_Made June 27, 1803, before Captain Madge and Captain Pierce, of the
19th Regiment, and Assistant-Surgeon Gillespie, of the Malay Regiment._
"That on the 23rd June, a little before daylight, the Candians
commenced an attack on the hill guard, in rear of the palace, on
which was a 3-pounder, and took it. That soon after a strong body
of the enemy, headed by a Malay chief, made a charge on the eastern
barrier, to endeavour to take a gun which was there; they were
opposed by Lieutenant Blakeney, at the head of a few men of the
19th, who himself fell in the conflict. That an incessant fire was
kept up until two o'clock in the day, when, as the enemy was
endeavouring to break in at the rear of the palace, Major Davie
hung out a flag of truce, offering to surrender the town, on being
permitted to march out with his arms. This they consented to; and
Major Davie, after spiking the guns, marched out about five
o'clock, and proceeded to Wattapologo, where he was obliged to halt
all night, being unable to pass the river. Next morning the
Candians sent out four Modiliars to propose, that if Major Davie
would give up Boodoo Sawmy (the King whom Governor North placed on
the throne of Candy, and who retreated with our troops), they would
assist him with boats and rafts to cross the river; on which Major
Davie gave him up by his own consent. After which another message
was sent, that there were plenty of bamboos and other materials at
hand, and they might make rafts for themselves. All that day was
employed in endeavouring to make rafts, but they could not succeed
in getting a rope across the river, owing to the depth and rapidity
of the current; but next day, about ten o'clock, Captain Humphreys,
of the Bengal artillery, came and reported that he had succeeded in
getting a rope across. About this time some of the Malays and gun
Lascars began to desert in small parties; upon which Major Davie
ordered the remainder to ground their arms and follow him, with all
the officers, back to the garrison. As soon as they had proceeded
two hundred yards on their way thither, the Candians stopped them,
took the officers on one side, and kept them prisoners for
half-an-hour; when this declarent says, he heard shot in the
direction of the place where the officers were prisoners, and which
was followed by their massacre. That immediately after, they took
the European soldiers two by two, and leading them a few yards
along the road, knocked them down with the butt end of their
pieces, and beat out their brains. That this declarent was also led
out with his comrade, and received a blow under the right ear, and
a wound on the back of his neck, which the enemy conceiving to be
sufficient, then proceeded to the murder of the remainder. That he
lay as dead for some time, and in that situation distinctly heard
the firing, which he supposes to be the putting them all to death.
That he took the opportunity, while this was doing, of crawling
into the jungle,[7] where he lay till night, and then proceeded to
Fort Macdowal to give the information to Captain Madge.
(Signed)
"GEORGE X BARNSLEY,
"Corporal, 19th Regiment."
[7] Forest.
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.
Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained
as printed.