately come into this." But the Government had
decided to dispense with the services of the Indian Naval
Brigade, and, soon after, No. 11 Detachment returned to
Calcutta, and was broken up in September, 1859, the Commis
sioner of the Patna Division, Mr. Fergusson, reporting in high
terms of the good conduct of the men and the zeal of the
officers. Lieutenant Barron joined the ' Ferooz' as Senior
Lieutenant, and participated in the China War of 1860.
Lieut. A. T. Windus, who succeeded to the command ofNo. 2
Detachment at Barrackpore, in April, 1858, on Lieut. Carew's
proceeding up-country, was directed to march to Chyabassa in
Chota Nagpore, with No. 9 Detachment, to relieve the Police
Brigade employed in that district. The Detachment consisted
of the usual complement of one hundred seamen, with two
guns, and the following officers:—Acting-Lieutenant W. F.
Yates, Acting-Master W. Vincent, Acting Second-Masters D.
Dunn, E. D. Green, and T. Williams, and Mr. Scott, gunner.
Lieutenant Windus displayed great resource and skill in con-
* Of the daily routine in camp he writes :—" In the morning they are turned
out to coffee at six o'clock, fall into drill at half-past, which lasts till nearly
eight; at ten they muster in a clean suit for the day. I then inspect barracks,
visit the sick, and see that everything is right, after which those who are anxious
to improve their knowledge of reading and writing repair to a tent, where I hare
had books, &c., placed, and a well educated man gives them lessons. Several
attend daily and improve rapidly. Those who were drunkards appear to have
given it up, for since the examples I made, now near two months ago, not a man
has been in the slightest degree the worse for liquor. I am also glad to inform
you that since the Brigade have been here not a complaint has been made against
one man by the authorities or natives of the town."