Star. — London, England, 1821-05-19 00:00:00

1 \ • •_•g ,' t SUPPLEMENT TO TUESDAY'S GAZETTE. ' ' from The STAs 1 yesterday). Coakof a Letter irons Captain T. P. Mammon, of the iitth t Dragoons, to FOAMS WALDO, Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, dated Muscat, the lath of November, inim. Stn—l have to communicate the ill success of.the attempt to co-operate with his Highness the Imaum of Muscat, against the Arabs of - the tribe of Beni Bon Ali, after appearances which led to expect a Offerent result. In my last letter, I stated that the Messenger, sent with theeommunicatioas directed by youe letterof the Bth of *Tune, 1820, had been cut to pieces, and that six companies of Sepoys, with eight pieces of ar tillery had, in consequence, been conveyed to Muscat, The landing at Alashkarah, at this season of she, year, as desc rib ed in the letter of Lieutenant Collin aon, of the 29th of September, already transmitted to Government, and confirmed by other accounts, appeared to be really impracticable. In addition to this, it has been stated by Lieatenant Collinsoe, though not included in his letter above alluded to, that he saw a force of five or 600 men collected• behind the sand-hills, from which it was apparent that the force of the enemy would be nearly the lame, whether it was encountered at Alashkarah, or at their residence in the interior. The landing at 'Boor was secure, and the road to the principal resi dence of the tribe lay through a line of country in possession of the Imaum, who had a town within three miles of the enemy, to which he had already been transmitting his preparations for an attack.-... Under these circumstances, the chances appeared to be more favourable for advancing against the hostile force from Soar, backed ..by the power of the State 4f Muscat. than for meeting the same force on the beach at Alashkarah, under the disadvantages of a precarious disembarkation, without the conjunction of the humoris t and with exceedingly inferior results in the event of success. • The detachment sailed' from Muscat on the 22d of October, and arrived at Soor on the 24th, where it was disembarked. The Imaum's force had previously proceeded towards Soor by land. On the 25th of October, information was received that the Arabs had aband oned and set fire to Alash karah, together with fourteen of their boats, and bad retired to their principal residence. The crews of the Imaum's vessels landed, and brought off two boats and three gulls, and destroyed such foitifica tints as were left. His Highness the Imaum, who had directed his force towards Soor, for the purpose of marching against the principal residence of the tribe, in con junction with the British detachment, arrived there on the 26th, bringing with him one thousand fight ing men, besides men to draw the guns, six hun dred camels for the use of the detachment, and three hundred other cattle. On the Ist of November, the whole force titiraited 'from Soor, carrying with it two six-poundera, two howitzers, and two iron 18-pounders. The remain ing two 18-pounders were left at Soor. After considerable difficulties , in transporting the guns, the force entered the level Province of Jahlan, on the sth of November. On the Bth of November, the whole force arrived at a town belonging to his Highness, named Balid Beni Bon Hussan, within three miles of Balad Beni Bon All, the residence of the hostile tribe, without any loss, either by sickness or accident. The evening before arriving at Beni'Bon Hussan, report had been circulated that the enemy intended' to attack the camp in the night. On arriving at' Beni Bon Hussan with the Imam, I directed the camp to be pitched ' in an entrenthedposition, con sisting of a ditch, flanked with towers, which in cluded a space sufficient for a camp'between it and the town, and as the camp had been begun to be pitched in the open plain - before our arrival, I caused it to be removed. • A summons was the same evening conveyed to the enemy from his Highness, 'demanding the fur-, render of the persons who had killed the Sheik of Basal Hadd (the Messenger mentioned in the former part of this letter), and of the fortifications of the tribe, with their arms. His Highness proposed that the summons should be sent in the name of the Officeecominanding the British troops, but I represented to him that it was desirable to avoid the appearance of a double com mand, and that his Highness, as a Sovereign, must, of necessity, take the lead. At the same time I corn. municated the substance of some points which I was anxious to cause to be explained in the summons; and he desired me to give them in writing, and caused them to be inserted. What I was thus anxious to insert Was an explana tion of the motives which had induced the appearance of the British troops in conjunction with those of his Highness. It briefly stated, that the causes of the war, on the part of the Imaum, were already known. That the causes of war, on the part of the British, were the piracies of the tribe by sea, their refusal to answer when remonstrated with, and their having killed the Messenger ; that the causes on the part of the two• Powers were distinct and separate; but that, each having cause, their forces were united. The Messenger returned - on the same nighf, and brought for answer from the hostile Sheiks, that the first Messenger had been killed without any orders from themselves, and that they were ready to -give Up the persons concerned ; that they bad no desire to be at war with the British ; that they were willing to surrender their fortifications ; but that they could not surrender their arms, because the Imaum would,. 