NOMINAL ROLL OF POLITICAL AND STAFF OFFICERS PRESENT WITH THE DE- Captain Kemball, Bombay Artillery, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia. Captain Malcolm Green, Scinde Horse. Lieutenant Baigrie, Commissariat Department. Ahwaz, April 3, 1857. J. WRAY, Deputy-Quartermaster-General. The next dispatch is from Captain Wray, Deputy-Quartermaster-General, P.F.F., to Colonel Lugard, C.B., dated Camp, Mohammerah, April 6, which describes in more minute detail the operations against the enemy conducted by Captain Rennie. It states that the enemy retreated from a very strong position, to the number of 7,000 men, with a perfect swarm of Buktiaree horsemen and five or six guns, before a body of 300 infantry. The following despatch from Captain Kemball completes the series ;CAPTAIN A. B. KEMBALL, POLITICAL AGENT, to LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR JAMES OUTRAM, K.C.B. Mohammerah, on board of the Hon. Company's ship Comet, April 4. (Extract). "I have much satisfaction in announcing to you the complete success of the expedition, which left Mohammerah about mid-day on the 29th ult., under he command of Captain (Acting Commodore) Rennie, Indian Navy, and of which the political direction was committed to my charge. "After quitting Mohammerah, the first traces we discovered of the enemy were at a point about three miles beyond Rawali Ali ibn Jacoob, or 30 miles up the river, to which our attention was attracted by the remains of fires, shreds of clothing, &c., indicating a recent bivouac. There we anchored for the night, a little before sunset. On landing, however, we failed to obtain the desired clue to the number of guns accompanying the retreating army. Either their stay on the spot had been very temporary, or they had omitted to range their guns in line, and must have unhooked the horses in the order in which they advanced on the road. "Leaving Ismailiyeh at 5 a.m. (31st), we reached Oomarra about 3 p.m., without any incident worthy of notice beyond the capture of a Persian straggler, from whom, however, we failed to elicit any information whatever. This man, who, but for our timely arrival, must inevitably have perished, was received on board of the Comet, and having been fed and supplied with provisions, was released at Oomarra. "At Oomarra we ascertained positively that the Persian army had reached Ahwaz the previous morning, and that the boat containing the disabled gun had passed Oomarra the same day. It was likewise reported that immediately on the receipt of intelligence of the fall of Mohammerah, orders had been given to remove across the river the small force under the command of one of the Shahzada's sons, which formed the garrison of Ahwaz, as well as to withdraw the grain and provisions collected there. "Time being thus of importance, the vessels resumed their progress towards Ahwaz, now distant only 15 miles, at 3 a.m., (April 1). At 7 we first observed the enemy's cavalry videttes (who retired at our approach), stretching along the right bank; and, having made good our advance to within two and a-half "It is probable that throughout our course to Ahwaz we must have passed many stragglers who concealed themselves in the brushwood. miles of their position, we could clearly discern their battalions of infantry, with a large body of horse on the right flank, crowning a low range of hills of sandstone formation which trended westward in a direction at right angles to the river. Here, in the view of the Persian Force, we overtook the boat carrying the disabled gun,* and took possession. "Some time was now occupied in reconnoitring the country, as also in awaiting the return of spies I had despatched the previous evening to obtain information, and, there being reason to believe either that Ahwaz had been totally abandoned,† or was so weakly garrisoned as to be liable to a coup-demain, an attack upon the town was speedily determined on. The details of the plan will doubtless be reported to you by the naval and military commanders; but I may be permitted to observe that its adoption fully justified the previous reputation of Captain Rennie for daring and intrepidity, while the judicious disposition of the small force under the command of Captain Hunt, of Her Majesty's 78th Highlanders, insured its successful execution. The gunboats having taken up the position assigned to them under the shelter of an island within range of the enemy's camp, the troops landed, and were formed up in a manner to assume the appearance of 1,500 men, rather than of 300, to which number they were in fact limited; and, at the same time, Captain Rennie proceeded in person in the Comet, Captain Selby commanding, to support the former, and, as far as possible, to cover the march of the latter. "As we advanced, the last of the enemy's pickets were seen to retire on the main body. The battalions on the heights gradually disappeared, and one hour later, when the occupation of the town had been effected, we descried the whole Persian army, with their rear not 1,200 yards distant from us, in full retreat on Dizful. Among the wheeled vehicles the private carriage of the Shahzada was clearly discernible. I must not omit to mention that twice as the troops proceeded the enemy endeavoured to bring a gun to bear upon them, and as often the steady and accurate fire of the gunboats compelled him to relinquish the attempt. "On our approach to the town a number of the inhabitants came out to meet us, with proffers of entire submission and devotion to the British Government. I lost no time in allaying the alarm which so manifestly possessed them; and the assurance I conveyed to them that, provided they would honestly disclose all property belonging to the Persians, their private dwellings should be respected, seemed to have the desired effect. As soon as leisure permitted they conducted us to the different stores of grain and flour, and further delivered up to us 230 sheep, some 