CHAPTER V._Memoir of the Services of the Bengal Artillery From the Formation of the Corps to the Present Time, with Some Account of Its Internal Organization

Reorganization in 1796 of the army—Successive additions to artillery

companies—Ceylon—Seringapatam—Introduction of horse

artillery—Egypt—Deficiency of artillery—Organization of

1801–2—Composition of the regiment—Foreign service—Sieges of

Sarsnee, Bidgygurh, and Cutchwarah.

The supercession which the officers of the Indian army suffered by those

of H.M.’s service; the slowness of promotion; the absence of any

furlough regulations enabling them from time to time to visit their

native country without giving up their profession; the want of a

provision on which to retire, together with other disabilities, had

engendered much discontent[36] in the army, and rendered it absolutely

necessary that the defects in its constitution should be remedied, lest

the whole machine should be rendered unfit for the duties required from

it; and with this view, Lord Cornwallis prepared a plan on his voyage to

England, and submitted it to the Home Government; previously, however,

many representations had been made by the armies of the three

presidencies, and they selected from their own officers in England

agents to superintend their interests, and urge on H. M.’s ministers and

the Court of Directors their claims to be placed on a liberal footing.

Captain Burnett on this occasion represented the Bengal Artillery, and

in the Committee combated the views of Lord Cornwallis and Mr. Dundas,

of uniting the artillery of the three presidencies into one corps, and

then incorporating it with the Royal Artillery.

In the remarks on Lord Cornwallis’s propositions by Sir Henry Crosby

(president of the Home Committee), we find that the Bengal Artillery

officers declared that “an union of the army of the three presidencies

promises no advantage to the service in general, nor any fair one to the

respective officers of each presidency in particular: it would but

render the officers less acquainted with the language, manners,

religion, and customs of the natives of their respective corps

(lascars), who, in Bengal and on the coasts of Coromandel and Malabar,

are scarce less different from each other than all are from Europeans,

and in the adjustment of individual rank would create, perhaps,

insurmountable difficulties.

“Every officer now in the Company’s service commenced his career at a

particular presidency, and took, as was reasonable and inevitable, his

chance of quick or slow promotion, according to the casualties of his

own establishment. These casualties of natural death, of actual service,

and of increased or diminished establishments, have made such an

alteration in the general proportion of promotion, that he who went with

General Goddard an old lieutenant to Bombay, would, in the event of an

union of the three presidencies, find himself superseded by one whom he

left a cadet on that establishment: the Bengal officers therefore could

never agree, nor would the liberality of the officers of the other

presidencies wish that all should be melted into one mass mutually

interchangeable, without first equalizing the rank of the officers of

each establishment by a reference to their original appointments as

cadets; and the difficulties of such a reference, with its consequent

effects, need not be pointed out.

“They have likewise declared that an incorporation with the King’s

artillery will be a sacrifice of their dearest interests.” But that in

“the event of a general transfer of the Bengal army to the King’s

service, the three battalions of artillery on that establishment should

be completed, agreeably to seniority, to a full complement of officers

of all ranks above that of lieutenant-fireworker, and established to the

same number of battalions of artillery, supposing each battalion in the

two services to contain the same number of companies, if not in

proportion to the number of companies in the King’s service in the time

of war; and, being thus completed, that they may be then transferred,

and always remain independent; that the officers in the battalions do

afterwards rise by regular gradation, as vacancies occur in either

battalion, agreeably to the present practice, without being, in either

case, subject to removal to other corps, or to exchange with, or

supercession from, officers in any other corps whatsoever; and that

these three battalions, so transferred, be not relieved from Europe or

any other quarter, at this present, or any future time, or in any manner

whatsoever, but be stationed in Bengal as heretofore.”

It was also urged that an incorporation of the artillery would tend to

augment the mutual discontents, which had so long subsisted between the

King’s and Company’s troops in India, in this branch, in proportion as

the evil was removed from the other branches of the service; for as the

incorporation would certainly be directly contrary to the wishes of all

the Company’s artillery officers, so it was believed that those of

H.M.’s service would not be less averse to it, seeing that they were to

admit strangers to a participation of their rights in return for a very

distant and precarious advantage. Each would therefore consider the

other as an intruder, jealousies and animosities would be the inevitable

consequence of such a contest of opposite interests and inclinations,

while the public service could not fail of being deeply injured by the

constant operation of such destructive passions.

The contemplated transfer of the artillery (and European infantry) to

the King’s army was looked upon as highly prejudicial, not only to the

interests of that branch, but to the Company’s army at large, as tending

to lower the respectability of the portion left, and on this account was

strongly opposed by the whole of the agents from the armies of the three

presidencies, and eventually their exertions were successful; the whole

army was left with the Directors (perhaps more from the Ministry not

being strong enough to carry the point, or sufficiently at leisure to

organize the details immediately necessary), its organization was

however considerably altered, and the service of the East-India Company

materially improved; furlough and retiring rules were introduced, a

larger proportion of field-officers given, and a general code of

regulations made.

It is only necessary here to notice these as they affected the

artillery. The organization detailed at the conclusion of the last

chapter took place, and many officers[37] obtained brevet rank to

equalize their ranks with the rest of the army, and a very fair

proportion of officers was given to each company; viz. a captain,

captain-lieutenant, two lieutenants, and a lieutenant-fireworker.

Seventy-four non-commissioned officers and gunners are not sufficient

when they are liable to be much detached, and when vacancies cannot be

filled by ready-trained men.

The artillery being found numerically insufficient for the duties

required from it, in October, 1798, it was increased by an addition of

two non-com. officers, two gunners, and[38] four matrosses per company,

and a detail of golundaz of one jemadar, three havildars, three naiks,

and forty privates to each of the eleven companies in Bengal (the other

four companies were at Ceylon and Madras, and they were added to these

early next year); thus adding upwards of nine hundred men. These were

raised by selecting the best-qualified men from age, size, and good

conduct, from the lascars, and enlisting in general Mahommedans, “under

an express stipulation, on oath, previous to their being enrolled,” of

“their engaging to embark on board of ship whenever the service shall

require their proceeding by sea;” their age was limited from twenty to

twenty-eight years, and their height from five feet seven inches to five

feet ten inches. The required number was soon raised, and were so well

drilled and disciplined by the following February, that the

Commander-in-Chief on inspecting them “expressed his pleasure and

surprise at the creditable state into which they had been so rapidly

brought.”

