'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎437] (456/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
437
officers from their duties afloat, by which the vessels were
crippled, and their efficiency for service seriously impaired; but
the Government of India overruled these objections under the
great urgency of the times, as it was found that the natives
came to regard the seamen with superstitious terror, while the
force was easier handled and more available for special objects
than regular European troops, w 7 hich, moreover, could not be
spared from the armies and columns operating in the field.
For a considerable time the Indian Navy Detachment at
Fort William, formed one-third of the European garrison, and
took the guards at three of the gates, and the reliefs at the
magazines, arsenal, and over the King of Oude. The admirable
manner in which the first Detachments in Fort William and other
stations up-country, performed their duty in protecting the civil
power and guarding the treasuries and other important posts,
when the European troops were withdrawn for service against
the rebels, induced the Local Government of Bengal From c. 1758-1858, the East India Company's administration in Bengal. From 1773-1833, the most senior of the three subdivisions of India, also known as the Supreme Government of India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. , which had
no authority over the Indian Navy, the shore Detachments being
under the Supreme Government, to form similar bodies of sea
men, under civil contract, to serve as Police Brigades, under
officers of the Bengal Marine. These, latter, however, were totally
unaccustomed to command European seamen in actual military
service, and it became apparent that these bodies of men,
when quartered at distant stations, not being amenable to
martial law, or accustomed to strict discipline, were fre
quently uncontrollable, and had to be finally disbanded or
replaced by Indian Naval Detachments. 5 * This was not
effected before great injustice and injury was done to the
Service, owing to their being allowed to assume the title of
"Naval Brigades," and adopt a uniform closely resembling that
of the Indian Navy—by w 7 hich much serious misapprehension
arose, and their frequent misconduct was imputed to the men
of the Covenanted Service. Captain Campbell, writing to us
* It should, however, be said injustice to the Bengal Marine, that one or two
of their Detachments, formed exceptions to this charge of indiscipline or ineffi
ciency. Captain Burbank did good and gallant service at Purneah on the 11th
of December, and, later, against the rebellious Coles in Chota Nagpore, for
which he received the thanks of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal. The work
thrown on Mr. Howe, the Superintendent of the Bengal Marine, and on his
successor. Captain Rennie, I.N., was immense and varied, and it was performed
with the success that might have been anticipated as regards the latter officer,
from his antecedents and past service. Lord Canning says in his " Minute^on
the Services of Civil Officers and others during the Mutiny and Rebellion :
" The calls for exertion and watchfulness in the Marine Department have been
constant, from the time when the transports with English troops began to arrive,
up to the present moment, when the despatch of supplies and stores by the inland
steamers is only just slackening. To Mr. Howe, in the first instance, and to
Captain Rennie, from the time when he took up his appointment at the begin
ning of 1858, great praise is due for the manner in which the duties of the office
have been discharged. I trust that the services of these two officers will receive
notice from Her Majesty's Glovernment."