Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the public for several reasons. That's quite a pity while these books contains useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor accessible.
In a letter to Stirling dated 29 May an action of the HMS Rattler against pirates at Samchowhere is described. p. 46. “The Rattler arrived at daylight on Monday 28 May at the harbour of Samchowhere they successful attacked some pirates. The boats were sent away fully armed, under the command of Lieutenant Wrey, and, after a good deal of firing, the junks were run ashore and deserted. I ordered them by signal to be all burnt, but, besides the recaptured lorchas, three lorchas were claimed by the Chinese we took with us, so there were burnt, in all, six; brought off five. We took four prisoners, one of whom was recognized as the second-chief, and one other was wounded by a musket-ball in the knee. No casualties occurred on our side. Owing to the lateness of the hour before we could secure the prizes, I was obliged to remain for the night, and got out this morning, with a very slight touch on the ground.” and “The boats destroyed were as follows, averaging from 50 to 60 men each : one large junk, 14 heavy guns ; 24, 18, and 12-pounders, one large junk, 12 guns; two 24-pounders and ten smaller guns, two junks from 8 to 10 guns; 6, 8, and 12-pounders, two large fishing-boats; no big guns. From 28 to 30 of their men were either killed or wounded, The lorchas, which were also heavily armed, fired on the boats, but were soon deserted when they found our two smaller boats coming up in the rear.”(1)
Source
Allen’s Indian Mail and register of Intelligence for British & foreign India, China, &all part of the East London, Tuesday 15 January 1856, no. 284.
Note
1. J.J. Colledge/Ben Warlow. Ships of the Royal Navy. London, 2006. A wood screw sloop with a builders measurement of 888 tons and dimensions 176'5" x32'5", launched at Sheerness dockyard 12 April 1843 and broken up in 1856. Ex-Ardent renamed 1842.
