THE PERSIAN CAMPAIGN. 1856–1857.
Reading edition
A rupture occurred with Persia, in consequence of that power having taken possession of Herat on the 25th. of October, and war was declared on the 1st. November following. An expedition accordingly proceeded to the Persian Gulf, under Major-General Stalker, C.B., and the Island of Karrack was taken formal possession of on the 3rd. of December without opposition. The troops landed on the 7th. at Ras Halala, about fifteen miles below Bushire, and two days afterwards stormed the position at the old Dutch fort of Reshire, which 353was taken, the place being carried at the point of the bayonet.[139] The casualties were principally confined to the officers, amongst whom was Brigadier James Stopford, C.B., of the 64th., killed.
On the morning of the 10th. the British marched on Bushire, a walled town, which surrendered unconditionally, after a bombardment of upward of four hours. No loss was sustained; sixty-five guns, with large quantities of ammunition and warlike stores, were here captured. The garrison, consisting of about two thousand, (a large number having previously effected their escape, and several drowned in the attempt), grounded their arms in front of the British line, and were on the following morning escorted by the cavalry some distance into the country, and then set at liberty. Her Majesty’s 64th., under Major Stirling, shared in this success.
A stronger expedition subsequently proceeded from Bombay, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram; this was composed of two divisions, one of which was under Brigadier-General Havelock, and the other under Major-General Stalker; the 78th. Highlanders were added to this force. On the evening of the 3rd. of February, 1857, Sir James Outram marched against Sooja-ool-Moolk, strongly posted in an entrenched camp at Borazgoon. Each man carried his great coat, blanket, and two days’ provisions, but without any tents or other equipage; the rain fell heavily, and the nights were bitterly cold. The position was reached in the afternoon of the 5th. of February, when the Persians rapidly retreated, leaving their camp, ammunition and equipage in the hands of the British.
354On the return march during the night of the 7th., the rear-guard was attacked by the Persians, who were kept in check until daybreak, when the enemy, amounting to between six and seven thousand men, were perceived drawn up near Koosh-ab. Two mounds in their centre, on which they placed their guns, served as redoubts, and some deep nullahs on their flank were lined with skirmishers. In the action that followed, the enemy’s guns were silenced by the British artillery; the cavalry drove his horse from the field; and on the advance of the infantry, the Persians broke and fled, throwing away their arms and accoutrements in their flight. By ten o’clock the defeat of the Persian troops was complete.[140]
After this victory the British bivouacked for the day close to the battle-field, and at night, by another route, accomplished a march of twenty miles, over a country rendered almost impassable by the incessant heavy rains. After a rest of six hours, the greater portion of the infantry continued their march to Bushire, which was reached before midnight, thus performing another most arduous march of forty-four miles under incessant rain, besides fighting and defeating the enemy during its progress, within the short period of fifty hours. On the morning of the 10th. the cavalry and artillery arrived in camp.
The loss in the action of Koosh-ab on the 8th. of February was limited to sixteen killed and sixty-two wounded. Lieutenant Frankland, of the 2nd. European regiment, was the only officer killed.[141] This officer, together with Captain Forbes, commanding 355the 3rd. regiment of Light Cavalry, and Lieutenant Doveton Downes Greentree, of the 64th. regiment, both severely wounded (the latter losing his leg), received special mention in the Governor-General’s Notification.
For some months the Persians had been engaged in fortifying their position at Mohammerah, a place at the confluence of the Karun and Euphrates rivers. Batteries had been erected of solid earth, twenty feet thick, and eighteen feet high, with casemated embrasures, armed with heavy guns, commanding both sides of the river, but Lieutenant-General Outram resolved to attack them. Their army estimated at thirteen thousand men, with thirty guns, was commanded by the Shazada, Prince Khauler Mirza, in person; whilst the Anglo-Indian troops consisted of about five thousand. This place was bombarded on the 26th. of March by five steamers and two sloops of war of the Indian navy, under the command of Commodore Young. The action commenced soon after daybreak, and the Persians stood to their guns well till 10 a.m., when the magazine in the north battery blew up. Three more explosions followed; the enemy’s fire slackened, and by one o’clock was completely silenced. A fire of musketry was then opened from the batteries, until storming parties were landed from the ships, who drove out the Persians, and took possession of their works and guns. Brigadier-General Havelock landed the troops, but no portion of the military force was actively engaged, except some European riflemen sent on board the war vessels, as the Persians fled from their entrenched camp without waiting an attack. Meanwhile a treaty of peace had been in progress, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Bagdad on the 2nd. of May, whereby Herat was agreed to be evacuated, and all interference with the internal affairs of Afghanistan was to be avoided.
The regiments employed in this expedition, were the 14th. Light Dragoons, the 64th. and 78th. regiments, 3rd. Bombay Cavalry, Poonah Horse, 1st. Scinde Horse, 2nd. Bombay Europeans, Bombay and Madras Sappers and Miners, and 2nd., 3rd., 4th., 5th., 8th., 11th., 15th., 20th., 22nd., 23rd., 25th., 26th., 28th., and 29th. regiments of Bombay Infantry.
356