'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎174] (193/622)

174
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
fire on tlie clear space between the compound and the vessel,
that none could be persuaded to return except a few of the
officers' servants, with whose assistance but little could be
removed during the limited time we could afford ; consequently
much had to be abandoned, and I am sorry to find that the loss
chiefly fell upon the officers and men, who were too much
occupied in keeping off the enemy to be able to attend to their
own interests. Accordingly, after the expiration of another
hour (during which the enemy, despairing of otherwise effecting
their object, had brought up six guns to bear upon us), we took
measures to evacuate the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . Captain Conway called in
his posts, and all being united, retired in a body, covered by
a few skirmishers, as deliberately as on parade (carrying off
our slain and wounded), which, and the fire from the steam
boats, deterred the enemy from pressing us as they might
have done. All was embarked, and I then directed Mr. Acting-
Commander Miller, commanding the 'Satellite' steamer, to
proceed with his vessel to the wood station, three miles up the
river on the opposite bank, to secure a sufficiency of fuel for our
purposes, ere it should be destroyed by the enemy, while I
remained with the 4 Planet/ to take off the barge that was
moored to the shore. This being a work of some time, during
which a hot fire was opened on the vessel from three guns
which the enemy brought to bear on her, besides small arms,
and requiring much personal exposure of the crew (especially
of Mr. Cole, the commander of the vessel). I deem it my duty
to bring to your favourable notice their zealous exertions on
the occasion, and also to express my obligation to Messrs.
Miller and Cole for the flanking fire they maintained on the
enemy during their attacks on the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , and for their
support during the retirement and embarkation of the troops.
The 'Satellite' was also exposed to three guns in her progress
up to the wood station, one of which she dismounted by her
fire. The vessels were followed by large bodies of the enemy
for about three miles, occasionally opening their guns upon us
to no purpose. Since then we have pursued our voyage up the
Indus about fifteen miles without molestation, and propose to
morrow morning anchoring off Muttaree, where I expect to find
your camp. Our casualties amount to two men of H.M. s
22nd Regiment, and one camp follower, killed; and Mr. Con
ductor Kelly, Mr. Carlisle, Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Clerk, two of the steamer's
crew, four of H.M.'s 22nd Regiment, and two camp fol
lowers, wounded, and four camp followers missing. Total, three
killed, ten wounded, and four missing.
Sir Charles Napier, hearing that the Ameers were at Meanee,
about ten miles from his own position at Muttaree (whither he
had moved on the 16th from Hala,'having left Hyderabad on the
6th), marched thither on the 17th, with his slender force ot