Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp: Late a Lieut. in His Majesty's 87th RegimentShipp, John
History
Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp: Late a Lieut. in His Majesty's 87th Regiment
Shipp, John
India -- History -- British occupation, 1765-1947 -- Biography; Shipp, John, 1784-1834
Having abundance of spare time while preparations were making for a
second attack on the fort, Lord Lake determined to disturb Holkar in his
hiding-place; for which purpose a party of infantry was dispatched with
about four six-pounders. We soon came within sight of him, sheltered a
good deal from his view by high trees and jungle. The fort, observing
our manoeuvres, commenced a heavy cannonade. Holkar, alarmed, got on the
move and made towards Futtypore Seccrah, one of his old haunts. Once
from under the walls of the fort, our cavalry soon put his troops to
flight; immense numbers were killed, and elephants, horses, camels,
spears, matchlocks, colours, &c., were brought into camp. Holkar's best
elephant was that day taken, and some little treasure was found on
camels. Notwithstanding this routing, however, they took up their old
ground, and we returned to camp, with some few men killed and wounded.
This skirmish, instead of decreasing their impudence, seemed only to
increase it; for they were day and night hovering round our piquets, the
object of which was to take our attention from their main body, who had
been dispatched to intercept a small detachment that was on the way to
join us, from Muttra. Our spies soon brought intelligence of this, and,
in little more than ten minutes after, three regiments of dragoons were
on the move to rescue them, and arrived just in time to save our stores
and the lives of the little party. Holkar commanded in person on this
occasion; and it was reported that he was killed, though this proved
afterwards to be false. A reward was offered for his head, and a great
number were tendered, but none belonged to one-eyed Holkar. It is true,
heads were produced without an eye, but the phiz of that notorious Pin
was too well known to Chiggram (our best spy) to admit of our being
imposed on.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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