This admixture of natives with Europeans was injudicious, for although

at first sight it might be supposed that the effect would have been the

same on the native artilleryman as on the lascar, and that he would have

acquired, from constant contact with Europeans, a portion of their

hardness of character, and lost his own prejudices, yet it must be

remembered that the lascar was looked upon as an inferior grade, and

never took an equal part in the duties of the gun as was intended with

the native artillerymen, and therefore the European never felt his own

credit or safety entrusted to the former, while with the latter both

were intimately connected; distrust and jealousy were the result, and

the admixture was found to work so ill, that it was soon discarded; it

being found that, valuable as native artillerymen are alone, they became

worse than useless when mixed with Europeans.

As the opinion of so practical and experienced a man as the late Sir

John Horsford on this point will bear considerable weight, we quote it.

“The European saw a native made a constituent part of that detail of the

posts of the gun, of which he was one; he viewed this native with

jealousy, and diffident of his ability (perhaps without reason) to serve

the vent, or manage the portfire, he positively refused to stand between

the wheels, as either sponge-man or loader, urging, in spite of

reasoning on the matter, that ‘it was hard to be blown away by a black

fellow.’ The native, on the other hand, perceiving the European hostile

to him, and suspicious of mischief, refused in his turn to take the

sponge-staff or be server; declaring that he might be ‘blown away by the

design or carelessness of the European.’ Discord, recrimination, and

hatred were the consequences.

“But this was not all, the ‘component part’ looked around and saw itself

a miserable handful of men isolated, and put down in a company composed

of men of different language and country, and dissimilar habits and

religion, unsupported by number and marked as an inferior body, by

having no rank amongst them higher than that of a jemadar. They saw

themselves considered as so many shreds and patches on the coat of a

European company, and pointed at by the sipahis as a laughing-stock:

lastly, that in the eyes of their own officers they were viewed as

unprofitable interlopers, who brought no promotion in return for the

trouble of disciplining them.”

The regiment at this time (1799) therefore was constituted as below:—

───────────────────────┬───────────┬───────────┬───────────┬───────────

│ per │ per │ Total. │ Returns

│ Company. │Battalion. │ │Feb. 1799.

───────────────────────┼───────────┼───────────┼───────────┼───────────

Colonels. │ │ 1│ 3│ 3

Lieut.-Colonels. │ │ 1│ 3│ 3

Majors. │ │ 1│ 3│ 3

Captains. │ 1│ 5│ 15│ 15

Capt.-Lieutenants. │ 1│ 5│ 15│ 15

Lieutenants. │ 2│ 10│ 30│ 29

Lieut.-Fireworkers. │ 1│ 5│ 15│ 13

Serjeants. │ 5│ 25│ 75│ 73

Corporals. │ 5│ 25│ 75│ 73

Drummers. │ 2│ 10│ 30│ 30

Gunners. │ 10│ 50│ 150│ 146

Matrosses. │ 70│ 350│ 1050│ 751

──────────┬────────────┼───────────┼───────────┼───────────┼───────────

Golundas. │Jemadars. │ 1│ 5│ 15│ 10

──────────┼────────────┼───────────┼───────────┼───────────┼───────────

〃 │Havildars. │ 3│ 15│ 45│ 28

〃 │Naicks. │ 3│ 15│ 45│ 27

〃 │Golundas. │ 40│ 200│ 600│ 358

Lascars. │Serangs. │ 1│ 10│ 30│ 30

〃 │1st Tindals.│ 2│ 20│ 60│ 60

〃 │2nd Tindals.│ 2│ 20│ 60│ 60

〃 │Lascars. │ 70│ 70│ 2100│ 2055

──────────┴────────────┴───────────┴───────────┴───────────┴───────────

1,380 Europeans, 705 golundaz, and 2,250 lascars, or a total of

4,335.[39] The infantry of the army at this period amounted to

40,000,[40] so that the artillery was in the proportion of one to every

nine infantry soldiers, a proportion less than that usually considered

sufficient in European armies, but considerably greater than has been

preserved in the successive changes which have taken place in this

regiment, and which we shall remark on as these changes come to be

detailed.

In January, 1797, Major-General Duff being expected from England, whose

arrival would supersede Colonel Deare in command of the artillery, it

was declared this latter officer’s tour for command in the field as

colonel of the artillery, and in March (29) General Duff assumed the

command of the regiment.

General Duff joined the regiment in September, 1762, and was present at

the battle of Buxar, where his conduct elicited the laudatory mention of

his name in the Government reply to Major Munro. He does not appear to

have been again employed on active service for some years; as a major he

was selected to command the battalion of artillery raised for the Nawab

of Oude in 1776, and on its reduction he commanded the artillery at

Futteygurh. In 1780 he attained his lieutenant-colonelcy, and commanded

the regiment during Colonel Pearse’s absence on service in the Carnatic.

In 1788, he went to England, and returning in 1791–2, was appointed to

command the Bengal Artillery of the army under Lord Cornwallis, in which

capacity he was present during the last campaign, and prepared the

battering-train against Seringapatam. At the conclusion of the war, he

again returned to England, in consequence of the Court of Directors (to

whom a reference had been made) refusing to allow him to command a

battalion and the brigade of artillery. The refusal may have originated

in his rank of colonel, as the promotion, in the place of

Lieutenant-Colonel C. R. Deare (killed at Sattimungulum), was delayed

until the reply came from home; or from his junior officer Colonel G.

Deare having been intermediately appointed. Whatever the cause was, it

had ceased to operate in 1797, as he was then appointed to the command.

He did not, however, hold it long, for the following month he was

appointed to command at the Presidency, and Colonel Hussey succeeded to

the regiment.

