Papers of Brigadier-General John Jacob (East India Company) Mainly Relating to the Anglo-Persian War (1856-1857), and the Aftermath [‎254r] (512/1464)

Content

The volume comprises correspondence, reports, memoranda, petitions, registers and other papers relating chiefly to events following the Anglo-Persian War (1856-1857) Armistice, signed in Paris 4 March 1857, notably the military withdrawal, diplomatic, political, logistical and security-related matters. A large proportion of the letters are originals, but the volume also includes copy letters and copy Persian letters.

There is no overall index, however the content of the volume is partially covered by four internal ‘indexes’, or contents lists. Where covered by an index, the titles of groups of papers are transcribed directly from the index, in single inverted commas.

Note: there is a certain amount of internal duplication of subject and copy documents, and between this volume and IOR/H/549.

The papers are bound as follows:

Folio 9: list of commended ship officers, including name of ship, surname of individual and remarks

Folios 1-110: Correspondence and papers principally relating to: fulfilling the peace treaty terms with regard to withdrawal of Persians from Herat and Afghanistan and British from Mohammerah [now Khorramshahr, variously spelt in this volume Mohammera, Mohamera, Mohamra and Mohamrah] and Bushire; British relations with the Persian authorities; Turkish claims on Mohammerah vis-a-vis the latter sending a vessel of war to the port prior to British withdrawal. Also covered are arrangements for packet (mail) couriers; strained relations between Brigadier-General John Jacob, Commanding the Persian Field Force, Bushire, and Charles A Murray, British Envoy to the Court of the Shah of Persia (near) Tehran, over timing and manner of British withdrawal, notably Jacob’s scathing doubt of Murray’s warning of a Persian plot to attack embarking British troops (folios 63-64); arrangements for Persian prisoners of war; intelligence, via Bombay, relating to uprisings against the British in India and their suppression; and use of remount agents for purchase of horses for the cavalry and artillery. The principal correspondents are Murray, Jacob, Captain Arnold Burrowes Kemball, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. (Baghdad), and Commander James Rennie, Senior Naval Officer, Commanding Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Squadron. Additional correspondents are Captain Felix Jones, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. with the Persian Field Force and Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; J G Taylor, Agent in Bassorah [Basra]; Malcolm Green, Military Secretary (then in Baghdad); and Sir Henry Rawlinson (then a crown director of the East India Company). Also included are translated extracts from the Tehran Gazette and a letter from the 'Sudr Azim' [ṣadr-e aʿẓam, head of the Persian Government], to Murray, 1 August 1857, regarding precise fulfilment of the treaty terms

Folio 111: ‘Victoria Cross Index’ comprising list of items numbered 1-2

Folios 112-167 (including title page for index item No. 1 and No. 2): ‘Miscellaneous correspondence regarding the valor of individuals at different actions in Persia [Iran] and having therefore recommended for the “Victoria Cross” decoration’ and ‘Reports on the merits of officers and men of the Field Force at Bushire 14 June 1857’. Chiefly original correspondence and printed official extracts of letters, reports and commendation lists, dated May-June 1857, by Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram, late Commander Persian Expeditionary Force; Viscount Canning, Governor-General of India; Earl of Clarendon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Robert Vernon Smith, MP, President of the Board of Control Formally known as the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, it was established by an Act of Parliament in 1784 to supervise the activities of the East India Company. ; Ross Donelly Mangles, Chairman of the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. , East India Company; Edward Lugard, Chief of the Staff, Persian Expeditionary Force; and Jacob. Includes report on Poona Irregular Horse in the action at Kooshab [Battle of Khushab, February 1857], by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Tapp, Commanding Poona Irregular Horse and 1st Cavalry Brigade at Kooshab, with names of those commended and reason; list of those recommended for the Victoria Cross for conduct at Kooshab under command of Outram, with names and detailed accounts of actions; further recommendations by Lieutenant-Colonel H W Trevelyan, Commanding Artillery Brigade, Persian Field Force; list of officers of meritorious conduct whilst under the command of Jacob in Bushire, post-conflict (for Jacob’s original handwritten recommendations see folios 150-163); notice of official thanks by George Frederick Edmonstone, Secretary to the Government of India, to officers presiding over the Bushire evacuation; printed specification of the award of the Victoria Cross issued 29 January 1856 (folios 130-131). There is some duplication of documents in this group of papers. (See also IOR/H/552, folios 148-156)

Folios 168-169: ‘Secretary to Government Index’ comprising list of items numbered 1-7 (before the first item is a page entitled ‘Secret Department’)

Folios 170-179 (including title page for index item No. 1): ‘Correspondence regarding Steamers and Tonnage, etc.’ Letters, dated 17 May-17 Jun 1857, by Jacob, H L Anderson, Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , Captain H R James, Officiating Secretary to the Chief Commissioner, Punjab, and Rennie, on the expediency of moving as many vessels as possible to the Indus (river) for “the more pressing requirements of the Indian Empire” (folio 172)

