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Then it was agreed that after two rockets had been fired there should be a general attack.
I told the seamen to advance in the centre.
After the second rocket a rush was made forward in line, and we placed ourselves close under the stockade, taking advantage of every shelter, keeping up a heavy fire at it, as the enemy was invisible. The men were falling fast, the retire and assembly sounded, so we fell back.
Captain Innes was carried in killed. After a hurried consultation it was unanimously agreed to retire, as it was useless losing men without any visible result.
The coolies having all deserted we were obliged to detail some of the troops to carry the dead and wounded. The remainder were formed into a rear guard, Lieutenant Booth commanding. Mr. Swettenham and I remaining, we retired slowly and in good order to the boats, which occupied about an hour and a half, when we embarked and arrived at the Residency about 3.30 p.m.
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This evening Captain Innes was buried, with military honours, beside the late Mr. Birch's grave.
The affair cost us altogether-one officer killed, two officers wounded, one private (10th) killed, one Sepoy killed, three lance-corporals and four privates severely wounded, and one corporal and one private slightly wounded; one Sepoy severely wounded.
The Malay scouts, under Mr. Swettenham, proved very useful and showed great courage; one of them was killed.
The inefficiency of the Sepoys may be partly attributable to want of discipline, and to no officer being acquainted with their language.
For the police there is no excuse, particularly as Mr. Plunkett did all that was possible to encourage them and the Sepoys, but without success.
Though unable to discover the loss on the enemy's side we heard from reliable authority that the Malays had abandoned their stockade shortly after we left.
Before concluding, I hope you will not consider I am exceeding my duty in mentioning the gallantry of the European troops and sailors, who were under fire for one hour and three-quarters in very trying circumstances. I believe I saw the last of the missing man (private Fay, of the 10th), who was lying wounded on the ground, while we were ad- vancing on the stockade. I gave him my pistol, and took his rifle with some ammunition. I did not see him on retiring, and concluded he had been taken to the rear with the others.
On the evening of the 8th, Commander Bruce, of the "Fly," arrived, bringing intelli- gence of a reinforcement under Captain Whitla, of the 10th, who arrived during the night.
Next day the body of Private Fay floated down the river, and was buried in the evening.
The wounded were sent down the river during the day.
Commander Francis Stirling,
SIB,
Senior Officer, Straits of Malacca.
I have, &c. (Signed)
T. F. ABBOTT, Sub-Lieutenant in charge of Seamen from Her Majesty's ship "Thistle."
Enclosure 2.
The Residency, Bondar Bahru, Perak River, November 16, 1875.
In continuation of my letter of proceedings of the 12th instant, I beg to inform you that on the following day, a report having been received that the stockade at Passir Sala was likely to be abandoned, and it being considered extremely advisable that a blow should be struck at them before this took place, an immediate attack on their position was determined on; and, after consultation with Major Dunlop, Special Commissioner in Perak, and Captain Whitla, of the 10th Regiment, in command of the troops, a plan of operations was agreed on.
On Sunday morning the 14th instant, all the available officers and seamen and marines of Her Majesty's ships "Thistle" and "Fly" were brought up the river and quartered at the Residency, native boats were fitted to receive two 12-pounder howitzer field pieces, one 7-pounder boat's gun, the two 24-pounder naval rocket tubes, and a cohorn mortar,
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and with much difficulty 15 other native boats were obtained to transport the troops; and on the same evening, after reconnoitring as far as Qualla Truss, a place of dis- embarkation was determined on, on the right bank of the river, about a mile below the stockade which was attacked on the 7th instant.
On Monday morning at 5 a.m. the embarkation commenced, and at 6.30 the whole force moved up the river, and at 8.20 disembarked at the place determined on without opposition.
The marines of both ships were placed at the disposal of Captain Whitla, who formed them into the advanced guard, and placed them under the command of the Hon. Mr. Plunkett, Superintendent of the Police at Penang, who volunteered his services.