'in that case give them up as prisoners to the British. Under these circumstances, I felt considerable MIL pectation that the terms I had demanded would be finally complied with. At the same time it appeared: that the way to promote this effect would not beby exhibiting anything like an anxiety to rotate to terms.] On his Highness, therefore, asking tny opinion, - I told him that I thought it would be Mast to proceed,' Without delay, before the place, with which he en tirely coincided, and directions were issued for march sag on the following morning.. in concurrence with the opinion of his 'lligheess, - I directed that the heavy guns should be lift in the : entrenched camp, which, for the present, was to be considered as the depot: that such stores only should be taken forward as the Officers at the beads of de partments should judge necessary for present use; that the tents should be left standing in the ne• 'Arenehed esunp, with the exception of such as might be desired by the Medical Department, and of a la boratory tent for the Artillery ; and that men should be warned to take with them e tools which they ined_fOr cutting wood, in addition to such as might be furnished by the departments, for the purpose of sheltering themselves from the sun. The Imaum's forces, and the people of Beni Bon flussan, were, of" Course, perfectly acquainted with the position of the enemy's town. The representa tion given was, that it was placed with its back to a deep date grove, which lay between it and Beni Bon Hussan that it was, consequently, necessary to go round the town, in order to come at the assailable front, and that Ilis front was in a sand-plain, and protected by one or more ditches cut in the sand, to which the enemy was said to be making additions. On the evening of our arrival at Beni Bon Has san, I communicated to the Officers all the infor mation I had received respecting the place ; and I further stated to them, that it was my wish not to seek any contest with the enemy till we had arrived at our position round the town ; that the Artillery appeared to be the point in which our superiority was most• decided; and that our object should be to get it into its position with as little contest as the enemy would permit. The Imaum left a portion of his troops in his camp in the plain on the outside of the entrenched position of the British. The four light guns were manned with all the Arabs who had drawn the six, who also carried their arms. The Imaum's force had accu mulated on the road, and the number which marched that morning has been stated . by his Highness at two thousand. The number of Sepoys amounted to three hundred and twenty,. exclusive of the old pic quet of sixty, men, which was ordered to follow the stores for present use, and to bring up the rear. The number of 'the enemy, from repeated and varied in quiries, amounted to 900, and there were said to be eight guns, of small calibre, in the place. The Artillery were directed to have their limbers Completed with ammunition; and I made a point of ascertaining, by personal inquiry, that a proportion of case-shot for the howitzers, and of spherical case, for the six-pounders, made part of the stores con veyed from Soor, and were actually present in the limbers. On leaving Beni Bon Hnssan, the Light Company of the Ist Battalion of the 2d Regiment was directed to take the .lead in extended order. In the event of meeting an enemy, it was directed to retire, as most convenient, and to form behind the line in reserve.— The new picquet, of sixty men, preceded the head of the column by a short distance, and was directed to support the Light Company, if required. Two guns were at the head of the column, after the picquet, and two followed. Soon after leaving Balad Beni Bon Hussan, the Imaum informed me that the report of the morning was, that the enemy had resolved on attacking the force, by day, if they could, and if not, by night.— Information of this was communicated to the detach ment, who appeared to consider the appearance of, the enemy outside his works as a most desirable mode of bringing the question to a decision. After proceeding about a mile and a half, the co lumn cleared the Junk, and entered on an open country : with a view, to strengthen the line, the picquet inadvince was directed to fill in upon the ead of the column, and act as a company under the command of its Officer. On issuing from the jungle, the Imaum% force ap peared on the left, and the_lmaum with a few horse was seen riding forward to reconnoitre. The date grove at the back ofThe town at the same time be gan to be distinguished on the right. His Highness soon afterwards returned, and said, that the road lay further to the left. I requested him 'to select a guide, and he fixed upon the Sheik of Hiskem, who accordingly proceeded. The guide soon afterwards began to turn considerably to his left, or frp,m the enemy, and was followed by the column. 