On the 19th of January, 1809, three companies were detached, under Captain Piercy, to the province of Bundelcund, and joining the troops under Lieut.-Colonel Martindell, were employed in reducing some refractory native Sirdars. These companies were at the siege and capture of the fort of _Adjighion_, situate upon a lofty mountain; and after the surrender of this place they rejoined the regiment, which took the field in November, and joined a numerous division under Lieut.-Colonel Martindell. This body of troops was called out in consequence of signs of defection in the native Madras army, and it performed many long and difficult marches. [Sidenote: 1810] The first battalion continued in the field until March, 1810, when it returned to Cawnpore. Lieut.-Colonel Mawby, the officers and soldiers, received the thanks of the Commander of the field force for their excellent conduct. [Sidenote: 1811] During the year 1811 the first battalion remained at Cawnpore, where Lieut.-Colonel Buckland assumed the command. [Sidenote: 1812] Five companies of the first battalion proceeded from their quarters at Cawnpore to take part with the division under Colonel Martindell, in the reduction of the strong fortress of _Callinger_, before which place the troops arrived on the 19th of January, 1812. A breach having been reported practicable, the fortress was assaulted on the 2nd of February. A serjeant and twelve privates of the FIFTY-THIRD regiment formed the forlorn-hope, which led the assault of the breach; they were followed by the grenadiers and light infantry of the FIFTY-THIRD, under Captain Fraser, supported by the remaining three companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, and the grenadiers and light infantry of the native regiments. The fortress of Callinger is situated upon a high rock of difficult access and great extent, in one of the ranges of mountains in the province of Allahabad; and when that portion of the country was ceded to the British, this strong fortress, which had resisted native armies, became the asylum of the disaffected and of the banditti of the province. These desperate characters crowded the breach as the FIFTY-THIRD rushed forward to storm the works. Select marksmen of the garrison were supplied with loaded muskets by other men as fast as they could fire them, and huge stones were in readiness to be thrown upon the assailants. The signal being given, the storming party, under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Sebright Mawby and the officers and soldiers of the FIFTY-THIRD, made a gallant effort to gain the breach; ladders were placed against the rock and the men ascended with enthusiastic ardour; but showers of huge stones and a storm of musketry destroyed every man who gained the top of the rock; at the same time it was found impracticable to get other ladders fixed to communicate with a second small projection of the rock which appeared in the breach; under these circumstances the storming party was ordered to retire.