Capture of Geriah

Posted by Brian on Saturday 5th of July 2014 23:45

The London Gazette
Publication date:2 November 1756
Admiralty Office, November 6, 1756
By letters from Vice Admiral Watson, dated the 15th of February and 10th of March last, in Geriah Harbour, we have an account, that he arrived off that place the 11th of February, with the ships under mentioned (Viz. Kingfisher sloops, Bridgwater, 24 guns, Tyger 60 guns, Kent 70 guns, Cumberland 66 guns, Salisbury 50 guns, Protectoe, East India ship 40 guns. Company's Division Revenge, Bombay Grab, Guardian, Drake Bomb, Warren Bomb, Triumph Bomb, Viper Bomb.) where he was informed Tulagee Angria was treating with the Morattoes to surrender the place to them. In consequence of this intelligence, the Vice-Admiral sent him a summons the next morning to surrender the town and fort to him, but receiving no answer in the time he proposed, and finding the Morattoes (from whom he has received no assistance) were trifling with him, he weighed in the afternoon, and stood into the harbour in two divisions in the order as above mentioned: The enemy fired at the ships as they passed their batteries, and likewise the fire from their Grabs. Soon after four o'clock a shell was thrown into the Restoration, an armed ship Angria sometime ago took from the East India Company, which set her on fire, and very soon after his whole fleet shared the same fate, and all entirely destroyed. In the night the Vice Admiral landed all his troops, suspecting the enemy would endeavour to let in the Morattoes, which supposition was verified by a deserter, who informed Mr. Watson that Angria (who himself was not in the Fort) had sent orders to his brother-in-law, who commanded the Garrison, on no account to suffer the English to come in. On the 13th in the afternoon, after several messages had passed to no purpose, the Vice Admiral renewed the attack, and in about twenty minutes the flung out a flag of truce, but the Admiral insisting that his troops should be let in, and their colours hauled down, and they not complying with his command, he repeated his attack with great vigour, and the enemy very soon called out for mercy, which our troops where near enough to hear very distinctly. An Officer with sixty men marched into the Fort that night, and the next morning all our forces.
The Vice Admiral reports, that all his Officers and Men behaved with great spirit; that our loss was very inconsiderable, as well with respect to men as to the damage done to the ships, insomuch that he should have been able to have proceeded to sea again in twenty four hours, and there being a necessity for so doing.
They found upwards of 200 guns in the place, six brass mortars, and a very large quantity of ammunition of all kinds; and in money and effects about 120,000 l. or a 130,000 l. The Grabs which were burnt, consisted of eight Ketches and one ship, besides two others which were building, one of which was to carry 40 guns; and a considerable number of small vessels called Gallivats.
There were in the Fort about 2000 people, 300 of whom bore arms. Among the prisoners are, Angria's wife and children, his brother-in-law, and the Commander in Chief of the Grabs. The Vice-Admiral has left about 300 of the East India Company's European Troops in the Garrison, and as many Seapoys, and 3 or 4 of the Company's armed vessels in the harbour for the defence of the place, as it is judged to be extremely well situated for the interests f the Company, and very tenable.