Major-General Duff was a man of a powerful frame of body; anecdotes of

his strength are told to the present day; on one occasion, a leopard

sprung suddenly upon him, but seizing the animal by the throat, they

rolled over and over, the general never relinquishing his grasp until

the animal was fairly powerless, when he was easily put an end to. On

another occasion, finding a sentry asleep over the park, he took a

6–pounder[41] off its carriage and carried it under his arm (_doorbien

ke mooafik_, as an old native officer, at that time his orderly,

described it) “like a telescope.”

Major-General Duff returned to Europe in December, 1797—Major-General G.

Deare succeeding him in the command at the Presidency, and as the

vice-president of the Military Board, in the absence of the

Commander-in-Chief; Colonel Hussey, the commandant of artillery, acting

in the latter capacity till his arrival.

Colonel Hussey had but a short tenure of the command, for his promotion

to major-general being known in India in September, 1798, it was

declared in orders, “that Colonel Hussey having attained the rank of

major-general, came under the influence of the Minutes of Council, 5

June, 1797,” and “Lieutenant-Colonel C. Green, the senior officer of

artillery, under the rank of a general officer,” was ordered to “conduct

the regimental duties and details, until further orders.”

The unsettled state of the great Mahratta powers, and the threatening

aspect of Zeman Shah, with whom the deposed Nawab of Oude, Vizier Ali,

had been corresponding, rendered the assembly of an army of observation

necessary to the defence of British India; a considerable force was

assembled under Sir James Craig at Anopsheher, with which were five

companies of artillery under Lieutenant-Colonel Woodburn; but this force

appears to have been very ill equipped with ammunition, a circumstance

noticed by Sir J. Craig to Lord Mornington:—“Our proportion of musket

ammunition is 120 rounds per man, and that for the small-arms of the

cavalry is 40; with this, I certainly would not venture to stir a step

from the Ganges, and how we are to gut up more, in the time in which I

think it is probable that it may be requisite for us to do so, I know

not: I have written in strong terms to the Commander-in-Chief on the

subject. For our artillery, we have 300 rounds; but that is, if

possible, still less equal to what we ought to have, at least, in a

depôt to which we could have a much more ready access than we have to

Chunar or Allahabad. The latter should be our grand depôt, in which

should be lodged a quantity of stores of every species, equal to every

possible emergency; while a field-depôt, fed continually from it, should

move successively from post to post as we advance, and be always at hand

to renew our deficiencies.”

The unprovided state in which the army in advance had been left, is an

instance how ill the machinery of the Military Board had worked. A

divided responsibility produced its never-failing result. No one member

feeling it his particular duty to provide for the contingencies which

might occur, the whole was left to chance, and the nearest magazine, on

which the brigades at Cawnpoor and Futteygurh were dependent, was

Chunar. Had there been one head to the Ordnance department, this would

not have happened. In this instance, from Zeman Shah retiring, no harm

occurred, but far from taking warning and being better provided for the

future, we shall find that when, in 1805, Lord Lake sat down before

Bhurtpoor, there was the same want of equipment, and that time it

resulted in our lamentable failure.

While one portion of the regiment was in the field on the northern

frontier, another was called on to form part of the army against Tippoo

Sultan, whose proceedings had latterly been of so hostile a nature, that

self-defence forced the British Government to curb his ambitious and

dangerous designs.

The army was collected from all the presidencies. Bengal furnished three

battalions of native volunteers and four companies of European

artillery, with their lascars (eight companies) attached.[42] One of

these companies (5th company 2nd battalion) was taken from Ceylon;

another (3rd company 1st battalion) had been despatched with

Lieutenant-Colonel Errskine’s force to Ganjam the preceding year, and

thence to Hyderabad; and the two remaining ones, the 1st and 2nd of the

3rd battalion, sailed under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Montague

towards the end of the year, and reached Madras in January, 1799.

The army under Lieutenant-General Harris was put in motion on the 3rd

February, and entered Mysore on the 5th March. The artillery of the

right wing, with which was the battering-train, consisting of four

24–pounders, thirty 18–pounders, eight 12–pounders, two brass 8–inch and

eight 5½ mortars, was under Lieutenant-Colonel Montague’s command.

On the 6th March the right brigade, under Colonel Montresor, was

attacked at Seedaseer, but Tippoo’s troops were driven off. On the 27th

the grand army was attacked at Malavelly, but the loss was trifling, and

on the 5th April the army encamped before Seringapatam, on which night

and the following day the outposts of the army were engaged, in which

action Lieutenant Brooke, of the artillery, was wounded.

Tippoo made no further attempts, but retired within the fort, against

which approaches and batteries were commenced and carried on, the S.W.

angle being the point selected for attack. Batteries were thrown up on

both sides the river; and on the 4th May, the breach being practicable,

the place was stormed.

But little personal record is to be found of the part the artillery took

in this exploit; that their fire was well directed and kept up, the

general orders of the day testify. “The merit of the artillery corps is

so strongly expressed by the effects of their fire, that the

Commander-in-Chief can only desire Colonel Smith[43] to assure the

officers and men of the excellent corps under his command, that he feels

most fully their claim to approbation” are the words; but in the routine

of a siege on a large scale, their unremitting duty in the batteries

leaves less to record than on many other occasions far less harassing

and dangerous. Although their casualties were few, one took place which

was deeply regretted: “Lieutenant-Colonel Montague’s arm was shattered

near the shoulder on the 2nd May while in the battery, and required

immediate amputation; for some days he appeared to be going on in a fair

way; a contusion, however, on his chest, occasioned by the same shot,

produced mortification, which caused his death on the 10th May. In him

the regiment lost an officer of whom they may be deservedly proud. His

talents, improved by a regular military education, and his long

experience in active service, rendered him invaluable. In the early part

of his career, his skill in his profession, his zeal and indefatigable

activity, having been displayed on various occasions, he was afterwards

selected for every important service. With General Goddard, with Sir

Eyre Coote, and at the siege of Cuddalore, he was particularly

distinguished, and in the campaigns of Lord Cornwallis he not only

confirmed but increased his established reputation. He was called forth

on the projected expedition against the Isle of France and Manilla, and

finally was chosen to command the Bengal Artillery destined for the

glorious enterprise against Seringapatam.”[44]

Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Montague “was the fourth son of Admiral J.

