1. The Anglo-Persian War

Description:

Abstract: This item comprises enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee [Bombay Secret Letter], No. 24 dated 2 February 1857. The enclosures are dated 4-14 January 1857.The item comprises two despatches from Major-General Foster Stalker, Commanding the Persian Expeditionary Force, to the Secretary to the Government and the Quarter-Master General of the Army, Bombay, reporting the progress of operations against Persia [Iran], the condition of the troops, and logistical aspects of potential future movements of the Field Force, in particular the potential routes towards Shuster [Shushtar].The numerous enclosures to Stalker’s despatches consist of correspondence of, and reports by, the following military and naval officers and political officials: Lieutenant J [C?] Ballard, Superintendent Intelligence Department; Major R L Taylor, on Special Duty in Persia and Vice-Consul, Busrah [Basra]; Lieutenant J H Selby, Indian Navy, Commanding the Cometand Surveyor in Mesopotamia [Iraq]; Lieutenant Herbert Disbrowe, Assistant Political Agent, Persian Expeditionary Force; Captain J B Dunsterville, Assistant Commissary General, Persian Expeditionary Force; Major John Hill, Commanding Engineer, Persian Field Force; Lieutenant Claude Merriman, Field Engineer, Persian Field Force; Commander James Felix Jones, Indian Navy, Political Agent with the Forces, Civil Commissioner of the Town and Resident, Persian Gulf; Commodore Richard Ethersey, Commanding the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf; and J G Taylor, HM Vice-Consul and Commissariat Agent, Busrah.The papers notably cover and include:A ‘Memorandum regarding the force of the enemy in Fars’, detailing the number and condition of Persian forces encamped at the village of Borazgaon [Borazjan] ‘36 miles from Bushire’ [Bushehr], and the names of the Persian commanding officers (ff 369-370)Strategic information regarding both the Karun River [also spelled Karoon in this item] and Bebehan [Behbahan] routes for a potential advance towards Shuster, including information on the geography, terrain and climate of the area around the Karun River as well as its navigability for large vessels and steamers, disembarkation points, and resources for supporting the armyInformation on Mohumrah [Khorramshahr, formerly Mohammerah] and the surrounding area including: the terrain, climate and agriculture; a list of ‘Arab tribes tributary to the Persians’ on that coastal region including the extent of their armaments (ff 373-376); a report by Lieutenant Merriman on his reconnoitre of the town and fortifications at Mohummerah and a sketch of the nature of the defences being erected by ‘the enemy’ there (IOR/L/PS/5/490, f 410)A report by Lieutenant Ballard ‘regarding the countries through which a force marching on Shuster or Bebehan respectively would have to pass’ ( ff 382-392)A ‘Sketch showing supposed movements of the enemy of English Army seizing Mohumrah preparatory to ascending the Karun’, and a sketch map by Lieutenant Ballard, of the route between Bushire and Shiraz (IOR/L/PS/5/490, f 393 and f 394)An estimate by Major Hill ‘of the probable military force that will be required for an expedition to Shuster, on the Karoon River’ (ff 404-409)Information regarding the commissariat measures that would be required in order to advance on and besiege Shuster, including the method of advancing on Mohumrah and the large number of camels and mules it would be necessary to procureA memorandum by Commodore Ethersey detailing the kind of river transport it would be advisable to procure for an expedition to Shuster near the head of the Karoon RiverGeneral reports regarding the procurement of supplies and animals for the force near Bushire and the expected reinforcementsInformation supplied by Major Hill regarding the supply of materials for defences and for buildings to accommodate the troops during hot weather, notably what can be utilized from date treesA coloured map entitled ‘Sketch of the position of British Force at Bushire’ (IOR/L/PS/5/490, f 422).The item also includes the ‘Political diary of events connected with and, business transacted in the Bushire Residency in relation to the Persian Gulf Expeditionary Force’ covering 22 December 1856 to 4 January 1857, inclusive (ff 423-428).Physical description: 1 item (62 folios)

2. The Anglo-Persian War

Description:

Abstract: This item comprises enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee [Bombay Secret Letter], No. 13 dated 16 January 1857. The enclosures are dated 23 December 1856-14 January 1857.The enclosures primarily are, or convey, the despatches of Major-General Foster Stalker, Commanding the Persian Expeditionary Force (with their relevant enclosures), to the Secretary to the Government, Bombay, relating to the movements of the Persian Expeditionary Force since the commencement of operations up to the British capture and occupation of Bushire [Bushehr]. They are supplemented by copies of the political diary of Commander James Felix Jones, Indian Navy, Political Agent with the Forces and Resident in the Persian Gulf (also later Civil Commissioner in Bushire), from 29 November to 22 December inclusive.The papers notably cover and include:Details of the British: capture of Karrack [Kharg Island, also known as Khark]; landing at Halileh Bay [also spelled Hallila in this item]; defeat of the forces of Baukir Khan, Chief of the Tangistoon tribe [Bāqir Khān (Tangistānī), Governor of Tangistān, also spelled Tungistoon and Tungestoon in this item]; advance on the town of Bushire [Bushehr]; and receipt of the surrender of the Governor of Bushire and the remaining Persian [Iranian] garrison. Also included are two sketches depicting the attack on Rushire (Reishahr, five miles from Bushire) and the advance on Bushire (IOR/L/PS/5/490, f 170 and f 171)The stationing of a permanent British camp outside the walls of Bushire, including details of the health and condition of the troops, the construction of camp defences, and Stalker’s request for a small reinforcement of his troops as soon as possible in case of a dramatic change of weather or large scale illnessReconnaissance organised from Bushire, notably along the road to Feroozabad [Firuzabad], and to investigate the surrounding terrain and assess the attitude of local villagers towards the BritishStalker’s assessment of possible future military movements and the need for major reinforcements in order to effect a significant advance either to Mohumra [Khorramshahr, formerly Mohammerah], up the Karoon [Karun] River to Shooster [Shushtar], or to Shiraz [also spelled Sheeraz in this item]Measures undertaken to deal with the shortage of forage (grass and hay) for the cavalry and artillery horses at Bushire and the expected reinforcements from BombayIntelligence regarding Persian military manoeuvres in the interior of Persia [Iran], including reports of troops amassing at Feroozabad and Shiraz and rumours of their movements towards BushireCommunications between Felix Jones and Baukir Khan, Chief of Tungistoon, (subsequent to the recent defeat of his tribe, the deaths of immediate family members and loss of his property), relating to arrangements for his future secret co-operation with the British and the provision of intelligence of Persian military plans and operations, particularly regarding Shiraz and Borazjoon [Borazjan]Intelligence received by the British Agent at Shiraz, now at Bushire, regarding Persian troop movements from Tehran and Shiraz especially since the British capture of BushireThe despatch of a small naval force under Commodore Richard Ethersey, Commander of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf, conveying Lieutenant Herbert Disbrowe, Assistant Resident, Persian Gulf, to the coastal villages north of Bushire up to Bunder Deylum [Bandar Deylam], in order to communicate and come to an ‘understanding’ with the ‘chiefs of the Persian ports’ that would secure supply lines, open their ports for free trade and expedite procurement of forage for the army (horses and cattle) at Bushire. Includes a translation of Felix Jones’s template letter of acceptance of terms to be signed by each ‘chief’ (ff 211-213).Physical description: 1 item (58 folios)