The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-29 00:00:00

CAPTURE OF BUSHIRE.

The following is from the Bombay correspond
ent of the Times :

BOMBAY, Jan. 2.—On the morning of Sunday,
the 9th, the force commenced its advance upon
Bushire, distant about 12 miles. I should men-
tion, by the way, as it may occur to you to won-
der that a nearer point was not selected for the
disembarkation, that the coast from Bushire to
Halilla Bay presents an unbroken line of cliff, of
no great height indeed, yet quite insurmountable
for artillery, while in the bight of the bay the
land slopes gently upwards from a fine broad
beach. The first brigade, commanded by Co-
lonel Stopford, was on the right ; the second,
under Colonel Honner, on the left. The steam
frigates moved on the left flank of the army in
support. Gradually drawing ahead, Sir Henry
Leeke, in the Assaye, found himself about noon
abreast of the old Portuguese (in the despatches
called Dutch) Fort of Rushire, four and a half
miles below Bushire. This and the neighbouring
ruins he observed to be occupied in force by the
enemy. The position is described as a strong
one, the fort having the cliff on one side, and a
wall and ditch, deep though dry, on the others.
The Assaye, at 1,700 yards distance, immediately
opened with shot and shell from her eight-inch
guns. The effects were shortly seen in the preci-
pitate flight from the fort of a large portion of its
garrison, of which the whole force is estimated,
at from 1,500 to 2,000 men. Some 800, as
it is supposed, remained, however, to stand
the attack of the army, which was now rapidly
approaching in line. As the troops came up with
the enemy the Assaye necessarily ceasod firing,
and General Stalker finding the balls dropping
among his men gave the word for the assault.
Brigadier Stopford had dismounted to lead his
brigade in the rush at the works. With a wave
of his sword ho was just calling to the men of
his own regiment, the 64th, to come on, when a
matchlock ball struck him on the breast, and he
dropped dead upon the spot, shot through the
heart. Furious at the fall of their colonel, his
corps dashed at the enemy's position, and in
honourable rivalry with the Europeans was the
other regiment of the brigade, the 20th Native
Infantry, through whose ranks went the cry that
the corps had never been in action before,
and that now was the time to show. what it
could do. The 2d Europeans and the rest of the
second brigade were also well up. For a while
the fighting was sharp, and the bayonet bloodily
at work as the assailants forced the enemy back
from the ruined houses and garden walls, and
closed upon the fort. That entered, the survi-
vors among its defenders broke out and endea-
voured to effect their escape. Many slipped
down the low cliff, and were making off unper-
ceived, till the 4th Rifles, who were on the
extreme left of the advance resting upon the sea,
caught' ight of them and brought their fire to
bear upon them with fatal effect. Others got
out upon the plain and were then charged
by the Poonah horse and the squadron of the 3d
Cavalry. In command of the. latter was Colonel
Malet. This officer in the mele6 saved the life of a
man whom a trooper was about to cut down. The
Colonel turned away, and the scoundrel catching
up his matchlock, which he had dropped in im-
ploring quarter, shot his benefactor dead. Two
other officers fell in the affair, both Lieutenants
in the 20th, Utterson and . Warren, and yet—
most strange disproportion—one only was returned
as wounded. Among the native and non-
commissioned officers and men, the loss amounted
to six killed and 35 wounded. Our opponents
in this smart skirmish were not regular Persian
troops, but Arab mercenaries belonging to two
of the most powerful among the sea coast tribes
—the Dashti and the Tangestooni—and last, it
is believed, three chiefs of note, besides great
numbers of lower degree.