Montague, and brother of the late Captain James Montague, who commanded

the ship _Montague_ on the glorious 1st June, in which action he was

killed by a cannon-shot while closely engaged with two of the enemy’s

ships, the _Impétueux_ of 74, and _Le Républicain_ of 110 guns.

“Being originally designed for the army, he was placed in the academy at

Woolwich, from whence he was sent out as a cadet to Bengal in the year

1770. On his arrival in Calcutta, there being a superabundance of

officers, he was placed in a separate corps formed for the cadets of

that year, and called the Select Picquet. In this situation he attended

chiefly to his improvement in military knowledge and discipline, and

from the gracefulness of his person, as well as an uncommon activity, he

was soon distinguished by a superior skill and address in the

performance of all military duties.

“After serving twelve months in this corps, he attached himself to the

artillery. While he was a lieutenant-fireworker, by the strict attention

he paid to his duty, the interest he took in his profession, and the

ardour with which he pursued every branch of it, he greatly improved

himself in the knowledge of tactics, and his practice was proportionably

advanced by being on several occasions employed on actual service.

“About the year 1781 he was promoted to the command of a company. He was

sent to join General Goddard, who was employed to demolish various forts

in the Rohilla country, several of which were defended with the most

obstinate bravery. In attacking one of them he was wounded by an arrow

while attempting to force the gates, which, entering just below the eye,

penetrated obliquely through part of the jaw, and almost reached the

opposite cheek. Without a moment’s hesitation, he broke the arrow off

close to the iron barb, and continued at the head of his corps till the

object of the attack was accomplished. The barb remained in his face

several days, and was at length extracted with great skill by Dr. Brinch

Harwood,[45] now professor of anatomy in the University of Cambridge. In

these active scenes Captain Montague completely established his military

character, gained the confidence and recorded approbation of his

commanding officer, and greatly advanced the good opinion and regard

which General Goddard had already entertained for him.[46]

“In the year 1782, Captain Montague was called forth to join Sir Eyre

Coote on the coast of Coromandel. Captain Montague was in every

engagement, and in services where so much real military merit was

displayed, it is no common praise to say he was always peculiarly

distinguished. He obtained the rank of major, and at Cuddalore, in 1784,

he was appointed to command the artillery of one of the wings of the

army, and there manifested his superior judgment by taking post on an

eminence which produced the greatest advantages, and it was honourably

acknowledged by a French officer of rank who was stationed to oppose

him. On his return to Bengal, he was employed in Oude until the

memorable expedition of the Marquis Cornwallis to Seringapatam. On this

important service Major Montague was selected to attack the stupendous

fortresses of Nunder-droog and Ramali-droog.

“The chief engineer having reported Nunderdroog to be a fortress of

uncommon strength, his lordship ordered Major Montague to proceed with

his best train of artillery from Bangalore to join the army encamped

about half-way to the place of attack. The expedition with which he

performed that duty excited the astonishment, as it called forth the

applause, of Lord Cornwallis; and though he was the youngest artillery

officer with the army, he was entrusted with the conduct of the

artillery employed in the reduction of that important fortress. His

skill, courage, and talents were crowned with complete success, and the

thanks of the Commander-in-Chief expressed in the strongest terms the

sense he entertained of his eminent services. The manner, also, in which

he was entrusted with the command of the artillery employed against

Severn-droog, manifested the great confidence which the Marquis

Cornwallis possessed in his military enthusiasm and professional

abilities.[47]

“In the year 1794, Major Montague was advanced to the rank of

lieutenant-colonel, and was third on the list of the artillery officers

when he was chosen to direct the artillery attached to the Bengal army,

and which was destined to join General Harris, commander-in-chief, in

the late glorious enterprise against Seringapatam, where this gallant

and most distinguished officer found his most honourable grave.

“If it is true, as has been asserted, that the commander of the

artillery, Colonel Smith, a brave and deserving officer, had, from a

long succession of illness, become too infirm to be continually in the

trenches, the executive duty must have necessarily devolved upon

Lieut.-Colonel Montague, who was next in command. But be that as it may,

it is certain that three days previous to the capture of Seringapatam, a

cannon-ball shattered his arm, while he was in the trenches, in such a

manner as to require immediate amputation, and it was taken off within

an inch of the shoulder. In this state, however, such was his zealous,

active, and unconquerable spirit, he insisted on being carried into the

trenches, where he continued to the last to encourage by his presence

the troops, who adored him. During three or four days, it was hoped and

believed that he was in a fair way of recovery; but having by the same

shot received a contusion in his chest, it turned to a mortification,

and carried him off on the eighth day after he had received his wound.

“Thus fell Lieut.-Colonel Edward Montague, in the forty-fifth year of

his age, lamented as he was beloved by the whole army; leaving a

widow[48] and three orphans, the youngest of whom was born a fortnight

before his glorious but lamentable death. He served the Honourable

East-India Company with zeal, fidelity, and superior military talents,

during an honourable course of twenty-nine years; had been in more

engagements than usually happens even to an active soldier, and had been

noticed with the most flattering distinction by every commanding officer

under whom he had served. On this last occasion his being only mentioned

in the general list of killed and wounded, without a single word of

regret or eulogium, causes the mingled emotions of grief and

astonishment[49] in the minds of his afflicted family and friends.

“In private life he was not less distinguished than in his public

services. He was benevolent and generous, possessing at the same time

the most frank and candid disposition. He was an affectionate husband, a

tender father, and a dutiful son. He loved his country with a patriotic

ardour, and he died in the contest to extend its dominion and its glory.

“He will live long in the remembrance of all who knew him; and it

remains for the nation whom he served so well, and for whom he died too

soon, to transmit his name to the times that are to come.” (_Asiatic

Annual Register_, 1800.)

