'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎518] (537/622)

518
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
column of troops, under the command of Colonel Scobie,
marched by land. The squadron also was reinforced by the
sloop-of-war 'Clive,' Lieutenant Sedley, which arrived from
Zanzibar on the 3rd of October, and proceeded to Dwarka, off
which all the ships-of-war and transports, with Colonel
Donovan's force, were assembled on the 18th of October.
A correspondent of the " Bombay Gazette," gives the fol
lowing interesting account of the operations that ensued for the
reduction of this important stronghold
u In order to make Colonel Scobie's force, which was sup
posed to be about five miles inland, aware of our presence, the
6 Ferooz' steamed in abreast of the town, and fired eight shells
into it, this being the preconcerted signal, and then anchored
to the north-west, nearly opposite to Roopon Bunder, which is
about two miles* to the northward of Dwarka. This is the
only place where the troops could effect a landing, on account
of the surf which runs all along the coast, with the exception of
a few sheltered places. But there is rather an imposing looking
fort there, and we noticed horsemen riding between it and the
town, evidently making preparations to defend it; so the 6 Clyde,'
gun-boat, towing the 6 Ferooz,' 6 Berenice,' and 4 Zenobia's'
first cutters ; in charge of Lieutenant Wilson,t anchored off it, and
commenced firing, which was kept up for some time, when the
boats' crews landed, rushed up to the fort and took it, much to
the surprise of everybody, as it was expected to have been
decided in the usual Wagher style, and the Colonel command
ing the field-force stated that he would not have landed there
with less than a thousand men; so this was a feather in Jack's
cap. On the afternoon of the next day, the 20th ultimo, the
troops disembarked, and, in conjunction with Colonel Scobie's
force, formed a circle round the land side of the town. I forgot
to mention that, as soon as the Jacks had taken the fort. Lieu
tenant Nixon, commanding the 6 Clyde,' landed a 24-pounder
howitzer, which afterwards harassed the enemy a good deal,
disabling a gun they brought to the front, killing two, and
wounding a good many. The first thing to be done was to
disable the guns, of which they appear to. have a good many,
and a 10-inch mortar. The artillery have gradually got their
batteries to work, and for the last three days the 'Ferooz' and
6 Zenobia' have been shelling the town. At first the military
big-wigs were cautious about going to work, lest they should
fire over into the troops on the other side; but, after seeing the
practice that was made at Beyt by the ships, they ought to
^ More accurately, one and a-half miles from Dwarka, of which it is the
Port.
f After the abolition of the Service, Lieutenant C. P. Wilson was one of the
most efficient assessors of the Eoard of Trade, in which he now holds the
responsible position of one of the three " Professional Members of Harbour and
Marine Departments.' ,