Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/narrativeofopera00johnrich Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). NARRATIVE OF THE OPERATIONS OF A DETACHMENT IN AN EXPEDITION TO CANDY, IN THE ISLAND OF CEYLON, IN THE YEAR 1804. With Some Observations on the Previous Campaign, and on the Nature of Candian Warfare, etc., etc., etc. by MAJOR JOHNSTON. Of the Third Ceylon Regiment, then Captain Commandant of the Detachment. A New Edition. Dublin James McGlashan, 50 Upper Sackville-Street. Wm. S. Orr and Co., Paternoster-Row, London. MDCCCLIV. Dublin: Printed by George Drought, 6, Bachelor's-walk. TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR DAVID DUNDAS, K.B., General and Commander-in-Chief, &c. SIR, The operations of any part of the British troops, and the means by which they may be rendered more effectual, cannot be a matter of indifference to the Commander-in-Chief. Whatever contributes to the improvement of military knowledge will, I am persuaded, be favourably received by your Excellency, to whom the service is already so much indebted for its present proficiency in military tactics. It is the object of this narrative to relate and explain a species of warfare in which the British troops have been little engaged, and are, consequently, less experienced than in European tactics. If I succeed in benefiting the public service, by showing in what manner the difficulties which pressed so severely on the detachment I had the honour to command may, in any future operations, be either removed or lessened, I shall feel myself amply repaid for the trouble I have taken; and shall, I trust, stand exculpated from the apparent presumption of having obtruded myself on your Excellency's attention. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, A. JOHNSTON, _Major, Third Ceylon Regiment_. PREFACE. As it appears generally incumbent on those who offer information to the public, to explain the sources from whence they have derived their knowledge, it may not be improper to state the circumstances under which my experience on Ceylon was acquired. In 1800 I commanded a corps of pioneers, which opened a road for General Macdowal's embassy to Candy. After that period, till the commencement of the Candian war, I was chiefly entrusted with the command of remote districts, uniting in my own person the civil and military authorities. On the breaking out of that war, in 1803, I was appointed to command a _free corps_, composed principally of Malays, and was generally employed in escorting supplies to and from the different depôts; a service which led to frequent skirmishes with the enemy.