It had been arranged that the boats fitted with the guns and rockets should in ascending the river keep well in advance of the troops, the boats with the reserve ammunition and for wounded keeping well astern.
The naval force was distributed and ascended the river in the following order :--- First native boat with 7-pounder, under Sub-Lieutenant Abbott, and nine men; second native boat with 12-pounder howitzer, under Lieutenant Lowe, and eight men; third native boat, with 24-pounder rocket, under Mr. Tyler, Boatswain, and eight men-from Her Majesty's ship "Thistle." Fourth native boat, with 12-pounder howitzer, under Chief-Gunner's Mate of the "Fly," and eight men; fifth native bcat, with cohorn mortar, under Sub-Lieutenant Ross, and eight men; sixth native boat, with 24-pounder rocket tube, under Lieutenant Forsyth, and eight men-under Commander Bruce, Her Majesty's ship "Fly." The troop boats and boats for the wounded were in charge of Dr. Lloyd, surgeon, and Mr. Vosper, Boatswain of Her Majesty's ship" Fly," and followed in the
rear.
The military force consisted of one officer and 20 men of the Royal Artillery, with one gun (a brass 12-pounder howitzer), three officers, and 125 men of the 10th Regiment, and 15 marines temporarily attached, Major Dunlop, Royal Artillery, Special Commis- sioner, and Mr. Sweltenham, Assistant Special Commissioner, accompanied the advanced guard.
The whole force advanced in the prescribed order at about 10 o'clock; I, myself, leading in the steam gig, having with me Mr. Harrison, Assistant-Paymaster of this ship.
When about 600 yards from the first stockade at Qualla Biah the enemy opened fire on our boats, which was at once replied to, but we were unable to silence them or drive them out of the stockade until our boats were within 300 yards of and enfilading it, and the Artillery had brought their gun into play, when, after having received no reply to our fire for some time, the troops advanced and took possession and found it abandoned. Two guns were captured here.
Continuing our way up the river, I directed rockets and shell to be thrown into the jungle at intervals to clear the way for the troops (who burnt the houses on their way as they advanced), and about a mile below Passir Sala (now in view), the enemy again made a stand, and opened fire on us with their rifles, but with no effect, and they were soon dislodged; nearing Passir Sala to about 1,000 yards, two guns were brought to bear on us, and also a fire of musketry on our flank; the latter was, however, quickly silenced by the advancing troops, while the boats shelled and rocketted the village of Passir Sala, taking up a position at 600 yards; the practice from the 7-pounder gun and rockets was excellent. After having completely silenced the enemy's fire, we moved the boats up, and the troops advancing at the same time, we took possession of the stockade, and found it abandoned. Three guns were taken, and in the Maharajah Lela's house (inside the inner stockade), the greater part of the late Mr. Birch's property was dis- covered; his two boats were also found undamaged, moored alongside the bank. It was now 4 o'clock, and after giving the men their dinner, I crossed over the river to Camponj Gaga, at Major Dunlop's request, taking with me Commander Bruce, Sub-Lieutenant Abbott, Mr. Harrison, and a party of seamen, and burnt the Datu Sagor's house. Unfor- tunately, in executing this Inspector Laggis, of the Police, was severely wounded by a spear thrown by a native. It was now getting dark, and, after burning the stockade and all the houses in the Maharajah's camponj, the troops were embarked, and the whole force descended the river and arrived at the Residency at 8 p.m., having completely effected our object, with but one casualty-that of Inspector Laggis.
It is impossible to estimate the loss sustained by the enemy, as they invariably carry
off their dead and wounded, but I have reason to believe it is considerable.
The next morning the seamen and marines returned to their ships.
I desire to express my thanks to Major Dunlop, Special Commissioner in Perak, for the great assistance he gave me in organising the naval part of the expedition, and also to Captain Whitla, commanding the troops, for the hearty manner in which he co-operated
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