Part 5

The Duke of Crillon anticipated the most signal success from the extensive preparations he was making. His camp was visited by princes of the royal blood of France, by Spanish nobility, and other dignified characters of Europe, who came to be spectators of the fall of the fortress, under the heavy fire of artillery which was about to be opened upon it. The new batteries on shore were unmasked, and fired a volley of sixty shells, which was followed by the thunder of one hundred and seventy guns of large calibre. Thus was Gibraltar assailed by a storm of iron, which threatened to reduce the fortress to a heap of ruins, and this was only a prelude to the tremendous fire which was afterwards opened upon the garrison. Lieutenant Phipps Wharton, of the second battalion, was dangerously wounded by the enemy’s fire.

On the 13th of September, the ten battering ships took their station before the fortress, in the presence of the combined fleets of France and Spain. The enemy’s camp and neighbouring hills were crowded with spectators from various parts of Europe, to witness the effect of these stupendous vessels, and such a storm of war was opened upon the garrison as was probably never heard before since the invention of cannon. The batteries of the fortress answered this tremendous fire with vigour, and the deafening thunder of four hundred pieces of heavy artillery was heard for many miles. For some hours the attack and defence were so equally well supported as scarcely to admit any appearance of superiority in the cannonade on either side. The wonderful construction of the battering ships seemed to bid defiance to the heaviest ordnance; shells rebounded from their tops, and a thirty-two pound shot scarcely seemed to make any impression on them. The effect of the red-hot shot was doubted; sometimes smoke came from the ships, but the fire-engines within soon occasioned it to cease, and the result was uncertain. The fire was, however, persevered in, and incessant showers of red-hot bullets, shells, and carcases flew through the air. In the afternoon the effects of the red-hot shot became apparent, and volumes of smoke issued from the flag-ship; the Admiral’s second ship was perceived to be in the same condition, and confusion prevailed. The Spaniards expected that the firing of red-hot bullets could not be persevered in beyond a few rounds; but the fire was continued with the same precision and vivacity as cold shot. The effects of the hot balls occasioned the enemy’s cannonade to abate, and about eight o’clock it almost totally ceased. The battering ships made signals to inform the combined fleets of their extreme danger and distress, and several boats were sent to their aid. At this period the fire of the garrison produced great carnage, and the most pitiable cries and groans were heard, as the incessant showers of shot and shells were poured into the floating batteries. Soon after midnight one ship was in flames, and by two o’clock she appeared one sheet of fire from head to stern; a second was soon in the same state; the flames enabled the British artillery to point their guns with precision, and soon after three o’clock six more ships exhibited the effects of the red-hot shot. The burning ships exhibited one of the grandest spectacles of destruction ever beheld; and amidst this dreadful scene of conflagration, the British seamen in boats were seen endeavouring to rescue the Spaniards from the blazing ships. They preserved between three and four hundred; and while they were thus engaged, one of the ships blew up with a dreadful explosion; four others met the same fate before seven o’clock, and another shortly afterwards, and the remainder burnt to the water’s edge, their magazines having been inundated; not one could be preserved as a trophy.

Thus did the mighty efforts of France and Spain end in defeat and destruction, and the gallant efforts of the brave soldiers who defended Gibraltar elicited the admiration of the nations in Europe. In England the most enthusiastic applause was universal; illuminations and other modes of testifying the joy of the people followed the receipt of the news of the destruction of the boasted invincible battering ships, and every family which could claim a defender of Gibraltar belonging to it was proud of the honor. The loss of the garrison, on the 13th and 14th of September, was limited to one officer, two serjeants, and thirteen rank and file killed; five officers and sixty-three rank and file wounded; that of the enemy exceeded two thousand officers and soldiers. Captain Alexander Mackenzie, of the second battalion, was one of the officers wounded.

