hazard an engagement, and his formidable position was attacked on
the 15th of May, when the SEVENTY-SECOND Highlanders had another
opportunity of distinguishing themselves. The Mysoreans stood
the fire of artillery with steadiness, and kept up a cannonade
with much effect, but the instant an attempt was made to charge
them with bayonets, they made a precipitate retreat. They were
driven from every post; and towards the close of the action
the SEVENTY-SECOND ascended an eminence and captured a round
redoubt. The army was thanked in Orders for its gallant conduct.
The regiment had about twenty men killed and wounded: Captain
Braithwaite and Lieutenant Whitlie wounded.
On the following day, some sharp firing was heard at the
advance-posts, when Major Frazer obtained permission to proceed to
their support with the SEVENTY-SECOND Highlanders; he afterwards
sent the adjutant to Earl Cornwallis to request his Lordship’s
authority to storm a fortified pagoda, but permission was not
granted. On the 18th of May, when the army moved towards the fords
of the river, Major Frazer obtained the post of honour for the
regiment, in covering the rear, expecting Tippoo would hazard an
attack, but no such event occurred.
When the army had arrived at the extreme point of its operations,
it had sustained the loss of nearly all its cattle from the want of
forage; the supply of provisions for the men was nearly exhausted;
the camp-followers were without food, and the rainy season had
set in earlier than had been expected. Under these circumstances
further success was become impracticable; the battering train and
stores were destroyed, and on the 26th of May the troops commenced
their march back towards Bangalore. Before commencing the retreat,
the soldiers were thanked in Orders for their conduct throughout
these services, and it was added,--“So long as there were any hopes
of reducing Seringapatam before the commencement of the heavy
rains, the Commander-in-chief thought himself happy in availing
himself of their willing services; but the unexpected bad weather,
for some time experienced, having rendered the attack of the
enemy’s capital impracticable, until the conclusion of the ensuing
monsoons, Lord Cornwallis thought he should make an ill return for
the zeal and alacrity exhibited by the soldiers, if he desired them
to draw the guns and stores back to a magazine, where there remains
an ample supply of both, which was captured by their valour; he did
not, therefore, hesitate to order the guns and stores which were
not wanted for field service to be destroyed.”
The army retreated to the vicinity of Bangalore, being joined by
the Mahratta forces on the march; and detachments were afterwards
sent out to reduce several strong hill-forts, which were very
numerous.
On the morning of the 9th of December, the fifty-second and
SEVENTY-SECOND regiments, with the fourteenth and twenty-sixth
Bengal sepoys, were detached, under Lieut.-Colonel Stuart of the
SEVENTY-SECOND, against the fortress of _Savendroog_, situate on
the side of a mountain, environed by almost inaccessible rocks;[13]
the troops arrived before the place on the 10th, and during the
night the grenadiers of the fifty-second and SEVENTY-SECOND, with a
battalion company from each regiment, supported by the twenty-sixth
sepoys, climbed a steep hill; traversed sheets of rock; descended
into a valley by a path so rugged and steep that the soldiers let
themselves down in many places by the branches of trees growing
on the side of the rock; traversed the valley; ascended a rock
nearly three hundred feet high, crawling on their hands and feet,
and helping themselves up by tufts of grass, until they attained
the summit, where they established themselves on a spot which
overlooked the whole of the fortress, about three hundred yards
from the wall. The batteries were speedily constructed; the flank
companies of the seventy-first and seventy-sixth regiments arrived
to take part in the siege; and practicable breaches having been
effected, storming-parties paraded on the morning of the 21st of
December. The right attack was made by the light companies of the
seventy-first and SEVENTY-SECOND, supported by a battalion company
of the SEVENTY-SECOND; the left attack by the two flank companies
of the seventy-sixth and grenadier company of the fifty-second;
the centre attack under Major FRAZER of the SEVENTY-SECOND, by the
grenadiers and two battalion companies of the SEVENTY-SECOND, two
companies of the fifty-second, the grenadiers of the seventy-first,
and four companies of sepoys, supported by the sixth battalion of
sepoys; the whole under Lieut.-colonel Nisbitt, of the fifty-second
regiment. The storming-parties proceeded to their stations; the
band of the fifty-second took post near them, and suddenly striking
up the tune _Britons strike home_, the whole rushed forward with
the most heroic ardour. The Mysoreans made a feeble defence, and
in less than two hours the British were in possession of the fort,
with the trifling loss of five men wounded. The troops were thanked
in General Orders, for their very gallant conduct, in which it
was stated,--“LORD CORNWALLIS thinks himself fortunate, almost
beyond example, in having acquired by assault, a fortress of so
much strength and reputation, and of such inestimable value to the
public interest, as Savendroog, without having to regret the loss
of a single soldier.”
