'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎13r] (30/180)

15
declined by Captain Wainwright, who afterwards regretted his action in this
respect, for the pilots obtained at Masqat were altogether useless.
The expedition arrived off Ras-al-Khaimah on the afternoon of the
11th November; but the shallowness of the soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. made it necessary for the
ships to anchor at distances of 2 to 4 miles off the town, according to their size.
The captured " Minerva,'' a full-rigged ship on which the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. had mounted
20 guns, was starting from Ras-al-Khaimah on a cruise when the British squadron
arrived; but, on sighting the armament, she put about and ran aground under a
circular tower about a mile to the south of the town. In this position she was
attacked by the smaller British vessels and taken; but a heavy fire from the shore
prevented her removal, and she was burned instead where she lay. In the attempt
to cut out the " Minerva," the cruiser " Prince of Wales " went aground and
suffered some damage by a fusillade from the land.
On the 12th the town was bombarded during three hours by such of the vessels
as from their size could approach near enough; but the defenders maintained an
unshaken fire from small batteries and entrenchments thrown up along the beach,
and little or no impression was made.*
In the early morning of the 13th a demonstration was made against the
mouth ol the harbour at the north end of the town, under cover of which the
whole of the British infantry and some detachments of marines and native troops
were landed at the opposite end, in water reaching to their waists. The landing
was disputed by a crowd of swordsmen, but their rush was broken by a fire of case
from gunboats, and they were then driven back by a charge. By sunrise the wall
across the peninsula on the landward side of the town had been secured, along
with its towers and some adjacent buildings. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the
centre of the town had been gained, the British flag had been hoisted on the
Shaikh's house, and only the northern quarters at the point of the peninsula
remained in possession of the enemy. By 4 p.m. 50 vessels belongins to the place,
including 30 large war boats, had been set on fire by the seamen of the fleet, and
the town had become the scene of a general conflagration. Some booty was
obtained by individuals,! but no general plunder was authorised.
At daylight on the 14th, in consequence of a report that a large body of Arabs
was approaching from the interior. Colonel Smith, actuated doubtless by the
instructions to avoid a conflict with the Wahhabis, hurriedly re-embarked his
force. No admission of defeat had been obtained from'the enemy, who
immediately re-occupied the shore with every gesture of defiance. There is reason
to believe that the Wahhabi general Mutlaq did actually move to the assistance
of Ras-al-Khaimah as soon as he heard that it was attacked; and, especially in
view of what occurred a few weeks later at Shinas, it is imDosible to condemn the
cautious behaviour of the British commander.
It does not appear that the fighting at Ras-al-Khaimah can have been of a
severe character; but some particular buildings were held with obstinacy. The
fatal casualties on the British side were two men killed on board the " Prince of
Wales " and Captain Dansey of the 65th Regiment, slain by a spear, which struck
him in the neck while he was clearing a house in the town; the wounded numbered
21. But for the screen formed by the smoke of burning houses, the British losses
would, it is said, have been much heavier. In regard to the enemy it was reported
that " from 70 to 80 of these vagabonds were killed." The landing and embarkation
of the troops, in view of the difficulties by which these operations were attended,
were considered to have been very successfully performed.
The armament then crossed the Gulf to Lingeh, which was deserted by the
inhabitants at its arrival; on the 17th the town was occupied without resistance
by a small detachment of native troops and given to the flames; and 20 sailing
craft, of which 9 were large war vessels, were destroyed.
At midday on the 26th of November the cruisers " Mornington," " Ternate "
" Nautilus " and " Fury " with the transport " Mary," having obtained pilots at
Qishm town,entered Clarence Strait and anchored off the port of Laft. They carried
a force of about 500 land troops, most of whom were Europeans, the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima.
or their Qishmi allies occupying the place, were summoned to surrender; but
Arrival at
Ras-al-Khal-
mah, 11th
November
1809.
Bombard
ment. 12th
November.
Landing and
capture of
the town.
13th Novem
ber.
Evacuation,
14th Novem
ber.
Casualties.
Destruction
of Lingeh,
17th Novem
ber.
Operations
at Laft,
26th to 28th
November.
* According to Regimental Records (65th Foot) the bombardment was not a heavy one and
was only made to cover a reconnaissance for the purpose of locating the enemy's shipping
t A private of one of the British regiments soon after placed £300 in an officer's hands to
be remitted to his friends.