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
Colonel Calliaud having been succeeded by Major Carnac, returned to
Calcutta; the latter pursued the Emperor’s forces to Gyah Maunpoor,
where he overtook and completely routed him in January, 1761. Mr. Law,
the head of the French party, was captured in this engagement.
The 2nd company of artillery, under Captain Broadbridge and
Captain-Lieutenant Kinch, shared in these transactions, and remained as
part of the garrison of Patna.
It forms no part of our plan to enter into the history of such
occurrences as those which led to the dismissal of the members of
council from the Company’s service, and placed Mr. Ellis in charge of
the factory at Patna; or to examine whether our subsequent misfortunes
are attributable to his mismanagement. For information on such points we
must refer the reader to the histories of the times.
Many points of difference arose with the Nawab, Meer Cossim, which led
to various misunderstandings; they were brought to a crisis by the
British, on Mr. Ellis’s order, surprising and seizing Patna, on the 26th
June, 1763. Mr. Amyatt was attacked and killed near Moorshedabad, by
order of Cossim Ali, whom he had left only two days before, having been
deputed to him at Monghyr by the Council, and this brought on open war.
The energy shewn at first was, however, suffered to die away, and the
troops in Patna dispersing for plunder, the late governor of the city
rallied his men, and, being joined by a reinforcement from Monghyr,
attacked and drove out the British, who, spiking their guns, retired to
Bankipore, and afterwards fled in boats to their factory at Manjee, near
Chuprah; where the whole, and among them the company of artillery, were
taken prisoners.
The prisoners taken were sent to Monghyr, and there confined with others
captured at Cossimbazar, which factory was plundered about the same
time.
On the news of these disasters, the English army, under Major Adams,
moved from their cantonments at Ghyrettee early in July. The first
company of artillery was with this force, under the command of Captain
Jennings.
In the present day it would scarcely be deemed possible to march a force
at the season in which this army moved through Bengal—in the middle of
the rains, when the whole land is a swamp, and every stream full to
overflowing; yet, in spite of the difficulties presented, this gallant
band, about 800 Europeans (including the artillery) and 2,000 sipahis,
forced its way, and came in contact with Meer Cossim’s troops at
Gheriah, near Sooty, on the 2nd August.
A severe action was fought, lasting nearly four hours, and at one time
two of the British guns were taken possession of by the enemy; victory
at length decided in favour of the British.
The artillery lost one officer, killed during the action, Lieutenant
Kaylor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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