Two days after the capture of Savendroog, the troops advanced
against _Outra-Durgum_: they arrived within three miles of the
place that night, and, on the following day, summoned the garrison
to surrender. Lieut.-Colonel Stuart, observing the people flying
from the pettah to the fortress on the rock, directed the guns to
open upon them, and two battalion companies of the fifty-second and
SEVENTY-SECOND regiments, supported by the twenty-sixth sepoys,
to attack the pettah by escalade, which was executed with so much
spirit, that the soldiers were speedily in possession of the town.
“Lieutenant M^c Innes, senior officer of the two SEVENTY-SECOND
companies, applied to Captain Scott for liberty to follow the
fugitives up the rock, saying he should be in time to enter the
first gateway with them. The captain thought the enterprise
impracticable. The soldiers of M^c Innes’s company heard the
request made, and not doubting of consent being given, had rushed
towards the first wall, and were followed by M^c Innes. The gate
was shut: but Lieutenant M^c Pherson arrived with the pioneers and
ladders, which were instantly applied, and our people were within
the wall, as quick as thought, when the gate was unbolted and the
two companies entered. The enemy, astonished at so unexpected an
attempt, retreated with precipitation. M^c Innes advanced to the
second wall, the men forced open the gate with their shoulders,
and not a moment was lost in pushing forward for the third wall;
but the road leading between two rocks, was so narrow that only
two could advance abreast; the pathway was, in consequence,
soon choked up, and those who carried the ladders were unable
to proceed; at the same time, the enemy commenced throwing huge
stones in numbers upon the assailants, who commenced a sharp
fire of musketry, and Lieut.-Colonel Stuart, who had observed
from a distance this astonishing enterprise, sent orders for the
grenadiers not to attempt anything further. Lieutenant M^c Pherson
forced his way through the crowd, causing the ladders to be handed
over the soldiers’ heads, from one to another, and before the
colonel’s orders could be delivered, the gallant Highlanders were
crowding over the third gateway. The enemy fled on all hands; the
foremost of our men pursued them closely, and gained the two last
walls without opposition (there were five walls to escalade). The
garrison escaped by the south-east side of the fort, over rocks
and precipices of immense depth and ruggedness, where many must
have lost their lives. By one o’clock, our two companies were in
possession of every part of the fort, and M^c Innes had planted the
colours on the highest pinnacle, without the loss of a single man.
The Kiledar and two of his people were taken alive. Colonel Stuart
declared the business to be brilliant and successful, beyond his
most sanguine hopes.”[14]
_Thus was the important fortress of Outra-Durgum captured by two
companies of Highlanders_ (Major Petrie’s, and Captain Hon. William
M. Maitland’s) _of the_ SEVENTY-SECOND _regiment_; the officers
with the two companies were Lieutenants M^c Innes, Robert Gordon,
---- Getty, and Ensign Andrew Coghlan: Lieutenant M^c Pherson
conducted the pioneers. The whole were thanked in General Orders by
Earl Cornwallis, who expressed his admiration of the gallantry and
steadiness of the officers and soldiers engaged in this service.
The regiment rejoined the army on the 26th of December. Its
establishment had been augmented in March of this year to forty
serjeants and a thousand rank and file, and so many recruits
had arrived from Scotland that it was nearly complete. It was
considered the most effective corps in the army.
