Historical Record of the Seventy-Second Regiment, or the Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders: Containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1778, and of its subsequent services to 1848Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Seventy-Second Regiment, or the Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders: Containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1778, and of its subsequent services to 1848
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 72nd -- History; Great Britain. Army. Seaforth Highlanders -- History
Two days after the capture of Savendroog, the troops advanced
against _Outra-Durgum_: they arrived within three miles of the
place that night, and, on the following day, summoned the garrison
to surrender. Lieut.-Colonel Stuart, observing the people flying
from the pettah to the fortress on the rock, directed the guns to
open upon them, and two battalion companies of the fifty-second and
SEVENTY-SECOND regiments, supported by the twenty-sixth sepoys,
to attack the pettah by escalade, which was executed with so much
spirit, that the soldiers were speedily in possession of the town.
“Lieutenant M^c Innes, senior officer of the two SEVENTY-SECOND
companies, applied to Captain Scott for liberty to follow the
fugitives up the rock, saying he should be in time to enter the
first gateway with them. The captain thought the enterprise
impracticable. The soldiers of M^c Innes’s company heard the
request made, and not doubting of consent being given, had rushed
towards the first wall, and were followed by M^c Innes. The gate
was shut: but Lieutenant M^c Pherson arrived with the pioneers and
ladders, which were instantly applied, and our people were within
the wall, as quick as thought, when the gate was unbolted and the
two companies entered. The enemy, astonished at so unexpected an
attempt, retreated with precipitation. M^c Innes advanced to the
second wall, the men forced open the gate with their shoulders,
and not a moment was lost in pushing forward for the third wall;
but the road leading between two rocks, was so narrow that only
two could advance abreast; the pathway was, in consequence,
soon choked up, and those who carried the ladders were unable
to proceed; at the same time, the enemy commenced throwing huge
stones in numbers upon the assailants, who commenced a sharp
fire of musketry, and Lieut.-Colonel Stuart, who had observed
from a distance this astonishing enterprise, sent orders for the
grenadiers not to attempt anything further. Lieutenant M^c Pherson
forced his way through the crowd, causing the ladders to be handed
over the soldiers’ heads, from one to another, and before the
colonel’s orders could be delivered, the gallant Highlanders were
crowding over the third gateway. The enemy fled on all hands; the
foremost of our men pursued them closely, and gained the two last
walls without opposition (there were five walls to escalade). The
garrison escaped by the south-east side of the fort, over rocks
and precipices of immense depth and ruggedness, where many must
have lost their lives. By one o’clock, our two companies were in
possession of every part of the fort, and M^c Innes had planted the
colours on the highest pinnacle, without the loss of a single man.
The Kiledar and two of his people were taken alive. Colonel Stuart
declared the business to be brilliant and successful, beyond his
most sanguine hopes.”[14]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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