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
breath, and had a commanding prospect of the whole attack, though
nearly three miles in extent, as we contemplated the scene before
us, the grandest, I suppose, that any person there had beheld.
Being rested a little, Colonel Maxwell led us down the hill under
a smart fire; we rushed forward and drove the enemy across the
nulla in great haste, although they stood our approach wonderfully.
We crossed the bridge under a constant fire, the enemy retreating
as we advanced; we crossed the Lokany river, the opposite bank
of which was well covered by a _bound-hedge_, and their fire did
execution: a serjeant of grenadiers was killed, Captain Mackenzie
mortally wounded, Major Frazer and Captain Maitland shot through
their right arms, besides other casualties. After we had penetrated
the _bound-hedge_, the enemy took post behind an extensive
choultry; but nothing could stop the ardour of our men,--we charged
without loss of time, and soon dislodged the enemy, who retreated
along the banks of the Cavery to a second choultry, where their
numbers were reinforced. We had now got into their camp, upon the
right flank of their lines; they retreated steadily before us, and
our fire and bayonets did great execution among them, the road
being strewed with their bodies. We charged and dislodged them from
the second choultry; here Lieutenant M^c Pherson of the grenadiers
was wounded; we pursued the enemy to a large pagoda; they attempted
to cross the river, but the place was so crowded with guns,
tumbrils, bullocks, elephants, camels, followers, and heaven knows
what, that we were in the midst of them before they could escape,
and for some minutes there was nothing but shooting and bayoneting.
Colonel Maxwell came up with the twenty-third native infantry; the
sepoys of the fourteenth native battalions advanced; they took us
for the enemy, and fired, but their officers suppressed the fire
before much injury was done: the seventy-first regiment also joined
us, and preparations were made to cross the river and force the
lines on the opposite side. Colonel Baird requested me to lead
with twenty men; I instantly rushed into the stream, followed by
twenty grenadiers of the SEVENTY-SECOND regiment; we pushed on
through holes, over rocks and stones, falling and stumbling at
every step, the enemy’s shot reducing our numbers; and myself,
with about half a dozen grenadiers, arrived at a smooth part of
the stream which proved beyond our depth; five of us, however, got
over; but the regiments did not venture to follow, and we returned
with difficulty. An easy passage had been found out lower down;
the seventy-first and SEVENTY-SECOND regiments had got into the
island; the flank companies of the fifty-second, seventy-first, and
seventy-fourth regiments forded higher up, and the enemy, seeing
our troops on all sides of them, betook themselves to flight.
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