Folios 180-187 (including title page for index item No. 2): ‘Regarding the Turkish question in respect of Mahomera and the state in general of Persia’. Letters covering the neutrality of Turkey during the conflict and its claims on the port, February-April 1857, including a memorandum by Murray (at Basra), for the Earl of Clarendon

Folios 188-206 (including title page for index item No. 3): ‘Relating to the views of the Russian cabinet in respect of the ratification of the Treaty. Release of Persian prisoners on the ratification of the Treaty. Russian troops on frontiers of Persia’. Chiefly copies of letters forwarded by Anderson to Outram. Also includes a report for the Earl of Clarendon, written by John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, British Envoy-Extraordinary to Russia in St Petersburg, concerning his dealings with Prince Gortchakoff [Prince Alexander Gorchakov], Foreign Minister of the Russian Empire, 3 April 1857; and intelligence supplied by Colonel Materazza in Tabreez [Tabriz], on the Persian army, politicians and finances, 13 February 1857 (see also IOR/H/552 folios 112-115)

Folios 207-210 (including title page for index item No. 4): ‘Appointment of General Katenine as Governor of Orenburg’, following the resignation of General Peroffsky [Vasily Perovsky] on account of his health, April 1857 (copy letters)

Folios 211-216 (including title page for index item No. 5): ‘Grant of extra allowances to certain individuals’. Notices forwarded by Anderson to Outram of special allowances granted to Mahomed Beshir, Native Zabit of Kharrack [Kharg Island], Assistant Surgeon James MacAlister, and Captain C P Rigby (when Civil Assistant Commissioner in Bushire), June-July 1857

Folios 217-218 (including title page for index item No. 6): ‘Instructions for the evacuation of Bushire and further correspondence connected therewith. Arrangements etc. proposed thereafter’. (There is a note that this has been ‘transferred to separate file’). One copy letter from Anderson to Jacob notifying him that the Governor in Bombay intends to appoint him to the Command of a movable Column for active service in the Deccan (India), 23 July 1857

Folios 219-223 (including title page for index item No. 7): ‘Correspondence regarding the embarkation of captured [Persian] cannon for India’. Includes letters from Jacob, July-August 1857

Folios 224-286 (including title for index item No. 8 ‒ not included in the preceding index): ‘Miscellaneous letters transmitting correspondence to Secretary to Governors of Bombay and India’. Chiefly correspondence, dated July-October 1857, between Anderson, Jacob and Jones, relating to arrangements for the evacuation of British troops from Bushire, disposal of captured enemy cannon, use of remount agencies for purchase of horses in Persia and Arabia, matter of Persian officer who allegedly attempted to open secret communications with Hajee Ahmed (see folios 287-346), stationery allowances for officers, arrival of steamer Chusan at Kurrachee [Karachi] without the mails, and other minor matters. Includes copy of instruction to Jacob, 10 October 1857, to resume his command of troops and political duties on the frontier of Sind [Sindh] on return to India

Folios 287-346 (including title page for an index item No. 3 – displaced from volume IOR/H/549): ‘Regarding Meerza Mahomed Ali, an Engineer Officer of the Persian camp deputed with a letter to Hajee Ahmed, Arabic Secretary to the Resident in the Persian Gulf’. Concerns Jacob’s decision to arrest and imprison Meerza Mahomed Ali Meerza Mahomed Ali [Mirza Mahomed Ali Khan] and Tachee Ghuloon Hoossein [Haji Ghulam Husayn], a representative of Tungistoon [Tangestan] Chief Bawkir Khan, who were deputed by Meerza Mahomed Khan, Sirkischikchi [Sarkischeekchee] Bashee (Persian Commander in Chief), to deliver letters to Hajee Ahmed, a Secretary to the Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Captain Felix Jones), which instructed Hajee Ahmed to undertake a survey of Bushire, the vicinity, and (Jacob thinks) the British camp. The two messengers are intercepted and Jacob accuses the Persian Commander-in-Chief of underhand tactics for not sending the messengers directly to him. The Persian Commander-in-Chief denies any duplicity and Envoy Murray insists it was merely an infraction of the rules of etiquette and appeals to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Clarendon), pressing the case for the prisoners’ release. Correspondence, dated May to July 1857, is chiefly between Jones, Jacob and Meerza Mahomed Khan, with additional letters from Jacob to Lugard; translated transcripts of the original intercepted letters for Hajee Ahmed written early in May; copy of Murray’s letter to Outram declaring Jacob’s actions to be inflammatory and an 'entire misconception of the intentions' of the Commander-in-Chief (folio 340); copy of Clarendon’s letter to Outram, 11 July 1857, approving Jacob’s course of action (folio 343)

Folios 347-397 (not covered by any index): Correspondence, dated July-December 1857, relating to evacuation of occupying British forces from Bushire and Mohammerah, and arrangements for long-term garrisoning of Karrack [Kharg] Island. Chiefly Jacob’s progress and situation reports, July-October 1857, to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. (Jacob reports that the last portion of the Persian Expeditionary Force under his command embarked for Bombay on 2 October). Also includes Jacob’s detailed advice to Clarendon on how the British army can purchase horses in Persia at non-inflated prices; report by Jones to Jacob on the cholera outbreak at Kazeroon [Kazerun] and Murray’s activities; Jacob’s departing instructions to the Persian Commander in Chief; Clarendon’s mediatory letter to Jacob, 9 Dec 1857, regarding the strained relations between the latter and Murray during the recent operations