[Illustration]

After the fall of Seringapatam, one of the Bengal companies (5th company

2nd battalion) returned to Ceylon, and one (3rd company 1st

battalion)[50] to Cawnpoor with the 10th regiment native infantry, and

the remaining two companies (1st and 2nd company 3rd battalion)

continued with the brigades in Mysore, and were present at the

occupation of Bednore and Hurryhur and pursuit of Doondia Khan, under

Major-General Wellesley: they returned to Bengal in September, 1801.

Medals of the annexed pattern were granted to all the native troops

engaged in the expedition.

The following regimental order was issued by Colonel Green, R. O.,

September 19, 1801:—“Colonel Green feels a particular pleasure in

congratulating Captain Tomkyns, the officers and soldiers of his

detachment, upon their safe return from a long and arduous service, to

join the regiment he has the honour to command, and he deems it his

duty, in justice to the meritorious zeal and professional exertions

shewn by the Bengal artillery during the late various campaigns in

Mysore and in the pursuit of Doondia Khan, to thank him and them thus

publicly and in the name of the corps to whose general reputation the

good conduct of the detachment has so highly contributed: at the same

time that Colonel Green has to lament their diminution in point of

numbers since they quitted Bengal, it must reflect additional credit on

them that, however thus weakened by casualties incidental to long

warfare, they have ever manifested a cheerful, patient, and steady

adherence to the active performance of those services they have been

called upon for, under many trying and fatiguing exigencies; they are in

consequence most justly entitled to the character of good and veteran

soldiers, and as such, will ever merit his warmest support and good

offices.”

The 5th company 2nd battalion returned to Ceylon, and when the Kandian

insurrection broke out, in 1802, marched with General MᶜDouall’s army

from Columbo, and assisted in the capture of Kandy; it remained as part

of the garrison when the general returned in April to Columbo.

The following month the general came back, and trusting in the

professions of the king, and thinking all was settled, again retired,

taking with him the whole force except 200 men, H.M.’s 19th regiment,

500 Malays, and a detachment of artillery, Major Davies commanding the

whole, and Lieutenant Humphreys the artillery.

Their position was attacked 23–4th of June, 1803, and the following day

Major Davies capitulated, under the conditions that he was to march off,

with arms and ammunition. The garrison retired to the river at

Allemgonath, and halted, intending to pass the next day, but the

Kandians set upon them, and, worn out with fatigue and hunger, they laid

down their arms, and delivered themselves up as prisoners. The Europeans

were immediately murdered, except nine of the officers; about 500 Malays

and lascars were made prisoners; six 6–pounders, three howitzers, and a

5½ inch howitzer were lost.[51]

Lieutenant Humphreys was kept a prisoner for a time, but in September,

on some solemn festival, was brought out and executed by order of the

king. The native prisoners were mutilated by cutting off their noses and

ears.

Reinforcements arrived, and the war was successfully prosecuted; most of

the ordnance and many of the lascars were recaptured, and in October,

1804, the company, and the 5th company 1st battalion, returned to

Bengal. On its departure the following order was issued:—

“The governor cannot allow Captain Edward Clarke, of the Bengal

artillery, to leave this island, with the detachment under his command,

without expressing his thanks to that officer for the useful and active

services which he has rendered to the government of Ceylon during a

period of more than eight years.

“He requests Captain Clarke to communicate to the non-commissioned

officers and privates of the artillery, and to the detachment of

lascars, his approbation of their conduct, and his wishes for their

future prosperity.”

In following out the services of these companies, we have anticipated a

little, and it is now therefore requisite to go back a few years.

Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt, coupled, as it had been, with intrigues

with Tippoo Sultan, alarmed Government as to his views on India, and

rendered it necessary to take some steps in self-defence, to check his

career of conquest.

Lord Nelson had destroyed the French fleet in the Bay of Aboukir; an

army from England, under Sir Ralph Abercrombie, had effected a landing

in Egypt, and to co-operate with the latter, Lord Wellesley prepared

detachments from the three presidencies, which, landing at Cossier or

Suez, were to hem in the French army, deprived of all communication with

France between the two armies. Towards this detachment, Bengal

contributed a detachment of horse and foot artillery. H.M.’s 10th

regiment of foot, and 1,200 sipahi volunteers.

Horse artillery, which had for some time been used in European warfare,

was now about being introduced into India. It appears to have been first

used by the Russians in the campaigns of 1757–8–9 against the Prussians,

whose light cavalry often found themselves, at the time they felt sure

of success, opposed by batteries of cannon, although no infantry were

present. Frederick the Great introduced it into his army in 1759, and

took great pains to exercise and instruct them himself in his camp near

Landstruth, and soon found the arm of essential use.

The Austrians followed the example about 1780, and since that period it

has been introduced into all European armies, though with considerable

variation in the weight and calibre of the guns, and in the manner of

mounting the gunners.

Some experimental horse artillery was raised, and part of it accompanied

the expedition to Egypt; it was however embarked almost as soon as

raised, so that no time was allowed for its acquiring any experience.

From the returns, a portion of the Governor-General’s body-guard was

attached to it, and altogether but 36 horses.

───────────────┬───────────────┬──

European. │Brevet-Captain.│ 1

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Act. Conductor.│ 1

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Sergeants. │ 3

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Corporals. │ 3

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Farriers. │ 1

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Gunners. │ 6

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Matrosses. │14

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

Body-Guard. │Jemadar. │ 1

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Havildars. │ 2

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Naiks. │ 2

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Troopers. │22

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │2nd Tindals. │ 1

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Lascars. │11

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Syees. │27

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Grass-cutters. │27

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

Golundaz. │Havildars. │ 2

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Naiks. │ 2

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Privates. │20

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

Lascars. │1st Tindals. │ 1

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │2nd Tindals. │ 2

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Lascars. │40

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Syees. │ 9

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Grass-cutters. │ 9

───────────────┴───────────────┴──

With a quartermaster’s and train-artificer’s establishment:

Brevet-Captain Clement Brown commanded it.