Although the enemy gave up all hopes of reducing Gibraltar by force of arms, yet some expectation was entertained, that, if the blockade was continued, the garrison might be forced to surrender from the want of provisions; the combined fleet therefore remained in the bay, the besieging army continued in the lines, and about a thousand shots were fired every day from the Spanish batteries. The garrison was encouraged to continue resolute in the defence of the fortress by assurances of their Sovereign’s favour and high approbation. The principal Secretary of State, writing to General Eliott, stated,--“I am honored with His Majesty’s commands to assure you, in the strongest terms, that no encouragement shall be wanting to the brave officers and soldiers under your command. His royal approbation of the past will no doubt be a powerful incentive to future exertions, and I have the King’s authority to assure you, that every distinguished act of emulation and gallantry, which shall be performed in the course of the siege by any, even of the lowest rank, will meet with ample reward from his gracious protection and favour.”

On the 4th of October Lieutenant Kenneth Mackenzie, of the second battalion, was wounded in the communication from the King’s to the Queen’s lines.

In October the combined fleet was much damaged by a storm, and soon afterwards a British naval force arrived, and the garrison was again relieved, when two regiments, the Twenty-fifth and Fifty-ninth, landed to take part in the defence of the fortress.

On the 23d of November Lieutenant John Mackenzie, of the second battalion, was dangerously wounded by the enemy’s cannonade.

[Sidenote: 1783.]

[Sidenote: 1st bat.]

At the opening of the campaign of 1783, Tippoo Saib encamped his army upon the plains of Arnee, where he was joined by a strong detachment of French auxiliaries from Cuddalore.

Major-General Stuart put the British army in movement, having first in view the demolition of the useless fortresses of Wandewash and Carangooly. He arrived at the latter place on the 6th of February, and, leaving there all heavy baggage and encumbrances, proceeded lightly equipped towards Wandewash, the works of which were accordingly destroyed. The army then returned to Carangooly, which experienced the same fate as Wandewash, and on the 23d of February arrived at Poonamallee.

[Sidenote: 2d bat.]

Meanwhile, the siege of Gibraltar had terminated, hostilities having ceased in February 1783, in consequence of the preliminaries of the treaties between Great Britain, France, and Spain having been signed at Versailles on the 20th of the preceding month. The second battalion during the siege was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel the Honorable George Mackenzie.

[Sidenote: 1st bat.]

Notwithstanding private information having been received from respectable sources, overland, of a peace having been concluded between Great Britain and the other belligerent powers in Europe, still the Madras Government was determined to persevere in its original plans for the attack of _Cuddalore_. With this view, Major-General Stuart put the army in movement on the 21st of April, marching by brigades in a southerly direction. Major-General Stuart’s army consisted of the present SEVENTY-FIRST and Seventy-second regiments, the 101st regiment, a considerable body of native troops, and a detachment of Hanoverians under Colonel Wangenheim. Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Elphinston, of the first battalion of the regiment, took the lead, with the fifth brigade, to the command of which he had been appointed, in consideration of his distinguished conduct and important services in the field.

Lieut.-Colonel James Stuart, of the Seventy-eighth Highlanders (the present Seventy-second regiment), commanded the first or European brigade, of which the first battalion of the _Seventy-third_ (now the SEVENTY-FIRST) regiment formed part, and which amounted to sixteen hundred men.

Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Elphinston, in his advance, possessed himself of Permacoil ruins, from whence could be plainly distinguished the enemy’s advanced parties upon the Red Hills of Pondicherry. The remainder of the army joined at Permacoil on the 2d of May.

About this period accounts were received of the decease of Lieut.-General Sir Eyre Coote, which intelligence threw a peculiar gloom over those officers and men who had had the honor to serve under his command in India. Major-General Stuart succeeded to the command of the forces in India for the time being.

After leaving Permacoil, the army advanced to Killinoor, and from thence directed its course towards the Red Hills of Pondicherry.

[Sidenote: 2d bat.]

In May 1783, the second battalion embarked in transports, and sailed from Gibraltar for Portsmouth, where it landed in July following.

[Sidenote: 1st bat.]

On the 4th of June, Major-General Stuart placed the British camp close to the Pannar River, about five miles west of _Cuddalore_, behind which the French army was descried in an entrenched camp.

