'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎364] (383/622)

364
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
board Commander Nisbett,* Agent for Transports by the
assiduity with which he had my arrangements carried into
etiect, was of material assistance." Commodore Younff then
speaks approvingly of the zeal and intelligence displayed by
Acting-Masters McLaurin, of the 'Napier;' Holland, of the
'Comet;' Fletcher, of the 'Planet;' Neal, of the 'Assyria-'
i^avies, of the 'Ethersey,' flat; and Darke, of the 'Hugh
Lindsay.' Also last, but certainly not least, he eulogises his
. lag-Lieutenant, Mr. Sweny, "who," he says, "besides buoy-
iug on the channel across the bar of the river, was invaluable
to me in communicating orders to the ships of war and trans
ports. His coolness during the action, when performing the
office of flag-lieutenant, was conspicuous."
Colonel (now General Sir) Edward Lugard, C.B., Chief of
the Staff, wrote to Commodore Young, " expressing in warm
terms the appreciation of Sir James Outram of the great service
rendered by the Indian Navy, in reducing the strong batteries
which the enemy had erected on the left bank of the Euphrates
to defend their position at Mohamra, and so gallantly and
effectually performed by the armed steamers and sloops-of-war,
'Ferooz/ 4 Senairamis/ 'Assaye,' 6 Ajdaha,' 'Victoria,' 'Olive,
and 'Falkland,' with their brave crews, commanded by Captains
Eennie, Selby, Grieve, Manners, Adams, and Lieutenants
Ironson and Worsley, that nothing was left for the army to do,
after being conducted by the nav} 7 past the silenced batteries,
than to land and take possession of the enemy's entrenched
camp. The Lieu tenant-General tenders to you, your officers
and crew, his best thanks for your services and his hearty con
gratulations upon the successful issue of the undertaking; he
further begs you will thank Lieutenant Chittyand Mr. Holland
for the important services they rendered in the 4 Berenice' and
• Comet,' and also the Masters commanding the several steamers
and transport ships, for their zealous assistance throughout the
Expedition."t
On receipt of the despatches of Sir James Outram detailing
the bombardment and capture of Mohamra, the Governor-
General in Council issued a notification, under date, "Fort
William, 22nd of April, 1857," from which we extract the fol
lowing passages:— 44 The engagement was on the side of the
British arms a naval one, no land force, with the exception
of one mortar battery, having taken an active share in it. The
* Commander Nisbett was appointed Chief Agent for Transports, in place of
Commander Macdonald, who proceeded on shore sick.
f The following is a list of the principal Ordnance stores abandoned by the
enemy:—Sixteen guns, one mortar, one hundred and thirtj-two tents, 36,000
rounds of gun ammunition, 3,600 loose shot or shell, 14,400 lbs. of powder j also
4,000 loose shot or shell were collected and brought in, while 144,000 lbs. of
powder were destroyed by the explosion during the action.