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
On Colonel Kelly’s death, on the 24th September, the centre army fell
under Colonel Maxwell’s command, and entered the Baramahl valley; but
the operations of this division only once brought them into contact with
the enemy, on the 12th of November, on which occasion the good position
taken up, and the correct fire of a gun, prevented an attack by the
overwhelming numbers opposed.
A junction took place with the main army on the 10th November, and both
armies followed Tippoo, to relieve Trichinopoly, and after some
desultory operations, the campaign concluded.
In November and December Lieutenants Jones and Nash, of the artillery,
died, and Lieutenants T. Green, Exshaw, McLeod, Drummond, and Buchan
came round from Bengal to join the battalion.
By Lieutenant-Colonel Deare’s death, Captain Montague was promoted to a
majority, but directed to remain with the 2nd battalion; Lieutenant
Glass to a company, and joined; Colonel Duff was ordered round to
command the Bengal artillery, and arrived about the middle of December.
These promotions were made subject to the Court of Directors’ approval,
because Colonel Duff had memorialized to be allowed to command the
artillery brigade as senior officer. The regimental formation having
taken place, his claim was not allowed by the Indian Government, but
referred home, where it was finally negatived, and these promotions
confirmed, in the Courts letter, 4th August, 1791.
On the 12th December Lord Cornwallis arrived, and assumed command of the
army; fresh energy was instilled into every department, and by the 5th
February the march commenced.
The park consisted of eleven 18–pounders, six 12–pounders, and eight
mortars, with an ample supply of ammunition and stores.
Lieutenant-Colonel Giels (Madras artillery) commanded artillery of right
wing; Major Moorhouse, left wing; Major Woodburn, heavy park; Major
Montague, of the advance.
The plan of the campaign was to penetrate Mysore by the line of Vellore,
Ambore, and Bangalore; and to meet the British, Tippoo moved off from
Pondicherry (where he had been intriguing with the French), and was
ready to oppose them by the usual routes; but Lord Cornwallis, marching
in the direction of Ambore, turned suddenly to the north, and gained the
foot of the Mooglee pass on the 17th February, and by the 21st the whole
army had ascended, and were encamped in Mysore before Tippoo could
oppose them; the ghat presented but few difficulties; the heavy guns,
with the aid of men and elephants, gave little trouble.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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