'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎122] (141/622)

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history of the indian nayy.
the guard, killed two Europeans, wounded some others, of
whom one died, and broke away in a body. #
# The following is Major Baillie's report of his operations on shore, under date
the 31st of January :—" Both divisions formed up in the most steady manner
and advanced through the town, the enemy retiring before them. The Bombay
European Regiment seized on the Sultan's Palace, and planted the British flag
on the top of it. On debouching from the town a flag of truce was hoisted at
Hydroos, the principal Mahomedan Mosque, where all the inhabitants, both male
and female, had sought protection. The halt was immediately sounded, and I
advanced with a white flag, met the Mahomedan priest, and explained to him
through my Arab interpreter, that none of the inhabitants should be touched;
to keep all unarmed people and females with him at the Mosque, and to collect
any arms there might be, and deliver them to Lieutenant Evans, European Regi
ment, whom I posted with a picquet of thirty Europeans, a little to the right, and
within 300 yards of Hydroos, with instructions not to approach the Mosque. At
the western end of the town, within 200 yards of the above mentioned piquet,
Captain Morris, having occupied a large stone building with the head-quarters of
the 24th Regiment, JST.L, hoisted the British flag, having previously seized on the
southern gate and occupied a mosque situated half way between the south gate
and his own position. Captain Willoughby, with twenty-two Europeans of the
Bombay Artillery, having just landed from the mortar boat, took post between the
European and 24th Regiments, thus forming a semicircle; Lieutenant Evans's
picquet in advance. At one p.m., I proceeded with the flank companies of the
European Regiment, under the command of Captain Cumming, to seize the gate
way at the northern pass. The enemy still keeping up a desultory fire from the
heights on our right as the columns advanced, but without effect. On approaching
within 200 yards of the defile, skirmishers were thrown out under Lieutenant
Rose, supported by Captain Stiles, to dislodge a small body of Arabs, who kept
up a fire on the advance from the heights to the right of the pass. A small
party was thrown forward to examine the gully, and meeting with no opposition,
the whole pushed on and occupied the gate which was deserted. It had two
guns to defend the passage; a picquet consisting of an officer and fifty rank and
file was left at this gate, and Captain Stiles was directed to scour the heights on
our left,when returning. The small column returned to the town, where I found
one hundred and thirty-nine Arab prisoners sent by Lieutenant Dobree, R.N., from
the fortified island. I instantly desired the* Arab interpreter to explain to the
Sheikh or Chief, that they must give up their arms, when they would be escorted
to the Northern Gate and permitted to proceed wherever they pleased; to this
some demur was madcj but at last acceded to, and their matchlocks were taken
from them. In the meantime, knowing what little dependence was to be placed
on the faith of the Arabs, I directed Major Osborne and Captain Willoughby to get
their men under arms quietly in case of accidents. In taking their creeses from the
Arabs, they became alarmed I suppose, for several of them jumped up, drew their
creeses, stabbed the Serjeant-Major of the Artillery in five places, and inflicted a
fearful wound on the Arab interpreter. Some of the sentries immediately fired
on them, when they broke away in a body, killing two men and wounding two,
and a sergeant of artillery, since dead ; the remaining sentries fired on them, and
killed and mortally wounded twelve Arabs. In their flight, the Arabs killed a
bhistie of the European Regiment. The Sultan has since written to the Political
Agent that the alarm amongst the Arabs was occasioned by a negro slave of his
own who drew his creese to conceal it. Had it not been for this unfortunate
occurrence, so deeply to be regretted, the loss of life would have been very trifling.
On the 21st, as the inhabitants were returning to their houses, the 24th Regi
ment, N.I., were moved back to the mosque. The duty being very fatiguing to
the troops, the picquet on the fortified island was relieved by the marines of the
Coote. On the 25th, in consequence of information received from the Political
Agent, that the Bedouins were gathering, and intended an attack, two hundred
European and Native troops, with two guns, under the command of Captain
Morris, w r ere moved out and occupied the old Turkish wall on the isthmus, which
commands the approach to Aden, but there has been no symptom of any attack;
on the contrary, as far as I can learn, everything seems to be as quiet as could