'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎361] (380/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
361
cheer ran along the whole line; several other explosions fol
lowed, and the Persian army could be seen from the mast-heads
over the date-trees in full retreat. The 'Ferooz' and 4 Ajdaha'
were now to cover the disembarkation of the army, which took
place about a mile to the northward of the Buffer creek. This
was effected in admirable order, the steamers lying alongside
the banks, and disgorging their living freights without the
intervention of boats. The army at once advanced through
the date-groves to attack the enemy ; but they had been fore
stalled, for the work was done and most effectually. As the
General in his despatch to the Commodore most fairly observed,
"nothing was left for the army to do but to take possession of
the entrenched camp" The 4 Semiramis' at this time had
steamed into the Huffer Canal to silence a battery which still
fired with one gun, and suffered some loss ere this was effected.
A few devoted men still kept up a fire of musketry, but were
eventually dislodged by storming parties. Of this part of the
action I cannot give any details, having been at some distance.
The total loss was five killed and eighteen (including one
officer, Lieutenant Harries) wounded. The loss inflicted on the
enemy was severe, both in men and materiel of war, but this is
as nothing to the effect on the morale of their force. How
totally it was disorganised was signally shown a few days
afterwards at Ahwaz. For this was a defeat which even Per
sian ingenuity could not torture into a victory. The Persian
forts had been constructed at their leisure; nothing had been
omitted which could render them stronger with the means at
their disposal. The shell-pits dug all over the forts, point, I
think unmistakably, to Russian supervision. Artillerymen
were sent from Teheran to man the guns, and the Shazada had
already commenced a despatch announcing our defeat. With
all confidence they awaited our approach, believing the steamers
would be instantly sunk by their fire. They stood to their
guns well, and were ver}^ successful in burying them or throw
ing them into the river. Twenty-one guns, the number
taken, was a small proportion 1 imagine of the force used
against us."
The attack of earthworks, twenty feet thick, mounting over
forty guns, and manned by regular artillerymen sent from
Teheran, by a squadron of steamers and sailing ships, carrying
in all thirty 8-inch guns and thirty-six 32-pounders, of which
only one half were engaged owing to their being mounted on the
broadside, was an act bordering on temerity, and was regarded
as such by so competent an authority as the Captain of the
4 Sybille,' who, after examining both the batteries and the
means by which they were to be reduced, predicted a sanguinary
repulse. Had a victory been achieved with the loss of half the
ships, and a long "butcher's bill," the world would have