'On proceeding further, a small number of the enemy on horseback became discernible in the direction of the town. The front towards the plain also began - to open: some of the enemy on foot were afterwards observed on a ridge on the outside of the town, formed (as is usual in this country) of, earth, thrown out of the date-groves to arrive at a better soil. The force continued to move in its l foi mer direction. Observing that the date-grove extended in the di rection of the camp at Beni Bon Hussan, and afforded facilities for an advance upon that place, and also that the old picquet of sixty men had not appeared, I felt apprehensive that, in case of any event, this party would be found neither at one place nor at the other, and therefore dispatChed a written order to the Officer to remain in camp till further directions, and if met by the order, to return. As I was dispatching this order, an Officer rode to me, and said the enemy were numerous on the ridge. Conceiving this might be connected with the reported intention to attack, I directed the column to halt and form line. • The ImauM 'also drew up his force in r good order on the left. But no appearance of the enemy's moving *being observed, the column pro ceeded toviards.its original object. A short time after the column a as in motion, some Shots froMiheLight Infantry announced a movement among the enemy, and the Light Infantry were seen retiring as had been directed. The enemy soon ap peared in motion on the top of the ridge, and from the direction Whith he took, it was evident that his :design was to turn the right by moving on a point beyond it. -; immediately directed the troops to form columns of sections to the right, and pass as quitkly Possi -1 We behind - thelans, the heed of the coluzim inclining tOwlrdiihe.former reir, so as to make the new front 6 paralletto the intemy's attack, form line, charge bayo. nits, and advance. The last movement was, nnhap pilh-not executed by the troops. Seeing them hesi litteOta no time was to be lost, I ordered them to fire; and the line opened its fire upon the- enemy. The, ;maim with great proinptitud,e moved his 'force to the right to dose the interval, and a part of his men moved along the rear of the Sepoys engaged, and opened a fire of matchlocks upon such of the enemy AS were again attempting to come round the right. The enemy at the same moment detached ti: part of his force towards the left of the &pays, where they were met andoigoronsiy encountered-by thelnsannt. On seeing the diredion of the etitint's ittildr, 1 immediately rode off to lead the right whiClrwas the 'point attacked. The enemy continuing to press fur ward, I was unable to leave the extremity of the right lest the Sepeys should misconstrue my departure and give way, I therefore continued upon that point en couraging the Sepoys to keep up their fire. On observing the enemy within twenty yards, I again made an effort to induce the Sepoys to use their bayonet% but without success; and while I was doing this, the whole of the Sepoys turned together and threw themselves on the Imaum's troops, who were behind. As soon as the Sepoys gave way, I rode round them, to endeavour to make them turn, and in doing this, I found myself in the middle of the Imaum s matchlocks, who were still keeping up their fire to wards the right. Finding no effect produced there, I rode to the place where the. Sepoys appeared to be the thickest, and endeavoured to make them turn round. A few of them turned and fired their mus kets into the air over the heads of those that fol lowed, and immediately resumed their flight. I also addressed myself to such of the Officers as I met with, and to some of the Europeans of the Artillery, but without effect. On perceiving the Imaum at a distance, I rode to , wards him, and found he had just been wounded.— . ' He had endeavoured to rescue a European who vas ' cut down, and one of the enemy fired at him so close, that the powder entered the wound, and the ball passed through his right wrist. After the Sepoys had given way, I saw the Arabs advancing upon the whole front against the Imaum's army, and I then saw the Imaum s force turn round and give way. On afterwards comparing observations with his Highness, he said that the enemy who attacked the right appeared to him to consist of about four hun dred and fifty, which agrees with what I observed, and that the party detached hom these towards the left consisted of about a hundred and fifty. The enemy, as far as I observed, advanced only with the sword till the Sepoys gave way. But as soon as that happened, his matchlocks were brought forward with very fatal effect. The pursuit was continued in the direction of the camp of Beni Boa Hussan, inclining a little to the right or towards the hills. Finding all efforts una vailing, on approaching the camp, I made the Arabs who wereoutside throw themselves into the intrenched camp, and called for the picquets. On finding them I directed the Officer of the picrpiet and an Officer of Artillery, who had neither 4.