The Press.
London, England, 1857-04-18 00:00:00

THE PERSIAN EXPEDITION.

INTELLIGENCE of the probable conclusion of peace
with Persia reached Calcutta early in March, and a
telegraphic despatch to Bombay at once suspended
the embarkation of troops and put a stop to all far-
ther warlike preparations. The Paris Pays also
states, on the authority of private correspondence
from the Persian Gulf, that the intelligence was
announced on the 9th of March to the general com-
manding the British expedition at Bushire. How-
ever, the latest dates received by the overland mail
were only to the Ist of March, and at that moment
preparations were being hurried forward for the
embarkation of the troops destined to form the expe-
dition against Mohammerah, a strongly-fortified
frontier town situated at the junction of the Maroon,
near to the Tigris, about seventy miles from the
head of the Persian Gulf. By the occupation of
Mohammerah an advance upon Shuster, and thence
into Persia, would be practicable. The Persians
were again collecting in force at Burazjoon, and
General Outram was waiting for further reinforce-
ments of ,:avalry. The Scinde Horse, under Brigadier-
General Jacobs, were en route trom India. Our
troops were healthy at Bushire. The town was
beinglstrongly fortified :
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Fortifications are being constructed at the posts most
open to attack. Two half-moon batteries, to be mounted
with 56-pounder guns, are being thrown up south of the
camp, whilst at the northern approach a malakoff is
making its appearance on the spot modestly called masonry
tower by General Stalker. A good deal of forage has been
allowed to pass into our camp during the last two or three
days, notwithstanding it is well known that the enemy
have again collected in great force at Burazjoon. A move-
ment in that direction is again whispered, but no one
knows the general's intentions—he is no babbler. His
thoughts he keeps to himself till he has matured his
projects, and gives his orders sufficient time to be executed
and no more. •
Provisions were dear in camp. for supplies from
Bussorah were intercepted by the Persian force at
Mohammerah.
In connection with the late cavalry action at
Kooshab, the charge of the :ird Cavalry upon that
occasion has called forth the admiration of a Bengal
officer in a letter to one of the Calcutta papers. After

describing the formation of the Persian square as
excellent, steady, and untouched by artillery, he
proceeds with a vivid description of the charge:—
When Forbes, who commanded this regiment, gave the
order to charge, he and his adjutant, young Moore, placed
themselves in front of the 11th troop, which was the one
directly opposite the nearest face of the square. The other
Moore, Malcolmson, and Spens came the least thing behind,
riding knee to knee, with spurs in their homes' flanks, as if
racing after a hog. In rear of them rushed the dark
troopers of the 3rd, mad to avenge the death of poor Malet
at Bushire. I n spite of steel, tire, and bullets they tore
down upon the nearest face of the devoted square. As they
approached Forbes was shot through the thigh and Spens'
horse was w ounded, but unheeding they swept onward.
Daunted by the flashes and the fire and the noise and
crackle of the musketry, the younger Moore's horse swerved
as they came up. Dropping his sword from his hand and
letting it hang by the knot at his wrist, he caught up the
reins in both hands, screwed his bead straight, and then
coolly, as if riding at a fence, leapt him at the square. If,
therefore, any man can be said to have been first, the
younger Moore is that man. Of course the horse fell stone
dead upon the bayonets ; so did his brother's, ridden with
equal courage and determination. The elder Moore—lB
stone in weight, and 6 ft. 7, or thereabnuti, in height—cut
his way out on foot. Malcolmson took one foot out of his
stirrup when he saw his brother officer down and un-
armed (for his sword had been broken to pieces by the
fall j, and, holding on to that, the younger Moore escaped.
The barrier once broken, and the entrance once made, in
and through it pourel the avenging troopers. On and
over everything they rode, till, getting clear out, they re-
formed on the other side, wheeled and swept back—a
second wave of ruin. Out of five hundred Persian soldiers
of the Ist Regular Regiment of Fars, who composed that
fated square, only twenty escaped to tell the tale of its de.
struction. Thus the :3rd Light Cavalry, to use their own
phrase, gave our enemies " &jewel) (answer) for the death
of Malet Sakib Bahadur."