The foot artillery, under Captain-Lieutenant Flemyng, consisted of—

───────────────┬───────────────┬──

European. │Captain-Lieut. │ 1

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Lieutenants. │ 2

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Sergeants. │ 4

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Corporals. │ 4

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Gunners. │ 6

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Matrosses. │24

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

Golundaz. │Jemadar. │ 1

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Havildars. │ 3

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Naiks. │ 3

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Privates. │40

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

Lascars. │Serang. │ 1

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │1st Tindals. │ 3

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │2nd Tindals. │ 6

───────────────┼───────────────┼──

〃 │Lascars. │93

───────────────┴───────────────┴──

Lieutenants Drummond and Starke were with this detachment.

A bounty of one month’s pay and full batta was given to each native

officer and soldier who embarked, and all possible attention was paid to

the laying in the stock of provisions and water under their own

inspection.

The foot artillery embarked on 27th November, reached Trincomalee on the

13th November, and Bombay on the 27th March, 1801; the horse artillery

embarked in February.

The first division of transports reached Cossier on the 17th May; the

disembarkation immediately took place, and on the 21st June the army

commenced its march across the desert in successive small detachments,

following each other at intervals, on account of the scarcity of water;

mussuls were sent forward with each detachment, and returned for the use

of the succeeding one; much suffering was experienced in this march; the

extreme heat and want of water killed many men and horses; but it was

observed in this, as in subsequent cases, that Europeans bore the

exposure and drought better than natives.

The guns of the foot artillery were drawn by bullocks brought from

Bombay; and the horse artillery joined the army which was collected at

Ghennah about the middle of July, and the whole embarked in jermes, or

country boats, on the 31st, and sailed down the Nile. The stream was

rapid, and they floated successively past towns and ruins, pyramids and

other monuments of mystic Egypt; and on the 7th August reached Gizah,

and on the 8th and following days disembarked and encamped on the Isle

of Roda, where they remained till the 28th, awaiting orders from General

Hutchinson; on their reception they once more embarked, and arrived at

Rosetta[52] on the 31st August,—too late to participate in any of the

service.

The detachment remained in Egypt till May, 1802, when it marched from

Gizeh (near Cairo) to Suez, detachments following each other

successively, and completed it in five marches, losing only three

Europeans by the way. On the 5th June the head-quarters embarked on

H.M.S. _Victor_, and reached Calcutta towards the end of July.

The foot artillery, under command of Lieutenant Starke (Lieutenant

Drummond[53] having returned to Calcutta on sick leave in September,

1801, and Captain-Lieutenant Flemyng most probably having sailed direct

for England from the same cause, for he does not appear to have returned

to India, nor to have been in Egypt in October, 1801, and he

subsequently retired in England in December, 1802), returned in the

_Commerce_, and the men composing the detachment rejoined their

companies in Fort William on the 1st August, 1802. The horse artillery

disembarked on the 4th August, and rejoined the remainder of the

experimental horse artillery.

[Illustration]

The services of these detachments were acknowledged by the

Governor-General on their landing, in Orders, from which the following

is an extract:—“Under a grateful impression of the important aid derived

to the common cause of our country by the able and successful conduct of

the expedition from India to Egypt, his Excellency is pleased to order,

that honorary medals be conferred on all the native officers,

non-commissioned officers, troopers, sipahis, golundaz, and gun-lascars

who have been employed on the service in Egypt.”

The insufficiency of the artillery in India had early attracted Lord

Mornington’s attention; in June, 1799, we find him writing to Mr.

Dundas—“Our artillery throughout India is very deficient. * * * I cannot

too strongly press the necessity of attention to the artillery in India:

if you do not send out ample supplies of proper men and officers for

this useful corps, it will soon fall to ruin; it is already on the

decay,—a larger annual supply of cadets, and a reduction of the export

of writers would tend to recruit it.”

The Court of Directors had previously (July 5th, 1797) “advised the

Government of their intention to send out properly-qualified cadets for

the artillery, and prohibited the transfer of any infantry officers” to

that branch, and “with a view to promote emulation in the cadets for the

artillery or engineer corps who are educated at Woolwich,” the Court

“resolved (5th March, 1800) to make it a standing regulation, that those

who by their progress in the different studies are first reported

qualified to proceed to India, shall have precedence in rank in the

general list of cadets appointed for the respective presidencies;” and

this order was highly approved by the Governor-General in his minute on

establishing the College of Fort William.

In July, 1800, Lord Wellesley writes again to Mr. Dundas,—“Every

augmentation of native troops in India should be accompanied by a due

augmentation of the European force, artillery as well as infantry.

“The Company’s European artillery are everywhere extremely weak. The

fixed establishment of this corps is defective at all the presidencies,

and the numbers wanting to complete even that defective establishment

are now so considerable that I intend without delay to reduce one of the

Company’s European regiments in Bengal for the purpose of augmenting the

artillery of this presidency. * * * But the best remedy I may be able to

apply will be insufficient, on account of the great deficiency of

officers of artillery: some companies have now no more than one

commanding officer doing duty with them. This deficiency proceeds, in a

great measure, from the original deficiency of the establishment in

point of commanding officers, and partly from the neglect of a regular

supply of cadets.”

It is probable that men were allowed to volunteer from the European

regiments for the artillery at once, for the returns of the regiment

shew that 277 men joined “from other corps” in the months of July,

August, and September, 1801, but the 2nd European regiment was not

reduced until the February following. At the same time, two companies

were added to each battalion of artillery, and the strength raised to 1

captain, 1 captain-lieutenant, 2 lieutenants, 2 lieutenant-fireworkers,

5 sergeants, 5 corporals, 2 drummers, 10 gunners, and 80 matrosses; the

companies, however, remained incomplete, for upwards of 800 men were

deficient.

