Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 563

546

Bengal Governmental Notifications.

Calliope, Conway, Herald, Alligator.

Oct.

lery 38, Madras artillery 232, sappers and mi- ners 171, her majesty's 18th Royal Irish 535, and her majesty's 26th Cameronians 317, mak- ing about 2223.

The Wellesley, al Wangtong sent up her marines and 160 seamen, Captain Herbert was stationed at Whampoa with the Calliope, Conway, Her- ald and Alligator, and was directed on the 24th to take the command of the force, afforded by the four vessels under his orders, and pushing up with the flood-tide with such vessels as could proceed, or with the boats of the ships, endeavor to take possession of and secure the arsenal. I informed him that the ships near the factory would drop down and secure the Dutch fort, and to keep up an enfilading fire on the face of the works thrown up in front of the city where I understood many guns where mounted. I left it to his own judgment to act ac- cording to circumstances, in endeavoring to drive the enemy from the French fort and to endeavor to open the communication with the ships of war to the westward and with the commanding officer of the left column stationed at the

factories. I beg to enclose a letter I have received from captain No. 3, Herbert, detailing the part he took in the affair that followed, where the usual gallantry and zeal were displayed by her majesty's seamen and royal marines. Commander Warren, with his gig's crew, first placed his colors on the walls of the French fort. Commander Warren was also ordered, with the ships under his command, to take up his anchorage in line along the town from the western fort as far as the factory, and to connonade the exterior to prevent the enemy from firing on the right column as it passed. After the enemy's fire had been silenced he was to leave the Nimrod and another vessel to keep the enemy in check at that quarter, and to detach the rest of his force to secure the Dutch fort, and to place them with the Atalanta so as tó enfilade the line of bat- teries in front of the city, but he was not to expose his ships to the front fire of the heavy guns, said to be placed there, until the enemy were shaken in their position. The landing of the left column was placed under his particular charge, and it was not to land until he had made the signal.

So affectually and vigorously did commander Warren execute these instruc- tions, that when the right column passed his station, every things had been com- pleted and all was still; the detail of this gallant affair is aunexed in No. 4.

a copy of bis letter, where I regret to observe the loss of men was more than had been ordinary.

A return of the killed and wounded is here added, and although it may appear strange to see the wounded of the army in the naval report, yet the two No. 5.

corps had been so entirely mingled together, their services so blend- ed, and such intimate harmony has existed, that it would be difficult to make any separation between the acts of either or the circumstances that concerned them. The two officers who had fallen, major Becher of the Indian army, deputy quarter master general, a very old officer who had served ably in the Burmese war, and lieut. Fox, first of the Nimrod, have united the regret of all by their characters and services. The same shot took off the legs of lieut. Fox and of Mr. Kendal his shipmate, the gunnery mate of the Nimrod, the former `fell a victim to his wound, the latter has survived amputation. I thought it would gratify Mr. Kendal to give him an acting conmission as lieut. of the Nimrod in lieut. Fox's vacancy. on the field of hattle until your pleasure is known-though his wound will disable him from doing his duty perhaps for some time, and may oblige him to go home.