IOR/L/PS/5/230, ff 67-85

This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a secret despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secret Committee, Number 7 of 1857, dated 22 January 1857. The enclosures are numbered 3-9 and are dated 22 December 1856-19 January 1857.

The enclosures consist of: correspondence, with relevant enclosures, between the Secretary to the Government of India, Secretary to the Government of Bombay, and Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram; and a minute of the Governor-General of India.

The enclosures cover and include the following:

• The arrival of Outram in Bombay [Mumbai] on 22 December 1856 and receipt of his military and diplomatic instructions prior to proceeding to Bushire [Bushehr] to take over command of the Persian Expeditionary Force
• Details of Outram’s staff, approval of his proposed military strategy, the appointment of John Jacob as Brigadier-General, and the reinforcements being prepared
• A copy of the Secretary to the Government of Bombay’s letter, dated 31 December 1856, to Major-General Foster Stalker, Commanding the Field Force in Persia [Iran]: informing him of Outram’s appointment; praising the ‘judgement, skill and gallantry’ (f 73) Stalker has demonstrated in Persian operations; and forwarding Stalker instructions to obtain supplies for troop reinforcements being despatched from Bombay
• Stalker’s report to the Quarter-Master General of the Army, dated 12 December 1856, detailing the Field Force’s movements since the commencement of operations in the Persian Gulf (ff 77-81), including a ‘Rough sketch of the attack on Rushire [Reishahr]’ 9 December 1856 (catalogued as (IOR/L/PS/5/230, f 79) and a ‘Rough sketch of the advance on Bushire’ 10 December 1856 (catalogued as IOR/L/PS/5/230, f 80)
• The Governor-General’s concern regarding the reported deficiency of boats for landing troops and the length of time the force was separated from its baggage during operations in Persia in December.