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
Major-General Marshall’s order says, “The science and skill displayed by
the engineers and artillery department were eminently conspicuous, and
the bombardment and explosion of the enemy’s principal magazine, which,
without derogating from the merits of others, must be allowed to have
given us almost immediate possession of the place, will long be regarded
as the most memorable among the brilliant events of the last fortnight,
and as demonstrative of the extent and soundness of that judgment and
penetration which, in the avowed anticipation of the very consequences,
enabled the army, by the provision of adequate means, to insure them.
The practice of the artillery has answered the expectations of that high
authority to which the Major-General has ventured to allude in the
forgoing observations. Another motive for them is to bring forward and
illustrate the fact more closely, that where the means are equal to the
science and practical knowledge known to pervade every branch of this
army, the results must invariably be rapid and successful, even against
such strong and formidable forts as Hattrass proved to be.” * * *
We cannot refrain from quoting the order issued to the artillery by
Major-General Sir John Horsford; the more so, as it proved the last he
was permitted to pen to the corps, his valuable life having terminated
suddenly, soon after returning to Cawnpoor from this service:—
“Major-General Sir John Horsford, commanding the artillery brigaded
before Hattrass, performs with pleasure the last exercise of his command
in conveying to the horse and foot artillery and rocket-troop his
congratulations on the brilliant services which their united exertions
have effected for the state, Government having through their means
principally been placed in possession of Hattrass, the rapid reduction
of which has caused the surrender of the important fortress of Morsaum
and eleven other forts.
“The acknowledgments of Major-General Marshall, commanding the army, and
the favourable sentiments entertained by the army at large, must be much
more satisfactory to the artillery than any tribute of praise which Sir
John Horsford could bestow in confirmation of their meritorious
services.
“But the Major-General considers public acknowledgments due to Major
Mason, commanding the foot artillery, who, with Majors MacLeod and
Butler, superintended in turn the several batteries. He begs to offer
his best thanks to Major Mason and the experienced field-officers above
mentioned, for their several important services.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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