[Sidenote: 1792]
The rainy season being over, the army reinforced, the lost
cattle replaced, and arrangements made for an abundant supply
of provision, the army commenced its march, on the first of
February, 1792, for _Seringapatam_. The Sultan took up a formidable
position to cover his capital, and was attacked during the night
of the 6th of February. The following statement of the share
the SEVENTY-SECOND Highlanders had in this engagement, is from
Lieutenant Campbell’s Journal:--
The regiment formed part of the left division under Lieut.-Colonel
Maxwell, which advanced to the attack in the following
order--Grenadier Company, SEVENTY-SECOND; Light Company,
SEVENTY-SECOND, with scaling-ladders; Pioneers; Twenty-third Native
Infantry; SEVENTY-SECOND Regiment; First and Sixth Native Infantry.
“We (the SEVENTY-SECOND) moved from the left along the north side
of the ridge of hills extending from the Carriagat pagoda to the
Cappalair rocks; by ten at night we found ourselves near the base
of the hill, where the officers were directed to dismount. When
we were about two hundred yards from the lower entrenchment,
our grenadiers filed off from the right with trailed arms, a
serjeant and twelve forming the forlorn hope. When about fifty
yards from the works, the sentinel challenged us, and instantly
fired his piece, which was followed by a scattered fire from the
rest of their party. We rushed among them, and those who did not
save themselves by immediate flight, were shot or bayoneted. The
greatest number of them ran down to the Carriagat pagoda, where
they made a stand, and kept up a smart fire until we were almost
close to them; then retired under our fire to the foot of the hill,
where they were joined by a strong body from the plain, and made
a stand at a small choultry, from which a flight of steps led to
the bridge across the nulla. By this time the general attack on
the enemy’s lines had commenced, and there was an almost connected
sheet of fire from right to left; musketry, guns, and rockets
rending the air with their contending noise. We sat upon the brow
of the hill a few minutes, while our men were recovering their
breath, and had a commanding prospect of the whole attack, though
nearly three miles in extent, as we contemplated the scene before
us, the grandest, I suppose, that any person there had beheld.
Being rested a little, Colonel Maxwell led us down the hill under
a smart fire; we rushed forward and drove the enemy across the
nulla in great haste, although they stood our approach wonderfully.
We crossed the bridge under a constant fire, the enemy retreating
as we advanced; we crossed the Lokany river, the opposite bank
of which was well covered by a _bound-hedge_, and their fire did
execution: a serjeant of grenadiers was killed, Captain Mackenzie
mortally wounded, Major Frazer and Captain Maitland shot through
their right arms, besides other casualties. After we had penetrated
the _bound-hedge_, the enemy took post behind an extensive
choultry; but nothing could stop the ardour of our men,--we charged
without loss of time, and soon dislodged the enemy, who retreated
along the banks of the Cavery to a second choultry, where their
numbers were reinforced. We had now got into their camp, upon the
right flank of their lines; they retreated steadily before us, and
our fire and bayonets did great execution among them, the road
being strewed with their bodies. We charged and dislodged them from
the second choultry; here Lieutenant M^c Pherson of the grenadiers
was wounded; we pursued the enemy to a large pagoda; they attempted
to cross the river, but the place was so crowded with guns,
tumbrils, bullocks, elephants, camels, followers, and heaven knows
what, that we were in the midst of them before they could escape,
and for some minutes there was nothing but shooting and bayoneting.
Colonel Maxwell came up with the twenty-third native infantry; the
sepoys of the fourteenth native battalions advanced; they took us
for the enemy, and fired, but their officers suppressed the fire
before much injury was done: the seventy-first regiment also joined
us, and preparations were made to cross the river and force the
lines on the opposite side. Colonel Baird requested me to lead
with twenty men; I instantly rushed into the stream, followed by
twenty grenadiers of the SEVENTY-SECOND regiment; we pushed on
through holes, over rocks and stones, falling and stumbling at
every step, the enemy’s shot reducing our numbers; and myself,
with about half a dozen grenadiers, arrived at a smooth part of
the stream which proved beyond our depth; five of us, however, got
over; but the regiments did not venture to follow, and we returned
with difficulty. An easy passage had been found out lower down;
the seventy-first and SEVENTY-SECOND regiments had got into the
island; the flank companies of the fifty-second, seventy-first, and
seventy-fourth regiments forded higher up, and the enemy, seeing
our troops on all sides of them, betook themselves to flight.