Meanwhile Captain Jones, the Resident, had
proceeded to Bushire iu a small steamer, bearing
a summons to the Governor to surrender, and
offering most favourable conditions, both to sol-
diers and non-combatants. But his flag of truce
was fired upon from the town, and he returned to
the Admiral. An apology from the Governor
followed, disclaiming the discourteous act, which
he attributed to the ignorance of an artilleryman,
and begging for 24 hours' delay, which the Gene-
ral and Admiral promptly refused. The anchorage
was buoyed during the night by the boats of the
fleet, and at eight on the morning of the 10th the
steamers anchored off the defences of the
town with springs upon their cables, while the
army approached upon the land side. A redoubt
commanding the works on the plain, from
which Bushire derives its supply of water, was
shelled in the morning by some of the lighter
vessels, and its garrison forced to retire into the
town. The engagement then commenced between
the ships and the defences, and continued for four
hours, when the enemy finally ceased firing, and
lowered the Persian colours. Their firing is said
to have been steadyand well sustained, yet, strange
to say, not a single man in the fleet was touched.
The Semiramis was hulled once, and she and the
Feroze and others suffered a little in their masts
and rigging, but that was all. It is true that
the principal strength of the defences was on
the land side, where the enemy expected to be
attacked, and were ready, so far as regards the
number of guns, to give us a very warm reception
indeed. Still there were many guns on the sea
face also; and, moreover, at the southern angle of
the town were two troublsome erections in the
nature of stockades, formed of date trees, strongly
faced with an earthen embankment. These it
took some time and good gunnery to silence. It
was noon when the Persian flag fell and the ships
ceased firing. The army was then drawn up in
line opposite the land face of the town ; and
their imposing attitude, and the recollection of
the skirmish the day before, no doubt had their
share in inducing the Persian Commandant to
surrender. After some little delay, and not with-
out threats of an assault, the gate opened, and
the Governor and Commander -of the Forces

came out and surrendered themselves prisoners I
of w•.r. Another notable per,uuage wa.6 raker',
who had, I believe, been sent clown from Teheran
to raise the tribes against us, and whose Persian
title is translated 'Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The remainder of the garrison who marched out
gave up their arms, and being too numerous to
be retained in the present state of the Commis-
sariat, were escorted some distance into the interior
by the Poona Horse, and there set free. At
half-past 4 the British flag was hoisted by Lieut.
Clarkson, First of the Assaye, at the Residency
flagstaff, the Shah's staff having been felled by
the garrison in their hurry to lower the flag.
" Thus easily has Bushire fallen."

The Bombay Times of Jan. 2 gives the following
narrative of the capture of Bushire, and other
operations on the part of our fleet in the Persian
Gulf :

The island of Karrack, held byius from 1839 to 1841,
had on the 4th been taken possession of and converted
into a military depot. On the 6th the fleet moved down

from opposite Bushire to Hallila Bay, where a body of
three or four hundred of the enemy making their ap-
pearance they were dispersed by shells from the gun-
boats. The troops were now permitted to disembark
without any molestation. There being no carriage cattle,
they were without tents or baggage of any description,
three days' rations having been carried with theni in
haversacks. Forty-eight hours were required to get the
whole body on shore and in motion, when on the morn-
ing of the 9th they commenced their march northwards