Folios 398-453: ‘Index’ comprising list of items numbered 1-5 (the contents of item No. 4 are different to those described in the index, and there are no papers for item No. 5)

Folios 398-414 (including title page for index item No. 1): ‘Correspondence (relative to the withdrawal of the British troops) with the Governments of India and Bombay’. Copy of withdrawal instructions from Anderson to Jacob, dated 23 July, with Jacob’s reply on logistics; copies of Field Force Orders issued by Jacob for garrisoning of Karrack and withdrawal from Bushire; memoranda between various artillery and naval commanders including Lieutenant-Colonel Trevelyan, Rennie; and ‘List of vessels in the Bushire Roads 4 August 1857’ (folios 413-414)

Folios 415-425 (including title page for index item No. 2): ‘Correspondence (relative to the withdrawal of the British troops from Mohammera and Bushire) with the Persian Commander in Chief’. Includes formal letters, dated 2-8 August 1857, between Jacob and Persian Commander in Chief and copy transcripts and translations of Persian letters (folios 422 and 426)

Folios 426-445 (including title page for index item No. 3): ‘Correspondence with naval authorities, etc., touching the withdrawal of the War steamer from Mohammera’. Letters, dated August-September 1857, between Rennie, Jacob, Kemball, Jones, Lieutenant James Tronson, commanding Falkland , and Khandur Khan, Sirhang [senior military officer] at Boorazjoon [Borazjan], concerning departure of the Turkish war vessel from Mohammera to Shat ool Arab [Shatt al-Arab] on 20 August, subsequent British departure from the port, and delays in arrival of Persian force taking over in Bushire

Folios 446-452 (including title page for index item No. 4): ‘Weekly jail and police reports from the Superintendent of Bazars, town of Bushire’, July-August 1857, forwarded by the Superintendent of Camp Police and Bazaars (Captain C P Rigby, later Captain J B Dunsterville). Prisoner reports include name, nationality, crime and sentence

Folios 453-473: ‘Register of Inward letters’, 11 May-30 September 1857 and ‘Register of Outward letters’, 18 June- 24 September 1857

Folios 474-491: ‘Index. Petitions. From various individuals in the camp and town of Bushire correspondence touching prisoners’. Documents dated June-August 1857, concerning cases of Jemsheed bin Ardashar, Eduljee Jumsedjee and other Parsi Merchants, and Ali bin Ismail. Also, notification to Jacob that Moonshi (secretary) Ali Akbar is being sent by Outram to assist him

Folios 562-727: (Not covered by any index). Mainly original letters, April-September 1857, a portion of which relate to the preceding contents of this volume and to IOR/H/549, including a number of duplicate copy letters. Many of the letters are annotated in pencil with a number which probably refers to an index (in this or other unidentified volumes). The papers cover various matters connected to the British occupation and withdrawal from Persia after cessation of hostilities, notably administration; intelligence; condition and availability of steam transport ships; logistics of troop shipments out of Bushire; mail communications; new police establishment at Karrack under Captain Rigby; military commendations and testimonials relative to the campaign; arrangements of land transports of the armed forces (including assistance of wealthy merchant Hajee Yusuf bin Bedr of Kuwait [also spelt Yoosoof bin Budr of Koweit]); local trade and commerce in Bushire; matters relating to individual officers; activities of Murray at Tehran; salvage of wrecked ship Futteh Moobarek ; apprehension of two locals who attempt to open General Foster Stalker’s grave, September 1857; and dismissal of Bushire signaller for neglect of duties. Correspondents include Jacob, Jones, Rennie, Captain Lewis Pelly (Aides-de-camp to Outram), Lugard, Anderson, Colonel P M Melvill, Secretary to the Government, Commander G G Wellesley, Tronson, Trevelyan, Lieutenant-Colonel R R Younghusband, Deputy Adjutant General, Major John Hill, Commanding Engineer, J A Ballard, Intelligence Department, Dunsterville, Commander Miller B Worsley, Major Henry Green, Assistant Adjutant General, R W Swinton, Superintendent of the Electric Telegraph, C Constable, Captain J Forbes, and Captain J C Graves, Commanding 3rd Regiment Bombay Light Cavalry.

Extent and format

1 volume (728 folios)

Arrangement

A portion of the volume contains four groups of papers, each preceded by an index that was probably compiled at the time the papers were bound together. Other papers are grouped together generally by subject. One set of papers appears to be misbound from IOR/H/549 (folios 287-346).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 730; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: The original pagination sequence dating from the 1920s is also present in parallel; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. This sequence correlates to the description found in Samuel Charles Hill's Catalogue of the Home Miscellaneous Series of the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records (London: HMSO, for the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , 1927).

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English in Latin script

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