The British crossed the Pannar River on the 6th of June, without being molested, passed the Bandipollam Hills, and took up a strong position not more than two miles from the south face of the fortress of _Cuddalore_, having their right flank covered by the sea, and the left by the Bandipollam Hills. The enemy, commanded by General de Bussy, had in the meantime been occupied in throwing up works along his front.

On the 12th of June, Major-General Stuart had determined upon attacking Monsieur de Bussy in his present position, and issued preparatory orders accordingly. At four o’clock in the morning of the 13th of June, the action commenced by a movement from the British left upon the right flank of the enemy. A very obstinate and sanguinary contest ensued, and continued without intermission until the evening, when both armies remained upon the field of battle, and consequently each claimed the victory.

In this action the first battalion of the regiment highly distinguished itself, having wrested from the enemy, in the course of the conflict, seven different redoubts. The loss sustained by the battalion was very severe, amounting in killed and wounded to 13 officers and 272 men, being one half of the gross number in the field. The battalion in this action was commanded by Captain Hugh Lamont. The battalion had to regret the loss of Captains the Honorable James Lindsay and Alexander Mackenzie, who were killed. The former officer commanded the Grenadier company.

The following flattering compliment formed part of the general orders issued by the Commander-in-Chief at the conclusion of the battle:--“I am also grateful to Captain Lamont and the officers under his command, who gallantly led the _precious remains_ of the SEVENTY-THIRD Regiment through the most perilous road to glory, until exactly one half of the officers and men of the battalion were either killed or wounded.”

On the 17th of June the English and French fleets fought their last battle during this war. The former commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, and the latter by Monsieur Suffrein. The contest was perfectly in view of both armies. The result obliged the British admiral to proceed to Madras, while, to the great embarrassment of the army under Major-General Stuart, the French fleet was enabled to anchor in Cuddalore Roads, and to afford supplies and reinforcements to their troops.

The British prosecuted the siege of Cuddalore with vigour, and on the 25th of June the first parallel was completed. On that day the enemy made a _sortie_ but was repulsed, after a severe contest, with considerable loss. The commander of the party, Colonel the Chevalier de Damas, was among the prisoners taken on this occasion.

On the 1st of July a frigate arrived in Cuddalore Roads, confirming the former intelligence, and bringing the official accounts from England of a general peace having been concluded. Hostilities in consequence ceased. The English and French interchanged visits, congratulations, and compliments, and became apparently as cordial friends as they had before been determined enemies.

By the 2d of August the British army had received the supplies of which it stood greatly in want, and the camp was immediately broken up, the troops proceeding towards Madras, where they arrived on the 16th of that month, at St. Thomas’s Mount.

The army shortly afterwards went into winter quarters, the SEVENTY-THIRD occupying the fort and cantonment of Arcot.

[Sidenote: 2d bat.]

In August the second battalion marched from Hilsea barracks to Stirling, where it was disbanded on the 3d of October; and the officers belonging to the second battalion, who were regimentally senior to those serving with the first, had the option afforded them of joining that battalion in the East Indies, at their own expense, of which some availed themselves.

[Sidenote: 1784.]

On the 11th of March 1784, a general peace was ratified between the Honorable East India Company and Tippoo Saib, and, shortly afterwards, the officers and men, who had been made prisoners in the action fought by Lieut.-Colonel Baillie, on the 10th of September 1780, were restored to their friends, after having endured captivity in irons in an ungenial climate, and most of them suffering from severe wounds.

The regiment had the gratification to receive Captains David Baird and the Honorable John Lindsay. The commission of the latter, as captain, had been antedated to the 12th of September 1780. Both of these officers had recovered from their wounds.

During the remainder of the year the regiment continued at Arcot, and was only employed, beyond the usual routine of duty in quarters, for a short time in quelling a mutiny which broke out in the native cavalry at Arnee. The regiment at this period was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel William Dalrymple.

[Sidenote: 1785.]