by the line of the coast, the ships of war led by the Admi-
ral keeping abreast of them, and as near the land as the
depth of water permitted. By noon the old Portuguese
fort of Bushire began to be approached. The position was
naturally a strong one, the walls were good, and protected
by a dry ditch forty feet deep. In front was a heavy re-
doubt scarped on the side next the sea, and the other
two were strong and well protected. The Assaye was
unable to approach within one thousand seven hundred
yards of the place, but at this distance her shells were
so effective that the bulk of the enemy fled, leaving
eight hundred, who had been driven back by our ad-
vancing columns, within the work, and who seemed
determined to fight it out to the last. The garrison on
our approach had at first sallied out, and at one time
nearly attained possession of a gun. The vanguard,
which had pushed too much a-head, were compelled to
make a dash, and unfortunately charged at the bayonet's
point, sacrificing valuable lives that might have been
spared had the shelling been continued. Brigadier Stop-
ford fell leading on the 64th, shot through the heart,
and pierced by many wounds ; while Lieutenants Utter-
son and Warren of the 20th were killed by his side ;
Captain Wood dangerously wounded. The enemy were
without artillery, but defended themselves stoutly with
their matchlocks ; whea driven to flight, they were
charged down upon by the 3d Cavalry and fearfully
mauled. Here Colonel Ivlalet fell, shot through the
heart by a wounded Arab, whom he had just ordered
to he spared. Here the troupe bivouacked for the
night on the bare tround and under the open sky. Capt.
Jones was now deputed into the town with a flag of
truce in a small steamer carrying the summons of sur-
render, and the terms offered the garrison. The non•
cunleatants and women had permission to withdraw.
Private property of all descriptions wee to be protected,
the fullest toleration in matters of religion secured, the
garrison I o be suffered to march out with all the honours
of war. The Governor was allowed till dawn the follow-
ing day to give an answer to the terms proposed, but
the flag of truce was fired on ; and after waiting some
time on the assumption that this might possibly have
occurred from mistake, the envoy returned, his mission
unaccomplished. An apology was almost immediately
afterwards sent by the Governor on board the fleet, and
the declaration of war of the Governor-General and
letter of terms proposed were transmitted be the mes•
senger. Meanwhile General Stalker intimated to the
Admiral his intention of advancing with all his troops
on Bushire the following morning (10th December),
arid the fleet was immediately disposed in order of bottle
—first dismantling the enemy's newly-erected earthworks
and then moving with a view of breaching the south
wall of the town, The tide was favourable and so eager
was every one to close in, that every ship was laidaground at high water, and daybreak found them all
ready to open on the fort. A second flag of truce beg-
ging f r twenty-four hours' further delay, now made its
appearance. The request was at once refused ; and at
eight the signal to engage was hoisted, and a storm of
shot and shell at once poured in. The redoubt south of the
town, when the enemy had assembled in force to resist
our troops, was the chief object of attention, and, not-
withstanding the enormous distance, it was speedily
cleared, the defenders retiring within the walls. As this
work commanded the walls, much importance was
attached to it by both parties, and General Stalker was
advancing upon it when it was abandoned just as his
line was being formed. Though their small guns were
useless, the courage and perseverance with which the
larger ones were worked surpassed all expectation, and
the Semiramis, Feroze, Victoria, and Falkland, were
repeatedly struck both in hull and rigging ; strange to
tell, not a man was hurt. By noon the batteries were
all silenced, and the troops were preparing for the assault,
when the flag-staff was struck d,wn in token of submis-
sion. The Governor and his staff immediately came and
-urrendered themselves, the garrison, from one thousand
five hundred to two thousand in number, laA down
their arms, and at four o'clock the British flag was
hoisted over the town,the troops appointed to garrison
it having marched in at sunset. A large proportion of
the Persian arms had fled as we approached—nurnhers
were drowned in attempting to escape. About 3,000
in all were said to have perished. Sixty-five guns,
many of them brass, most of theta in good condition,
and some of them of large calibre, with vast quantities; of
warlike stores and small arms fell into our hands. Un-
less at Reshire, not a singie mishap of any kind occurred
in capturing the maritime capital and securing the whole
sea-board of Persia. The fight shown was by a warlike
tribe of Arabs. Active operations having thus for a
time been brought to a close, the army prepared to en•
camp and throw up strong field-works and entrenchments
just under the walls of the town. The prisoners, after
being disarmed, were conveyed soma way into the in
terror, and then liberated. The Governor and other
men of distinction have been brought to Bombay by the
Admiral, who returned in the Assays). The transports,
meanwhile, are being recalled to prepare for the em-
barkation of a second army at least five times the size of
that already in the field.
The Bombay Times goes on to state, that a fur-
ther force of 25,000 men has been ordered to be
got in readiness in India for despatch, bringing the
invading army up to 30,000. By the time it has
assembled "we shall have at least 100,000 men,
including camp followers, to feed in a country so
destitute of supplies that everything for man and
beast must be sent from Bombay." Lieutenant
General Sir James Ontram, Resident at Luckuo w,
has returned before his sick leave was expired from
England, to assume supreme political and military
charge.
The Poonah Observer says
The following troops of the army of this Presidency
have been warned for immediate ,ervice in the field,
field, and measures have been already taken to equip
them for this service. The troops under orders from
this station will leave Poonah for the Presidency on or
about the 10,h Jan. H.M.'s 14th Light Dragoons and
H.M.'s 78th Highlanders will tben leave depots here—
the 4th troop of Horse Artillery, from Kurracbee ; the
First. Company 21 Battalion Earopean Foot Artillery,
with No. 2, Light Field Battery attached, now en route
from Sholapore to Poona; H.M.'s 14th Light Dragoons,
from Kirkee ; one regiment of the Scinde Irregular
Horse, from Scinde; .1-T.M.'e 78th Higainders, from
Poona; the 23d Regiment N.L.1., from RYjcote ; thqi
26th Regiment N. 1., now en route to Poona from Sa-
tara. A Flank Battalion, to be composed of the light
companies of the 2d Regiment N.I. (Grenadiers), 3d,
sth, Btb, 11th, 15th, 221, 25th, 28th, and 29th Regi-
ment N. 1., is to be formed.

