Historical Record of the Thirty-ninth, or the Dorsetshire Regiment of Foot: containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1702, and of its subsequent services to 1853.Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Thirty-ninth, or the Dorsetshire Regiment of Foot: containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1702, and of its subsequent services to 1853.
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army. Dorset Regiment -- History; Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 39th (Dorsetshire) -- History
On the following day the troops advanced, and succeeded in carrying
all the barriers and positions opposed to them; one private was
wounded at the stockade, near Harringharry.
The difficulties of the country, both natural and artificial,
became excessive, and demanded, as they received, the very utmost
exertions of the troops to bring forward the artillery. In one
day’s march of continued labour, for upwards of fourteen hours, a
distance was gained of only five miles.
On the evening of the 4th, a flag of truce arrived from the rajah,
proposing that the troops should halt until he could conclude
a negotiation, into which he proposed entering. The Brigadier
received the flag, and consented to a truce so far as regarded
actual hostilities, provided the enemy refrained from them; but he
signified his determination to advance until the rajah surrendered
himself an unconditional prisoner.
No further opposition was experienced, and the increasing strength
of the stockades and positions, rendered it evident that, if
adequately defended, they could only have been carried at an
enormous sacrifice. The head-quarter division reached Mercara, the
capital, on the 6th; and the British ensign displayed on the walls
of its fort, speedily announced the addition which the force had
made to British power. The rajah, who had retreated to a country
palace, surrendered his person on the 10th of April, and the war
was considered at an end.
The conduct of the regiment had throughout this short campaign met
with the unqualified praise and approval of the Brigadier, who
concluded one of his despatches by saying:--
“It remains, therefore, for me only to bring to the notice
of His Excellency the excellent conduct of that part of the
Eastern Column which has been acting under my orders. To Major
Poole of His Majesty’s THIRTY-NINTH regiment, whom I placed in
immediate command of the Infantry Brigade, I have been indebted
for the most zealous and able assistance; and I do but justice
in reporting that the officers and soldiers, of every rank and
degree, have under all circumstances, and in all respects,
merited my most perfect approbation.”
The following is an extract from the despatch of Lieut.-Colonel
Stewart, commanding the second division of the Eastern Column:--
“The detachment of His Majesty’s THIRTY-NINTH regiment surmounted
all difficulties with the characteristic behaviour of British
soldiers.”
On the 11th of April, the three companies with Captain Smyth, who
had been latterly employed in opening the communications, rejoined,
and the regiment remained in camp at Mercara until the 11th of May,
when, in consequence of an order for the reduction of the force, it
marched for Bangalore, and arrived there on the 28th of May.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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