~f them been in the ac. lion, to make preparations for defence, while I took out the picquet to the front. I particularly recom mended this duty to the lattet Officer, by saying to him, " you are of the Artillery;" I at the same time directed Mr. Sub-Assistant-Surgeon Fallon, of the Honourable Company's cruizer Prince of Wales, to take the best means in his power for securing the sick. On proceeding with the sixty men of the picquet, I found myself on the flank of the pursuit. As soon as the enemy observed us, he advanced threatening with the sword, which was the first opportunity given for distinguishing him, and the picquet opened its fire. The enemy then ceased to advance on the front of the picquet, and began moving rapidly round the two flanks, with a view to cut it off from the town, which made it necessary to retire. The Jemadar of the picquet, Jemadar Rutten Sing, of the First Bat talion Second Regiment, displayed great courage, and would willingly have led the party into the middle of the enemy. It is to be regretted that he had not an earlier opportunity for exertion. On returning with the picquet to the camp, I found that Mr. SubAssistant-Surgeon Fallon had removed the sick and followers into a fortified house, distributed ammunition and arms, posted his people at their stations, and made the best preparations for slefence. His Highness the Imaum was of opinion that the town might be maintained till reinforcements could arrive, as the inhabitants had long been at war with the Beni Bon Ali without being overpowered. In this opinion I was anxious to support him. The Sepoys were distributed at the towers, and the troops of his Highness kept in readiness to defend the in trenchment; and I was exceedingly anxious to get the remaining guns into some serviceable position, but was unable to find either olthe Officers formerly mentioned, or any of the persons belonging to the Ar. tillery. The enemy advanced upon the front during the night, and was received by a heavy fire from the 'Sepoys, and by the Imaum's troops behind the in trenchment. During this period, Mr. Sub-Assistant- Surgeon Falloff was exceedingly active in keeping the Sepoys to their posts, and supplying them with am munition. In the morning it was discovered that the two other Officers, instead of - obeying the directions given them, had gone off on the preceding evening to Soor, carrying with them every person belonging to the Artillery department. Soon after daylight the Sepoys of the towers re ported that the people of the town had evacuated it during the night, and I found it impossible to keep them longer at their' osts. It was also represented that the lmaum's followers were retiring. On inquir ing of his Highness, he appeared unwilling to ad mit it ; but while I . was with him a communication was brought froth a body of his followers to say they were retiring to their homes. He replied, calmly; o Tell them that those ,who will leave me, must leave me;" but soon afterwards he communi nicated to me, that it would be impracticable for him to maintain himself in the town: His followers were diminishing, and the town appeared to be al most totally deserted. The Sheik of the town, with a few attendants, continued to stay with the Imaum, and to ask his orders. The departure of the Officers with the Artillerymen, appeared to have removed the last hope of holding out any prospect of assist ance from the detachment, either in maintaining the place, or contiduing operations against the enemy. On the Imaum's repeating his opinion that he could not maintain himself in the place, I asked him what be intended to do ?—he replied, " If it is the will of Gon, we shall dice I told him we must do that when there was nothing else left. He answered that he would do anything which I should poiat out. I told hid] we must destroy what could not be re moved, and retreat. I asked him what he could re move? He said he could remove the aick, and give a camel for each of the Sepoys; he afterwards added that be could find camels for some musquet ammu nition.—As soon as the Imaum came to a decision, he appeared to be anxious to put it into execution, and I felt apprehensive that if it was delayed he ' would be left. without a guard. • He desired ‘ne to *strop the remaining gun; and the powder. While, he gave (Elections to his peop!e, an artilicrrmsh wounded in three places, who had crlmc the night, fortunately found som e sp ik es ; and 11r. Fallon, with the assistance of some pioneers, em ptied th e powder-barrels into a well. The carriages wood have been cut in pieces, but the departure o f t h e artillerymen rendered it impossible to find tools—. The Imaum proposed setting fire to them ; I obje cte d to it on the ground that it would be the sign a l o dispersion to his followers, and of pursuit to th e enemy. But I prompted the Bedouins to remove everything which could be carried off; and I a mi.. bend very little was left to the ch ance o f falling -14, the hands of the enemy. As soon as the Imaum began to move, the sick were placed upon Camels, but it was found impo s sibl e to procure them for any other purpose. Af t " pro. . ceeding eight miles, the I maum prop ose d moving ui.c,n Muscat, from a belief-that the passes to Soor ocnil, l . be occupied by the enemy. The march waN con_'. nued at intervals during the night, and the nett morning the detachment reached Gliubb. The re treat, lying through a line of country beloo g i n ,. 