Major-General Stalker, commanding the expedi-
tionary field force, says, in his despatch to the
Secretary of the Government : Political Department
of Bombay—
I would beg especially to mention the unwearied exer-

. _
tions and valuable aid rendered to me, from the landing
at Haliila Bay to the taking of Bushire, by my aseistaut
Adjutant-General Lieutenant-Colonel Younglinsband ;
Captain %"Tray, the Assistant Quartermaster-General ;
Major Hill, Commanding Engineers ; Captain Dunster-
vine, Assistant Commissary-General ; and Dr. Macken-
zie, the Superintending Surgeon.
Brigadier Stopford and Lieutenant-Colonel Malet died
leading on their men in the most gallant style. Brigadier
Honner, commanding the 2d Infantry Brigade ; Lieut.-
Colonel Shepheard, who succeeded to • the command
of the Ist Infantry Brigade; Lieutenant-Colonel Treve-
lyan, commanding the Artillery Brigade ; and Lieut.-
Colonel Tapp, commanding the Cavalry Brigade, have
earned my warmest thanks for the manner in which their
arduous duties have been carried ; as also Captain
Pottinger, Brigade Maj,r of Artillery, whose exertions
were conspicuous ; anti my best thanks are equally due
to Major Stirling, Commanding H.M.'s 64th Regiment ;
ttohe 20th RegimentCaptainMacleod ;
, who succeeded to the command of
to Lieutenant Colonel Ramsay,
commanding 2d European L. I. ; to Major Manson,
Commanding 4th Rifles ; to Captain Hough, command-
ing 2d Belooch Battalion ; to Captain Forbes, who suc-
ceeded to the command of the 3d Light Cavalry ; to
Major Blake, Commandins g
the 4th Troop H.A. ; to
Captain Hatch, commandin No. 3 Light Fieid Bat-
tery ; to Captain Gibbard, commanding No. E Light
Field Battery ; and to Captain Dickinson, commanding
the Sappers and Miners.
I have also derived every possible assistance horn my
Aide-de-Camp, Captain Hunter ; Major Bellard, Head
of the Intelligence Department; Major 80-ye, the
Deputy Judge Advocate General ; Captain Rigby, who
ens acted as my Persian Interpreter ; Captain Finni-
more, Commissary of Ordnance ; Captain Collier,
Deputy
Lieutenant Assistant
Holland,
Aut a t
Deputy General
Assistant; C p tai n Sh
Quartere we ll ,
and
Master General ; Major Barr, Paymaster ; and Lieut.
Willoughby, Sub-Assistant Commissary General.
Lord Dunkellin, of the Coldstream Gnat ds ; Major
Taylor, of the Persian Embassy ; and Mr. Jolin-i4M-,
of the Indian Navy, also rendered most efficient service
(having attached themselves to my personal Staff); and
to Mr. Johnstone's knowledge of the country and its

