Historical record of the 71st Regiment Highland Light Infantry: $b from its formation in 1777, under the title of the 73rd, or McLeod's Highlanders, up to the year 1876 — John Shaqi
Historical record of the 71st Regiment Highland Light Infantry: $b from its formation in 1777, under the title of the 73rd, or McLeod's Highlanders, up to the year 1876Hildyard, Henry John Thoroton
History
Historical record of the 71st Regiment Highland Light Infantry: $b from its formation in 1777, under the title of the 73rd, or McLeod's Highlanders, up to the year 1876
Hildyard, Henry John Thoroton
Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 71st (Highland Light Infantry)
The Seventy-first Highlanders, commanded by Major Dalrymple, crossed
the south branch of the Cavery at nine o’clock at night on the 18th
of February, and two hours later attacked by surprise a camp of the
enemy’s cavalry, of whom a great part were slain and the remainder
dispersed in all directions. This movement was designed to cover
the operation of opening the trenches, which took place at the same
time within 800 yards of the fort. Until the 24th of February the
approaches were carried on with the greatest activity, when the
general orders announced that the preliminary articles of peace had
been signed, and in consequence all hostile measures immediately
ceased.
On the 26th of February the two sons of Tippoo Saïb, Abd-el-Khalik
and Musa-ed-Deen, the former ten years of age and the latter eight,
were brought to the British camp as hostages for the due performance
of the preliminary articles.
In consequence of some obstacles which had been opposed by Tippoo
to the arrangement of the definitive treaty, working parties were
ordered, and the guns replaced in the batteries on the 10th March.
This state of suspicion and preparation lasted until the 15th of
March, when it was discontinued, and on the 18th of that month, the
definitive treaty being duly executed and signed, was delivered by
the young Abd-el-Khalik to each of the confederates. On the 20th the
counterpart was sent to Tippoo Saïb.
Thus terminated a war in which the confederates wrested from the
enemy 70 fortresses, 800 pieces of cannon, and destroyed or dispersed
at least 50,000 men. By the articles of the treaty Tippoo Saïb
was bound to pay a large sum of money and to cede one-half of his
dominions. The Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in India
granted from this money a sum equal to six months’ batta for all
ranks, and the Court of Directors afterwards made a similar grant.
The East India Company also granted an annuity of £50 to Captain P.
Melville for his services in India.
On the 26th of March, the exchange of the definitive treaty being
completed, the British commenced moving towards Bangalore, from
whence they proceeded to the Pednaigdurgum Pass, where the Bengal
troops were ordered to their own Presidency.
Early in May the army descended the Ghauts, arriving soon after at
Vellore, where the Commander-in-Chief arranged the cantonments of the
troops and proceeded to Madras. The Seventy-first received orders to
march to the southward, and in the month of June arrived at Warriore,
near Trichinopoly, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Baird, who
during the campaign had been absent from the regiment in command of
a brigade. Eight companies were stationed at Warriore, and two were
detached with Major Dalrymple to Dindigul. In this situation the
regiment continued for the remainder of the year.
[Sidenote: 1793.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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