'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎481] (500/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
481
cutta was detained at Berhampore, a large military station,
within six miles of the city of Moorshedabad, the ancient
Mahommedan capital of Bengal, and the residence of theNawab
Nazim. As the native troops were rife for mutiny, Lieutenant
Batt remained in the river until the arrival, on the 1st of
August, of H.M.'s 90th Regiment, when the Detachment was
disembarked to disarm the 63rd Native Infantry and the 11th
Irregular Cavalry. The latter, who, as everywhere, were the
ringleaders in mutiny, were rather inclined to be troublesome,
having hesitated three times before coming on to the parade.
The disarming was effected by the 90th and No. 3 Detachment,
and, on its completion, some of the carbines of the cavalry,
who were also deprived of their horses, w T ere found to be loaded
with patent cartridges.* The Detachment proceeded to Dina-
pore, and thence to Allahabad, where Lieutenant Batt embarked
twenty-five men of the 1st Madras Fusiliers, under Lieutenant
Barclay, and was proceeding up the Ganges to Cawnpore, when
he received instructions not to pass the Fort of Kallykunka,
but to go lower down the river, to cut out or destroy some
boats, laden with Government stores, that had been seized
and detained by the rebels. Lieutenant Batt sent a boat
in charge of Midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. Parker, to cut them out, but the
enemy, who lined the banks in great numbers and occupied a
thick wood close down to the river, opened so fierce a fire that
Lieutenant Batt hoisted the signal for recall. The steamer and
boats now advanced to the attack, and engaged the enemy for
six hours, and, at length, they were shelled out of their positions,
and the enemy's boats were all destroyed. The Detachment
lost two killed and four wounded. Lieutenant Batt now re
turned to Allahabad, where Captain Peel was stationed with
the Shannon Brigade. He writes u Captain Peel attached
us to his Brigade, intending to take us up to Lucknow, but the
Government would not sanction it, and we were ordered down to
garrison Buxar." Subsequently he commanded at Buxar.f where
pilots at Chuprah, and proceeded to Hevelgunge and Monjing, whence, there not
being sufficient water, we returned to Dinapore for further orders."
# The Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Nazim, who throughout acted with loyalty, took this opportunity
of disarming his own troops, and subsequently the fanatical Mahommedan popu
lation of Moorshedabad were disarmed.
f In consequence of the disturbed state of the districts of Shahabad and
Chuprah, on the abandonment of Groruckpore, the Arrah establishments were
removed to Buxar. Headers familiar with the events of the Mutiny, will recall
to mind the memorable defence of Arrah by Mr. Wake, Mr. Boyce, and other
Kuropeans, with the assistance of fifty Sikhs, against the Dinapore mutineers,
and their relief by the gallant Vincent Eyre of the Bengal Artillery, with only
one hundred and fifty European soldiers and three guns. Major Eyre, having
received reinforcements, defeated the rebels under Koer Singh, and followed them
up to Jugdespore, which was precipitately abandoned by the rebels. Shahabad
was for a time cleared of the enemy, but later on it was again overrun by them,
until the operations of Sir E. Lugard and Brigadier Corfield, already detailed,
resulted in their dispersion.
VOL. II. 11
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I f: III