inhabitants, with ti)P nr z=gl h.• bag Pxhillitod, I

am much inrici,'.
In fine, re thing caul, have surpA'Scd tbe aumrrabie
spirit exhibited by the officers and men of all ranks, and
the utmost praise is due for their.zeal, devotion, and
gallantry. I have the honour to be, &c.,
(Signed) F. STALKER, Major-General,
Commanding Expeditionary Field Force.
The Governor in Council, in publishing the de-
spatches receiyed from Major General Stalker,
C. 8., and Countnander Jones, observes that he feels
most sincere pleasure in "drawing the attention of
the Right Honourable the Governor-General of
India in Council to the gallantry displayed by
Major-General Stalker, C. 8., and Rear Admiral
Sir H. Leake, K. H., and by the officers and men
under their command during these important ope-
rations. The Right Honourable the Governor in
Council is pleased to direct that a Royal salute be
fired at noon this day (Dec. 27th) in honour of the
capture of Bashire and the occupation of Karrack
The following official return of the killed and
wounded had been issued :
POLITICAL DEPARTMENT.
B ,mbay, 30th December, 1856.
With reference to the Government Notification of the
27th instant, announcing the capture of Bestrire by the
British forces on the 10;h instant, the Right Hon. the
Governor in Council publiAhes, for general information,
the following Return, which has subsequently been re-
ceived, of the killed and wounded of the Field Force
under the command of Major-General Stalker, C. 8., in
the attack on.Reshire on the 9th inst., and also a Return
of tae Ordnance found in the Fen Bushire on its Sur-
render on the 10th inst. By order of the Right Hen.
the Governor in Council.
H. L. ANDERSON, Secretary to Government.
Bt.mbay Castle, 29th Dec., 1856.
Field Hospital.
Nominal list of killed and w Ainded of the field force
under the command of Major-General Stalker, C. 8.,
during the attack of the village of RFshire.
Field-ho,Tital, ship Result, 9th Dec., 1856.
BANK AND NAMES.
Sf n ff. —Brigade Staff : Col. James Stopford, C. 8.,
killed.
A! Tillery.—Gunner George Barrett, 3d Troop, H.A.,
flesh-wound below the right ear; Serjeant Sam. Blopman,
3d Troop H. A., seriously wounded near elbow-joint ;
Private Thomas Butt, 2d Company, 2d 8.A., slightly
wounded on the dorsal of fingers.
3d Reg. Light Cavalry.—Lieut. Col. Malet, killed ;
Private Ram Sing, sth Troop, severely, 3 slug wounds
on lumbar region—since dead ; Ram Sing, 2d Troop,
slightly in right arm ; Peera Sing, 2d Troop, danger.
ously, in right hip and shoulder-joint.
H. M.'s 64th Reg.—Corporal Michael M'Donald,
slightly, left thigh ; Private Arthur Dogherty, mortally
wounded in abdomen--since dead ; Private Patrick
M‘Narnara, mortally wounded, left thigh—since dead ;
Private Isaac Sutton, seriously wounded, left arm ;
Private Patrick Meehan, slightly wounded, right thigh ;
Private Richard Carthy, sightly wounded, left thigh ;
Private John M'Donald, slightly wounded, right arm.
Second European Regiment Light Infantry—Privates
Daley and Doyle, killed; Serjeant Jas. Juckett, severely
wounded, left shoulder; Serj,-antThos. Cooway, slightly
wounded, right side of neck ; Serjeant Henry Hughes,
severely wounded, above left knee; Serjeant William
Ross, severely wounded, above left knee ; Private Thos.
Madden, severely wounded, below left knee, slightly
injuring fibula; Private James M'Gill, severely wounded
right shoulder, grazing the hone.