6 to the Imaum, was not interrupted. Hi s Hi g h ness, with myself and Dr. Fallon, and the remains of the deuch ment, arrived at Muscat on the 17th. During the whole of these circumstances, tic Imaum displayed an almirable character, and, a l. though wounded, persisted in remaii►ing v.ith tl:e detachment, and causing it to be supplied with pr o . visions, camels, shoes, and every assistance which hi t country could afford. His Highness is anxiou's . to return to the amt. k, if he can be furnished with the as..istance of a I o s ly o f European troops. In hopes of facilitati:z this ohj ect . I have written to the Officer in command of :he troops repotted to be in Scind or Cutch, to ask wi..ll.ct an European and a Native battalion can he s.:ta i! ;e assistance of his Highness. I have also proposed bringing of four brass tss clue-pounder guns, with am. munition, which the Imaum is of oph:ion would be sufficient for the defeLees, and of two howitzers cf Horse Artillery with harness, for which his engages to find horses. Against an enemy of the habits of the ‘Vahabtes, field artil:ery would aprear to be of very limited utility, unless it is small in num ber, and reculiarly provided tsith the means of motion ; and on the late occasion, the principal ob. ject in bringing forward the guns was, that they might be conveyed to their poition against the dc• fences under convoy of the whole force. I have dispatched the above letter on the chance of its producing an advantageous effect, in the evert of troops with vessels being on the point of leaving Cinch, and shall proceed to make such preparations as are in my power at Deristan, for cc-.aerating with his -Highbess ; at the same time, I shall be anxious to receive the communications of Govern ment upon the subject. Events have shewn, that the whole line of c p era . tions, either from Soor or from Muscat, is in pos. session of til.lmaum, and his town of Beni Bat Hussan is within three miles of the enemy. The Imaum is of opinion, that the town-, of Beni Ben Ifui san and Hishem w ill be under the necessity of making a temporary accommodation with the enemy; but that it will last only till his re-appearance in force.— As a mark of the feelings of the county, .orne Eu ropeans of the Artillery, who escaped from the corn bat, were concealed for four days in Beni &mails san, and sent down en camels to Soor. No accident or disappointment occurred throughout, till the troops gave way Wore the sword. %That occurred whet they were supported by two thousand of the Imattrifs troops at Beni Bon Ali, would have occurred wi b out the Imaum at Alashkarah ; and the former mole of advance, as far as there have been opportunitees for judging, would appear still to be the safest. A boy came in to the troops at Beni Bon Hums on the morning of the combat, who says he belongs to Bombay, and was taken five years ago, with four other boys, in a vessel with two masts and twenty six hands, Nachodah's name Ibrahim, bound to Mus cat, with rice; the vessel's name he has forgotten.— He says, the Arabs dismissed the rest of die crew, took out the rice, and set the vessel on fire. Three of the boys, be says, remain at Beni Bon Ali, and one is gone he knows not whither. Two boys be longing to Mangalore have al so come door to • Soor, aid are on board his Majesty's sloop Curlew. These in cidents identify Beni Bon Ali with piratical operations In concert with the Imaum, I have taken measures for sending the remains of the .detachment as quickly as possible to Deristan. I have determined on sending. to Bombay the two Officers mentioned in a former part of this letter, with directions to report their arrival to the Adju tant-General of the Army. My sole reason for oft placing them under arrest without delay, is, that such a proceeding might involve a necessity for pub- lishing at the head of every Regiment in India, that a detachment of Sepoys had been deserted by its Of ficers; and I would not do what might confine tie Government to any specific course. At the sane time, I shall transmit charges to the Adjutant-Gene ral, with lists of evidences, against the event cf its appearing to be desirable to proceed in that manor. The loss of the detachment engaged has neces sarily been most severe, as must always be the case ' when troops wait to be attacked with the sword, la then give way. Of the Officers in the action, Lien tenant Boswell, Ist Battalion 2d Regiment, ea myself, are the only ones hitherto known to survive; Lieutenants Morley and Gidley, and Sub-Assistarit - Surgeon Fallon, were not in the action of the meta ing. I beg leave to notice the services of Dr. Fallon, as having been extensively useful during the defence made in Beni Don Hassan, and during the march to Muscat ; and as being the only Officer able to be of any assistance who staid by me and thedetachmeat. and arrived with them at Muscat, Lieutenant &Yf well having been incapable of duty from fatigue and injuries received. The number of men who returned with., me to Muscat, or who arrived at Soar after the action, amounts to 446, of whom one halfare f Mowers I feel strongly convinced of the necessity for the permanent residence of at least two European CoP for Pan tieshe at Deristan, fano,rt‘ovhch make iit tihsedesdetigancehdm—enlt am, &c. (Signed) T. P. THOMPSON, Captain 17th Light D D ra l g r oo D n . s,,ponunissioner and ^ On the 14th hut. at Ware, Ilerts, John Burr, FAT aoed 76. On the 15th, at Milbrook, mar Southampton, Alezaadd &08., Esq. late of the 20th Regiment, aged 72=, DON -.7_ - LONDON ;Printed and rettilidiad by Lrrst. Knorr, fide* rlact, 14. 11,14c-131r. . .J.'