This increase was reluctantly sanctioned by the Home authority, for we

find Mr. Dundas writing to the Court of Directors, 30th June, 1801, on

the subject of the liquidation of their debts:—“Mr. Wright observes,

that if the addition to the artillery could be postponed, it would save

£54,000; but I consider the addition to your artillery establishment to

be of such deep importance to the security of your extended Indian

empire, that I do not think the saving suggested should be adopted.” The

authority was therefore given, and Lord Wellesley, in writing to General

Lake, says, “in issuing the order for the reduction of the 2nd European

regiment, I request your Excellency to annex to it the order for the

augmentation of the artillery, as directed by the Honourable Court. The

improvement of our artillery is a point of such importance, that I am

resolved not to postpone it under any circumstances whatever.”

The augmentation was accordingly carried into effect; the companies were

levelled, so as to divide the old gunners and matrosses equally among

the companies, and they were filled up as well as they could be from the

volunteers who joined; and the regiment consisted, at the beginning of

1802, of three battalions, of seven companies each, with thirty

companies of lascars: neither lascars nor golundaz details being added

with the six additional companies; and the golundaz details, all except

nine, were reduced in the following November.

ORGANIZATION OF 1802.

──────────────────────────────┬─────────┬──────────┬─────────┬─────────

│ │ │ │ On the

│ per │ per │ │ returns

│Company. │Battalion.│ Total. │ 1st

│ │ │ │ April,

│ │ │ │ 1802.

──────────┬───────────────────┼─────────┼──────────┼─────────┼─────────

EUROPEANS.│Colonels. │ -│ 1│ 3│ 3

──────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┼──────────┼─────────┼─────────

〃 │Lieut.-Colonels │ -│ 1│ 3│ 3

│Commandant. │ │ │ │

〃 │Majors. │ -│ 1│ 3│ 3

〃 │Captains. │ 1│ 7│ 21│ 21

〃 │Capt.-Lieutenants. │ 1│ 7│ 21│ 21

〃 │Lieutenants. │ 2│ 14│ 42│ 28

〃 │Lieut.-Fireworkers.│ 2│ 14│ 42│ -

〃 │Serjeants. │ 5│ 35│ 105│ 96

〃 │Corporals. │ 5│ 35│ 105│ 106

〃 │Gunners. │ 10│ 70│ 210│ 187

〃 │Matrosses. │ 80│ 560│ 1680│ 891

〃 │Drummers. │ 2│ 14│ 42│ 46

GOLUNDAZ. │Jemadars. │ 1│ 5│ 15│ 15

〃 │Havildars. │ 3│ 15│ 45│ 45

〃 │Naicks. │ 3│ 15│ 45│ 45

〃 │Privates. │ 40│ 200│ 600│ 575

LASCARS. │Serangs. │ 1│ 10│ 30│ 30

〃 │1st Tindals. │ 2│ 20│ 60│ 60

〃 │2nd Tindals. │ 2│ 20│ 60│ 60

〃 │Lascars. │ 70│ 700│ 2100│ 2113

──────────┴───────────────────┴─────────┴──────────┴─────────┴─────────

The men composing the corps of horse artillery were borne on the rolls

of the companies.

The remonstrances of Lord Mornington having thus obtained a numerical

increase to the corps, and the Court’s step of obtaining educated cadets

from Woolwich having prepared men to fill the vacancies in the

commissioned grades (the first of whom had arrived the preceding year),

a new era may be considered as opening in the history of the regiment,

and it may not be uninteresting to consider the state of the corps at

this time.

Of the officers in its early years we have seen sketches in some of

Pearse’s letters already quoted, and from the specimens who lived on

into this century, and of whom many anecdotes are current among the

present seniors of the regiment, they appear to have been deficient not

only in the scientific knowledge necessary for their profession, but

many were without even the ordinary education of gentlemen of that

period; boatswains and gunners in their original calling, they never

rose to the manners and acquirements which are expected in commissioned

officers; they therefore shewed to great disadvantage when contrasted

with the lately-arrived cadets, who to the usual liberal education of

gentlemen had superadded a course of study at Woolwich fitting them for

the attainment of the higher degrees of their professional knowledge. At

the time, too, when they were studying, Indian affairs had awakened

great attention; the wars with Hyder and Tippoo had just been brought to

a conclusion, and all England rang with applause at the gallant and

successful storming of Seringapatam and the expedition to Egypt; their

minds were filled with these subjects, and themselves, on their arrival,

either partaking in or watching the meteor-like career of Lake, how

could they fail receiving a high tone, and infusing it into those who

immediately followed, and thus laying the foundation of a permanent

improvement in the commissioned grades.

But while we must consider many of the old hands deficient in some

qualities requisite to the formation of good officers, let us not forget

the habits of the times in which they lived, nor that these men proved

themselves good and brave soldiers in the many hard services in which

they were employed; “per mare, per terras” might have been their motto.

In the wars of Bengal and the Carnatic they filled their part with

credit, and many are the names from among them which have been handed

down to our respect and esteem both as good soldiers and men of high

talent and conduct. Pearse, Montague, Hutchinson, Duff, of the old

hands, and others, such as Horsford, Clement Brown, Pennington, who

living long into this century may fairly claim no small share in giving

a tone to the present corps, are all names which we should not willingly

allow to be forgotten; and although we may laugh at the anecdotes of the

Hindes, Paschauds, and Greenes, and be tempted to rate the moderns

highly when we look to the bright halo with which the Mahrattas, Nepal,

Ava, and Affghanistan campaigns have encircled the heads of those whom

we delight to honour, let us not forget those who shared in the wars

with Hyder and Tippoo, and in the earlier campaigns in which the

foundation of our Indian empire was laid. “Vixerunt fortes ante

Agamemnona, multi.”

The ranks were filled with men of an indifferent class; the great demand

caused by European wars rendered it difficult to recruit for the

Company’s service, and, as a natural consequence, the worst men were

enlisted. The Regimental Orders, as might be expected, record many

courts-martial and the infliction of punishments to preserve order;

still, however, when any portion was sent on service, they never forgot

what was expected from them, and always supported the national character

by their conduct in the field.[54]

A very mistaken notion as to the composition of the regiment has long

prevailed, and is still repeated by those ignorant of the facts of the

case; it is often affirmed that a large majority of the regiment is

Irish, but from a reference to the long rolls at the period of which we

are writing, we find the respective numbers as stated below,[55] and at

a period six years anterior to it (1795), the proportion of Irish was

still less, the English being 437 and the Irish 284. At the present time

(1845) the English and Irish are nearly equal. We purpose noticing the

constitution of the regiment in this point from time to time at

different epochs, and also adding the casualties wherever we are able to

ascertain them, and this we trust will form a valuable addition to our

knowledge of the statistics of Indian mortality.

