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)
The enemy displayed a part of his force on the 4th of March, and on
the following day opened a cannonade upon the troops moving towards
_Bangalore_, whilst his horse attempted to attack the stores and
baggage, but without success. About sunset on the 5th of March, the
army encamped within shot of the fort of Bangalore, and shifted its
ground on the day following. The pettah (the suburbs of the town)
was then attacked by the thirty-sixth and seventy-sixth regiments,
with some battalions of sepoys, and carried, after a very resolute
resistance on the part of the defenders.
From this period to the 14th of March, nothing material occurred,
but every preparation for the approaching siege was carried on with
diligence and activity. On the 15th, the batteries being completed,
opened a fire upon Bangalore; and on the 17th the lines were
cannonaded by the enemy, while at night the camp was much disturbed
by his rockets.
Forage became very scarce, and none could be procured beyond the
advanced piquets. The siege, however, proceeded, and the enemy
continued to harass the British until the 21st March, when the
breach being considered practicable, an attack was ordered.
The storming party consisted of the grenadiers of the thirty-sixth,
fifty-second, SEVENTY-FIRST, seventy-second, seventy-fourth,
and seventy-sixth regiments, followed by their respective light
companies, and led by Lieutenant James Duncan of the SEVENTY-FIRST,
and Lieutenant John Evans of the fifty-second, with a forlorn
hope of thirty chosen men; the whole supported by the battalion
companies of the thirty-sixth, seventy-second, and seventy-sixth,
with some battalions of Bengal sepoys. The corps of attack were
commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell of the seventy-fourth; the
flankers immediately by Major Skelly; Major-General Medows was
present on the occasion.
The grenadier company of the SEVENTY-FIRST was commanded by
Captain the Honorable John Lindsay, who, upon entering the breach,
directed his men to throw away their priming, and trust entirely to
their bayonets. The light company was commanded by Captain James
Robertson, son of the celebrated historian.
With the aid of scaling ladders, and after encountering very
formidable obstacles, _Bangalore_ was carried. From the 6th of
March to the conquest of Bangalore, the SEVENTY-FIRST had six
privates killed, and fourteen wounded.
On the 28th of March, a strong garrison being left in Bangalore,
the army moved to Deonhully, the birthplace of Hyder Ali, where it
arrived on the 30th, and on the 1st of April at Chinnaballaporam,
both of which places were abandoned by the enemy. The army
reached Connapelly on the 12th of April, and on the following day
effected a junction with the Nizam’s force, which had been sent to
co-operate with the British, and which amounted to about fifteen
thousand cavalry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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