'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎353] (372/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
353
tremelv difficult operation to have crossed the rapid current of
the Karoon in the face of the enemy, had the means existed for
doin 0 " so. But, until our small steamers and boats could round
the southern point, and join us, we should have been helpless.
After mature deliberation, I resolved to attack the enemy's
batteries with the armed steamers and sloops-of-war, and, so
soon as the fire was nearly silenced, to pass up rapidly with the
troops, in small steamers towing boats, land the force two miles
above the northern point, and immediately advance upon, and
attack, the entrenched camp."
At nine p.m. on the 24th March, a boat, with mufHed oars, bav
in 0, some x)f the heads of departments on board, proceeded up the
river to choose a position for a mortar battery, and, when close
under the forts, having ascertained that the island on which it was
said a mortar battery could be erected, was a swamp, they re
turned without being fired at. But the ingenuity of Commander
Ronnie came to the rescue with the proposal of a mortar raft,
and, in defiance of the engineers, who said the first shot would
smash it, a raft was constructed during the night, under Com
mander Rennie's directions, of casks and studding-sail booms
securely lashed together, and, being manned by the Bombay
artillery, and armed with two 8-inch and two 5J-inch mortars,
was towed up to its position opposite the northern fort, by the
steamer 6 Comet.'
* The 25th of March was occupied in trans-shipping troops,
horses, and guns, into the small steamers and boats, and, says
Captain Hunt, of the 78th Highlanders, 46 the blue-jackets of
the Indian Navy worked with a will, and helped their red-coated
brethren through every difficulty—the way in which the horses
were handled by them being particularly remarked, and the
animals themselves seemed to know they were in proper hands/'
At nightfall the enemy brought some field-pieces down opposite
the ships, and opened fire on the ' Assaye,' which vessel soon
silenced them with her 68-pounders; they kept up a picket fire,
however, all night, and, on the following morning, several of
their cavalry were seen moving about amongst the trees, dressed
in a light blue uniform with white belts.
The morningof the 26th was magnificent, and the sky cloudless,
with just sufficient wind to blow the smoke clear of the ships so
that a good aim could be taken by the captains of the guns, who
probably threw few shots away. As a spectacle, the action that
ensued was grand and effective. The scene, as the ships, with
ensigns hoisted at each masthead as if en fete for some great
national holiday, simultaneously opened their broadsides, was
brilliant to a degree; and as, during the progress of the bom
bardment, the hearty British cheers of the seamen announced
to their comrades in the transports that a magazine had ex
ploded or some battery been silenced, the enthusiasm would
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