Historical Record of the Seventy-first Regiment, Highland Light Infantry: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1777, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1852Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Seventy-first Regiment, Highland Light Infantry: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1777, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1852
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 71st (Highland Light Infantry)
Lieut.-Colonel Baillie had passed the river in his way on the
afternoon of the 5th of September, and encamped for the night.
Hyder, on receiving this information, made the movement before
related, and other arrangements on the following morning, the 6th
of September, and Sir Hector Munro changed his own position at
the same time. This change was scarcely effected when the evident
bustle in the enemy’s army explained its purpose. In fact the
purport of Hyder’s movement was to cover and support a great attack
at that moment making on Lieut.-Colonel Baillie’s detachment. He
had already sent his brother-in-law, Meer Saib, with eight thousand
horse upon that service, and immediately afterwards detached his
son, Tippoo Saib, with six thousand infantry, eighteen thousand
cavalry, and twelve pieces of cannon, to join in a united and
decisive attack. They encountered Lieut.-Colonel Baillie at
a place called Perambaukum, where he made the most masterly
dispositions to withstand this vast superiority of force. After
an exceedingly severe and well-fought action, of several hours’
continuance, the enemy was routed, and Lieut.-Colonel Baillie
gained as complete a victory as a total want of cavalry and the
smallness of his numbers could possibly admit. Through these
circumstances he lost his baggage. His whole force did not exceed
two thousand sepoys, and from one to two companies of European
artillery.
This success, however, by diminishing Lieut.-Colonel Baillie’s
force, only added to his distress. The British camp was within
a few miles, but Hyder’s army lay full in his way, and he was,
moreover, in the greatest want of provisions. Under these
circumstances, Lieut.-Colonel Baillie despatched a messenger to
Major-General Sir Hector Munro, with an account of his situation,
stating that he had sustained a loss which rendered him incapable
of advancing, while his total want of provisions rendered it
equally impossible for him to remain in his present position. A
council of war being held, at which Colonel Lord Macleod assisted,
it was resolved to send a reinforcement to Lieut.-Colonel
Baillie, to enable him to push forward in despite of the enemy.
Lieut.-Colonel Fletcher, Captain Baird, and other officers were
sent off with a strong detachment to the relief of Lieut.-Colonel
Baillie. The main force of this detachment consisted of the
flank companies of the first battalion of the _Seventy-third_,
afterwards numbered the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment, the light company
being commanded by Captain Baird. There were two other companies
of European grenadiers, one company of sepoy marksmen, and ten
companies of sepoy grenadiers. In all about a thousand men. The
junction was effected with some difficulty on the 9th of September,
and the following day was appointed for the march of the united
detachment. Accordingly, day-light had scarcely broken when it
commenced its march. By seven o’clock in the morning of the 10th of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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