Having detailed the formation of 1802, we must revert to the preceding

year to bring up the record of the services of portions of the regiment.

In November, 1801, two complete companies were ordered for foreign

service, to embark on the _Dover Castle_ and _Asia_ Indiamen.

───────────────────────┬───────────────────────┬───────────────────────

Lascar Companies. │4, 1 │5, 3

Company. │9 │5

Battalion. │18 │12

Captains. │A. Fraser │C. Wittit

Captain Lieutenants. │A. Hinde │P. Paschaud

Lieutenants. │Fuller │A. Dunn

Lieutenant-Fireworkers.│C. H. Palmer │S. S. Hay

───────────────────────┴───────────────────────┴───────────────────────

The former company proceeded to Macao, and returned the following

November, but does not appear to have been engaged in any active service

during the expedition. The latter had a much longer absence; for,

reaching Goa in January, 1802, it was sent on to Bombay, and thence to

Guzerat in May, Surat in June, and back to Bombay in October; in

December it was stationed at Tannah, having been detained by the Bombay

Government.[56] In August, 1803, it participated in the successful

attack on Baroach, and then continued with the Bombay army, under

Major-General Jones, and joined the army before Bhurtpore in 1805,

towards the conclusion of the siege; returned to Bombay in 1806, and

reached Fort William in the _Sir William Pulteney_ in July, 1806, after

an absence of nearly five years, reduced to 33 men.

Captain C. Wittit, Captain-Lieutenant Paschaud, and

Lieutenant-Fireworker S. Hay returned to the presidency in March, 1803.

Lieutenant Drummond joined the company in December, 1802, and left in

September following. Captain Watkins and Lieutenant T. D. Smith joined

it at a later period. Lieutenant Dunn appears to have remained with it

throughout.

Other portions of the regiment were called into the field, at the end of

1802, against a powerful zemindar, Bulwunt Sing, who was in possession

of three forts, Sarsnee, Bidgegurh, and Cutchowrah, in the neighbourhood

of Hattrass; these forts were situated in the districts ceded in 1801 by

the Vizier of Oude and Nawab of Furruckabad, to maintain the stipulated

British force. Mustering 20,000 followers, he trusted he could

successfully resist the demand for his jumma, he therefore tendered a

lower sum; this, of course, was refused, and as he appeared determined

not to yield the point, a force was collected against him, which

gradually increased to 4 battalions of infantry, 4 troops of cavalry,

and detachments from 3 companies of artillery, with four 18–pounders,

two 4⅖-inch howitzers, and ten 6–pounders.

Major Gordon, Commandant.

────────┬──────────┬──────────┬─────────┬────────────────────┬────────────

Company.│Battalion.│ Lascar │Captains.│Captain-Lieutenants.│Lieutenants.

│ │Companies.│ │ │

────────┼──────────┼──────────┼─────────┼────────────────────┼────────────

1 │ 2 │4, 23, 28 │E. │ │

│ │ │Constable│ │

3 │ 2 │7, 21, 22 │W. │R. Best │

│ │ │Shipton │ │

│ │ │J. │ │A. Mathews

4 │ 2 │ 14, 16 │Robinson │ │T. D. Boyle

│ │ │T. Green │ │

────────┴──────────┴──────────┴─────────┴────────────────────┴────────────

The trenches were opened against Sarsnee on the 27th December, and a

battery erected on the 4th January, 1803, but at such a distance that

the rownee was not breached; a storm was nevertheless made on the 15th,

which proved unsuccessful.

Lieutenant Boyle was dangerously wounded by a cannon-ball on the 8th,

and died on the 24th of January.

Reinforcements under the Commander-in-Chief arrived, and the siege was

renewed; the approaches being advanced 200 yards, the town was taken on

the 8th February, and on the 11th the garrison abandoned Sarsnee and

fled to Bidgegurh; thither the army moved on the 13th; batteries were

ready on the 21st February, and by the 27th a practicable breach was

effected; during the night, however, the enemy were discovered

evacuating the fort, and next morning it was taken possession of by the

British.

Whilst proceeding round the fort in the morning, most probably with a

view to ascertain the ordnance and stores, Major (Lieutenant-Colonel)

Gordon was killed, along with several sipahis and lascars, by the

accidental explosion of a powder-magazine. In reporting his death, the

Commander-in-Chief says that he felt “particularly indebted for his

exertions, directed by uncommon zeal and ability.”

The Governor-General, in the order published to the army, “deeply

regrets the severe loss which the public service had sustained by the

death of Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon;” he also notified his “high

approbation of the gallantry and steadiness displayed by the troops, and

of the readiness with which they submitted to extreme labour under

circumstances of peculiar hardship from the unusual severity of the

weather.”

The force next moved to Cutchowrah, which, after some attempts at

treachery and delay, was given up. Major T. Green had command of the

artillery, and the troops then broke up and returned to their

cantonments, small garrisons being left in Sarsnee and Bidgegurh.

In the contemporary accounts of these sieges we meet with no intimation

of excessive rain having fallen, which, no doubt, adds exceedingly to

the fatigues and hardships incidental to troops in trenches, and we are

therefore rather at a loss to understand what the excessive hardships

caused by the season, adverted to in the general orders, were; the heat

in the month of March, in the provinces, is not overpowering, and we

cannot help smiling when we recollect that within a few months these

very troops were to form part of that army which Lake, contemning the

seasons, led, in the hottest parts of successive years, through the

Dooab and Rajasthan.

Memoir of the Services of the Bengal Artillery From the Formation of the Corps to the Present Time, with Some Account of Its Internal Organization · 第 5 / 12 章