Memoir of the Services of the Bengal Artillery: From the Formation of the Corps to the Present Time, with Some Account of Its Internal OrganizationBuckle, E. (Edmond)
History
Memoir of the Services of the Bengal Artillery: From the Formation of the Corps to the Present Time, with Some Account of Its Internal Organization
Buckle, E. (Edmond)
India -- History -- British occupation, 1765-1947; India -- History, Military; India. Army. Bengal Artillery
The battalion of sipahis left at Patna with two 6–pounders and 70
Europeans, under Lieutenant Cochrane, was defeated in an engagement into
which they were forced, in assisting our ally Ramnarain against the
Emperor’s forces, in January, 1760.
The conduct of the European troops is spoken of as highly creditable.
The European officers of the sipahis all fell, and the sipahis were cut
to pieces or dispersed. The English who remained fought their way back
to the city under Doctor Fullerton. “Other English officers may have
been present,” says the author of the Siyar-ul-Mutakherin, “whose names
I know not, who ranged them in order, and as one of their guns was to be
left behind on the field of battle, they found means to render it of no
avail, by thrusting a large needle of iron into its eye; the other being
in good condition, they took it with them, together with its ammunition;
and that handful of men had the courage to retire in the face of a
victorious army, without once shrinking from their ranks; during their
journey, the car of ammunition chanced to receive some injury, the
Doctor stopped unconcernedly, and after having put it in order, he
bravely pursued his route again.”
Lieutenant Buck, of the artillery, was killed in this action.
Calliaud’s advance having been delayed by his allies, he did not engage
the enemy till the 22nd February, near Sooraj, and the same cause
prevented his following up the advantage.
The 50 artillerymen of the 2nd company were engaged in this action, and
the carriages of four of their guns broke down during the engagement,
causing some delay in repairing them.
After his defeat, the Emperor fled, and endeavoured to double back and
surprise Moorshedabad ere Calliaud could overtake him. In this, however,
he failed; the British pursued in boats, and coming up with him, he
struck across the Currukpoor hills. The British disembarked and followed
him. After a difficult march, the Emperor emerged from the hills, about
30 miles from Moorshedabad. The English and Jaffier had, however,
joined, and on their attacking him, he set fire to his camp and fled.
To secure Patna, a detachment of 200 Europeans, a battalion of sipahis,
and four field-pieces, marched from Moorshedabad, under Captain Knox, in
May, 1760, and, marching with the utmost rapidity, reached it in
thirteen days. Crossing the river, this little band attacked and
defeated the army of the Naib of Purneah, who had come to the Emperor’s
assistance, near Mozufferpore, on the 27th May.
A third company of artillery was formed on the 26th May, 1760,[7] in
Fort William, promoting Captain-Lieutenant Kinch; but there is reason to
believe he remained with the second company, until Captain Broadbridge’s
death, in 1761, gave him the command.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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