“About one o’clock in the morning the seventy-first, and
SEVENTY-SECOND regiments advanced to the pettah, from which the
inhabitants had fled, and we released a number of Europeans from
prison. About seven o’clock the SEVENTY-SECOND marched into the
famous _Llal Baugh_, or, as I heard it translated, ‘_garden of
pearls_,’ and were posted in one of the walks during the day.”
A decisive victory was gained on this occasion over the army
of Tippoo, and, perhaps, no regiment had performed a more
distinguished part on this occasion than the SEVENTY-SECOND
Highlanders; they had forced the passage of one nulla, and two
rivers, and had charged nine successive times, overpowering their
enemies on every occasion. Their loss was Captain Thomas Mackenzie
and fourteen rank and file killed; Major Hugh Frazer, Captain
Hon. William M. Maitland, Lieutenants M^c Pherson and Ward, one
serjeant, two drummers, and forty rank and file wounded, one man
missing.
In the General Orders issued on the 7th of February, it was
stated--“The conduct and valour of the officers and soldiers of
this army have often merited Lord Cornwallis’s encomiums; but the
zeal and gallantry which were so successfully displayed last
night, in the attack of the enemy’s whole army in a position
that had cost him much time and labour to fortify, can never
be sufficiently praised; and his lordship’s satisfaction on an
occasion which promises to be attended with the most substantial
advantages, has been greatly heightened by hearing from the
commanding officers of divisions, that the meritorious behaviour
was universal, through all ranks, to a degree that has rarely been
equalled.”
The power of the Sultan being greatly reduced, and the siege of
his capital about to commence, he solicited conditions of peace,
and hostilities were suspended. He afterwards ceded half of his
dominions to the allies, paid a large sum of money, and was
permitted to retain the other half of his territory.
The war being thus terminated, and a great accession of territory
made to the British dominions in India, the army quitted the island
of Seringapatam, towards the end of March, and the SEVENTY-SECOND
Highlanders proceeded to the cantonment of Wallajabad, where
they arrived on the 28th of May. The Governor in Council evinced
the high sense he entertained of the conduct of the troops, by
presenting them with a gratuity out of the money paid by Tippoo
Sultan, which was confirmed by the Court of Directors, and six
months’ batta, or field allowance, added thereto.
[Sidenote: 1793]
[Sidenote: 1794]
The SEVENTY-SECOND Highlanders remained at Wallajabad, with two
companies detached to Arnee, upwards of twelve months, during
which period the French Revolution, which commenced a few years
previously, had assumed a character that called forth the efforts
of other countries to arrest the progress of its destructive
principles with the effects of its example in the world, and war
commenced between Great Britain and France. News of this event
arrived in India in May, 1793; in June the regiment was ordered
to prepare to take the field, and on the 26th of that month,
pitched its tents east of Shiveram Hill under the orders of Major
Frazer; it marched soon afterwards against the French settlement of
_Pondicherry_, on the coast of Coromandel, and arrived before the
fortress in July,--being formed in brigade with the seventy-third,
seventy-fourth, and third East India Company’s European regiment,
under Lieut.-Colonel Baird; the troops employed on this service
were commanded by Colonel John Brathwait. The siege of Pondicherry
was commenced in the early part of August, the army encamping in
a thick wood where tigers were so numerous that the natives durst
not travel in the night. On the 11th of August the SEVENTY-SECOND
Highlanders were on duty in the trenches, and had two men killed;
they also lost two men on the following day;[15] and several others
on the 22nd of that month, on which day a white flag was displayed
by the garrison, with a request for permission to surrender.
The French soldiers in the fortress had embraced democratical
principles and were particularly insubordinate; they insisted
that the governor should surrender, but after the white flag was
displayed, they fired two shells, which killed several men, and
wounded Major Frazer of the SEVENTY-SECOND regiment. During the
night they were guilty of every species of outrage, breaking into
houses and becoming intoxicated. On the following morning, a number
of them environed the governor’s house, and threatened to hang
the governor, General Charmont, before the door, when application
was made for English protection. The British soldiers rushed into
the town, overpowered the insurgents, rescued the governor, and
preserved the inhabitants from the further effects of democratical
violence.