50 mules, and 150 new stand of arms (in cases), which time had not been allowed the enemy to remove. The sheep, arms, and mules Captain Rennie caused to be shipped on board of the steamers, but the grain, after removing as much as was required for the subsistence of the animals en route, and reserving two boat loads of wheat and barley, there being no other means of conveyance available, for transmission to Mohammerah, I distributed among the inhabitants of the town and the outside Arabs. "While engaged in inspecting the stores of grain, information was brought to "The carriage had been shattered below the left trunnion. This boat was laden also with valuable property belonging to the Shahzada, which, from a distance, we observed the Arabs plundering and carrying into the interior; but time did not admit of our landing to recover it. +"Intelligence of our coming had, it seems, preceded us, and the last of the enemy had crossed that morning. We subsequently heard also that a small body of 200 or 300 men had a few days before been sent up the river, on the left bank, on what errand was not known,-probably to escort provisions. "Ahwaz, though formerly a place of some note, is now in a ruined condition, and its population does not probably exceed 3,000 souls. me that several stand of arms and a magazine of ammunition had been abandoned by the Persians on the ground they occupied. "Accordingly, a small detachment under the superintendence of Major Wray and Captain Green, passed on to take possession; but, having been preceded by the Arabs,* whom from Ahwaz we could observe covering the ground immediately after the departure of the Persians, they were enabled to discern merely powder strewed over the ground, port-fires, shot, shell, &c., and empty and broken cases. The whole were collected in a heap and set on fire.† "Situated as they were in a position remarkably strong by nature, the precipitate retreat of the Persian army before a mere handful of British troops, can only be explained by the panic inspired by the defeat at Mohammerah, by their inability, from the want of boats, to effect the passage of the river, by the bold front assumed by the expedition, and, finally, by the fact, which would have weighed probably with better troops than themselves, ignorant of our deficiency in field guns, that the occupation of Ahwaz enabled us to turn their flank, and thus effectually to rake their position. The advantages aceruing to us cannot, I think, be overrated. Already had they commenced to entrench themselves, and had made arrangements for the arrival of reinforcements, and for the supply of stores and provisions from Shuster and Dizful; as it is, the loss of their grain at Ahwaz, which in the interim would have maintained the army for 15 or 20 days, will not only occasion much loss and suffering on their retreat, but by driving them to a distance will destroy their political status in the country, and, for the present, at least, deprive them of any control over the inhabitants. From the intelligence derived from natives it would seem that the line of retreat of the Persian army is on the direct road to Dizful; that they have with them seven guns, of which three were present at Ahwaz, or met them on their way thither from Mohammerah; and that the Shalizada, attended by 30 horsemen, has quitted the army and proceeded in advance. 66 "In conclusion, I take the liberty to bring to your notice the steadiness and admirable behaviour of the military portion of the expedition while employed on shore; their presence in the town was regarded as a protection by the inhabitants of Ahwaz-men, women, and children; and though for a time isolated in small bodies at different points, in no instance were they charged with any act of molestation or annoyance. "Nor can I close this despatch without acknowledging the assistance rendered to me by Lord Schomberg Kerr, Attaché to the Persian Mission, who, as you are aware, volunteered his services for the occasion. Intelligence having reached me at Ahwaz of the occurrence of disorder at Shuster, I beg to transmit herewith a translation of a letter I addressed to the elders of the latter town in consequence. "I have despatched emissaries to Shuster and Dizful, to bring me information with respect to the state of the Persian army and to the state of affairs generally in that quarter. "NOTIFICATION. "Be it known to all whom it may concern, that the State of Great Britain, being at war with the State of Persia, I, Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram, K.C.B., have arrived in this quarter with the English forces, for the purpose of occupying Mohammerah and the districts adjoining thereto. "These for the most part had crossed over from the left bank. +"The quantity of ammunition was estimated at 300 rounds of artillery. The glittering of arms at a distance shewed that the Arabs had possessed themselves of some of the new Persian muskets, but their number could not be ascertained. "Estimated at 7,000 men, including cavalry, of which the number seen by us certainly did not fall short of 1,000. U. S. MAG., No. 343, June, 1857. "Notice is hereby given accordingly that the military operations of the English army, being directed only against the Persian Government, are not intended to affect the condition of the Arab tribes, to whom the British Government is disposed to extend its favour and goodwill. All, therefore, who may abstain from taking part against the English will be left in the enjoyment of peace and security, and need be apprehensive of no molestation. Themselves, their property, their families, and their religion will be, in every sense. respected. The well-known generosity of the British Government and the discipline of its troops furnish the best guarantee that this pledge will be scrupulously redeemed. "J. OUTRAM, Lieutenant-General. "CAPTAIN A. B. KEMBALL, POLITICAL AGENT TO THE CHIEFS OF SHUSTER. "A. C. "Dated April 