After the completion of this service, the regiment returned to
the cantonment at Wallajabad, where it arrived on the 11th of
September, and was stationed at that place during the year 1794.
On the decease of General Murray, the colonelcy was conferred on
Major-General Adam Williamson, from the forty-seventh regiment, by
commission dated the 19th of March, 1794.
[Sidenote: 1795]
While the regiment was reposing in cantonments at Wallajabad,
and the officers and soldiers were reflecting with exultation on
the reputation they had acquired in the Mysore, circumstances
occurred in Europe which occasioned them to be again called into
active service. The Dutch people had imbibed the democratical
doctrines of the French republic, and in the early part of 1795
Holland became united to France. When information of these events
arrived in India, an expedition was immediately fitted out against
the large and mountainous island of _Ceylon_, where the Dutch
had several settlements, and the SEVENTY-SECOND Highlanders were
selected to take part in the enterprise; the troops employed on
this service were commanded by their Lieut.-Colonel, James Stuart,
who was promoted to the rank of major-general at this period. The
regiment embarked from Fort St. George on the 30th of July, and two
days afterwards the fleet arrived on the coast of Ceylon; on the
3rd of August the troops landed four miles north of the fort of
_Trincomalee_, and the siege of this place was commenced as soon as
the artillery and stores could be landed and removed sufficiently
near to the place. On the 26th of August a practicable breach was
effected, and the garrison surrendered the place. The regiment had
Ensign Benson, two serjeants, and seven rank and file wounded on
this service.
The commanding officer of the regiment, Major Frazer, who was
promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy on the 1st of September, was
detached against the fort of _Batticaloe_, which surrendered to him
on the 18th of September. The two flank companies of the regiment
were afterwards detached, with two companies of sepoys, under
Captain Barbutt, against the fort and island of _Manaar_, which
surrendered on the 5th of October.
[Sidenote: 1796]
The regiment continued to be actively employed until the whole
of the Dutch settlements in Ceylon were reduced, which was
accomplished in February, 1796, when the governor, John Gerand Van
Angelbeck, surrendered the fortress of _Colombo_ to the British
arms. The people in the interior of the island had not been
deprived of their independence by the Dutch, and they were not
interfered with by the British so long as they preserved a peaceful
demeanour.
[Sidenote: 1797]
As the island of Ceylon--which produces an astonishing diversity of
vegetables, with the finest fruits--is celebrated for the number of
cinnamon trees it produces--and abounds in most animals indigenous
to the East, particularly in wild elephants--the SEVENTY-SECOND
Highlanders remained until March, 1797, when they were removed to
Pondicherry, preparatory to their return to England.
[Sidenote: 1798]
The regiment transferred its men fit for service to the corps about
to remain in India, and embarked at Madras in February, 1798. On
arriving at Gravesend, it received orders to proceed to Perth,
where it landed in August, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Hugh
Frazer.
The services of the regiment in the East Indies were afterwards
rewarded with the royal authority to bear the word “HINDOOSTAN” on
its colours.
On the 23rd of October, Major-General James Stuart, who had long
commanded the regiment with reputation in India, was appointed
to the colonelcy, from the eighty-second foot, in succession to
General Adam Williamson deceased.
[Sidenote: 1799]
[Sidenote: 1800]
[Sidenote: 1801]
The regiment was stationed at Perth two years, and its recruiting
was not successful, not more than two hundred recruits having
joined: in 1801 the regiment was removed to Ireland;[16] and its
numbers were augmented by drafts from the Scots fencible regiments.
[Sidenote: 1802]
[Sidenote: 1803]
At the conclusion of the peace of Amiens in 1802, the establishment
was reduced; but on the re-commencement of hostilities in 1803,
it was again augmented: it was soon in a high state of efficiency
and discipline, two-thirds of the men being Scots Highlanders, and
about one-third English and Irish.
[Sidenote: 1804]
Great efforts were made to repel the threatened French invasion in
1803 and 1804, and a _second battalion_ was added to the regiment;
it was formed of men raised in Aberdeen, for limited service, under
the Additional Force Act, and was placed upon the establishment
of the army from the 25th of December, 1804. It was embodied at
Peterhead, and remained in Scotland some time.
[Sidenote: 1805]