3. "I have heard with regret that in consequence of the defeat and dispersion of the Persian army by the English, disorder has commenced to show itself at Shuster. In sending you, therefore, a copy of the notification issued by the English General, Sir James Outram, K.C.B., I take occasion to advise you that in the event of the march of the British army to Shuster the General will expect all chiefs to maintain peace and good order among their followers, and that those who molest and commit depredation upon their neighbours must not look for favour at his hands. "A. B. KEMBALL, Political Agent." CAPTURE OF PIRATICAL JUNKS. Her Majesty's steamer Hornet at Hong Kong, March 21. Sir-In obedience to your orders of the 18th iust., I sailed in search of the piratical fleet therein mentioned, in the first place sighting Macao Roads, in order to communicate with the Hon. East India Company's steam frigate Auckland, which ship you had placed under my orders: but not finding her in that vicinity, I proceeded alone. On the 19th I anchored in Sandy Bay, St. John's Island, and left the ship with the boats named in the margin.* to search the neighbouring bays, when. on rounding a point three miles from the ship, we suddenly found ourselves in the presence of the pirate fleet, consisting of large lorchas and junks, 17 in number, which immediately opened fire upon us, their shot falling thickly round the boats. As they were in such number in comparison to our small force, and their position being a very strong one, I thought a diversion might be made in our favour by landing. I immediately pushed for the shore with the gig, second cutter, and a portion of the Marines, and scaled the heights on the right of the bay commanding their anchorage, and opened a brisk fire with rifles, whilst the gun and rocket boats, under the orders of Lieutenant A.M. Brock engaged them in flank. After a sharp fire of about 20 minutes the pirates began to jump overboard, and run for the hills, when the boats dashed in and boarded them. Two of the enemy were found dead, and from the appearance of the blood on their decks, many must have been wounded. These vessels I found were a division of the main fleet, commanded by the * Gig-Commander C. C. Forsyth, and Mr. Caldwell, Chinese interpreter.-1st Cutter-Lieutenant A. Brock, and Captain G. Rotton, R.A., Volunteer.--Pinnace —Mr. R. A. Brown, Acting Mate.-2nd Cutter-The Hon. A. D. J. Denison, Acting Mate. notorious Appoo; they mounted 73 guns of various calibre, with gingalls and percussion muskets; their crews amounted to 350 men. We found one Portuguese and a native of Goa on board. These men appeared most active during the attack, and were observed to fire the last gun which was discharged at us from the pirate fleet The Portuguese states as his reason for being on board the junk, his being detained by the pirates after the capture of his vessel three months since. I was informed that six other Europeans were with the pirates. Finding that the whole of the junks were ashore, and after making several ineffectual efforts, working the whole night and part of the following day to get them off, and there being nothing of value on board, I burnt them, and destroyed the guns, giving the Chinaman (who had been robbed, and who accompanied Mr. Caldwell) his vessel. On our way to Hong Kong we communicated with Lingting, where the villagers informed us that a fleet of Mandarin junks had been seen cruising yesterday between Lingting and the Lama Islands, directly in the track of vessels bound to this port. I immediately stood over in that direction, but could hear nothing of them. In our engagement with the pirate fleet, they as usual fired high, which accounts for the trifling casualty in the boats (namely, one man seriously burnt by a stink-pot). It gives me much pleasure to report to your Excellency the excellent conduct of both officers and men in and after the engagement, the latter having had great temptations thrown in their way from the quantity of spirits found on board the junks, which they voluntarily destroyed.-I have, &c, CHARLES C. FORSYTH, Commander. To Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, K.C.B., Commander-in-Chief, &c. THE VICTORIA CROSS. WAR OFFICE, MAY 5.-The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned officers of Her Majesty's Army, who have been recommended to Her Majesty for that decoration-in accordance with the rules laid down in Her Majesty's Warrant of Jan. 29, 1856-on account of acts of bravery performed by them before the enemy during the late war, as recorded against their several names, viz : Grenadier Guards.—Col. Hon. Henry Hugh Manvers Percy (date of act of bravery, Nov. 5, 1854).-At a moment when the Guards were at some distance from the Sand-Bag Battery, at the battle of Inkermann, Col. Percy charged singly into the battery, followed immediately by the Guards; the embrasures of the battery, as also the parapet, were held by the Russians, who kept up a most severe fire of musketry. At the battle of Inkermann, Col. Percy found himself with many men of various regiments who had charged too far, nearly surrounded by the Russians, and without ammunition. Col. Percy, by his knowledge of the ground, though wounded, extricated these men, and, passing under a heavy fire from the Russians then in the Sand-bag Battery, brought them safe to where ammunition was to be obtained, thereby saving some fifty men, and enabling them to renew the combat. He received the approval of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge for this action, on the spot. Colonel Percy was engaged with, and put hors de combat, a Russian soldier. 7th Regt.-Lieut. William Hope (date of act of bravery, June 18, 1855).-After the troops had retreated on the morning of 18th June, 1855, Lieutenant W. Hope being informed by the late Sergeant-Major William Bacon, who was himself wounded, that Lieut. and Adj. Hobson was lying outside the trenches |