In the course of the month of June the regiment was removed from Arcot to Fort St. George at Madras, where it was joined by certain officers of the late second battalion. Lieut.-Colonel Dalrymple having returned to Great Britain, the regiment was commanded by Brevet Colonel the Honorable George Mackenzie.

The regiment continued in quarters during the remainder of the year at Fort St. George, and in the town at Madras.

[Sidenote: 1786.]

In the year 1786 the numerical title of the regiment was changed from Seventy-third to SEVENTY-FIRST; and new colours were received from England, bearing the number SEVENTY-FIRST, which designation it has since retained.

The regiment changed its quarters, in March, to Wallajohabad and Chingleput, having nine companies cantoned at the former station, and one at the latter under Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Hamilton Maxwell.

[Sidenote: 1787.]

On the 4th of June 1787, the commanding officer, Colonel the Honorable George Mackenzie, died, after a short illness. His body was sent to Madras, and there interred with the military honors due to his rank. The senior major, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel John Elphinston, succeeded to the lieutenant-colonelcy and to the command of the regiment. Captain David Baird was at the same time promoted to the rank of major. The commissions of these officers were dated 5th of June 1787.

During the year 1787 no change of quarters took place, and the regiment remained in cantonments at Wallajohabad and Chingleput.

[Sidenote: 1788.]

In February 1788, in consequence of some disturbance or alarm at the Bombay Presidency, the SEVENTY-FIRST marched to Madras, and immediately embarked on board the Company’s ships for Bombay. The regiment was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Elphinston, and was about eight hundred strong.

After a favorable passage, the ships arrived at Bombay in April, when the regiment immediately disembarked and went into barracks, where it remained for six months. The Seventy-fifth and Seventy-seventh regiments having, in this interval, arrived at Bombay from England, the services of the SEVENTY-FIRST became no longer necessary at that Presidency, and the regiment proceeded in October to Madras, where it arrived in December.

Five companies, under Lieut.-Colonel Elphinston, occupied the barracks in Fort St. George, and the other five companies proceeded to Poonamallee.

[Sidenote: 1789.]

Major-General the Honorable William Gordon was appointed colonel of the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment on the 9th of April 1789, in succession to Major-General John Lord Macleod, deceased.

In the course of the year 1789, the five companies at Poonamallee were removed to Tripassoor.

[Sidenote: 1790.]

On the 16th of March 1790, the companies at Madras and Tripassoor received orders to join a force which was assembling at Wallajohabad, under the orders of Colonel Thomas Musgrave, of the Seventy-sixth, in consequence of the hostilities which Tippoo Saib had commenced against the Rajah of Travancore, a faithful British ally. The SEVENTY-FIRST arrived at Wallajohabad on the 18th of March, and joined the other troops, consisting of the nineteenth light dragoons, fifty-second, and SEVENTY-FIRST regiments, the third and fourth native cavalry, the first battalion of coast artillery, and the second, fourth, ninth, fourteenth, and twenty-fifth coast sepoys.

This force was put in movement on the 29th of March, and proceeded towards Trichinopoly, which it did not reach until the 29th of April, and found there the following corps, under the command of Colonel Brydges:--two King’s regiments, the thirty-sixth and seventy-second; the second and fifth native cavalry; the first, fifth, sixth, seventh, sixteenth, twentieth, and twenty-third coast sepoys. At the same time Colonel Deare, with three companies of Bengal artillery, joined, the whole being under the orders of Major-General Musgrave, to which rank he had been promoted on the 28th of April 1790.

The army was immediately divided into brigades and wings; Lieut.-Colonel James Stuart, of the Seventy-second Highlanders, was appointed to command the left wing, and Colonel Brydges, of the East India Company’s service, the right; the SEVENTY-FIRST and seventy-second regiments, and first East India Company’s European battalion, formed the second European brigade, under Lieut.-Colonel Clarke, of the Company’s service.

The whole of the cavalry and the advance were commanded by Lieut.-Colonel, afterwards General Sir John Floyd, of the nineteenth light dragoons, since disbanded.

On the 24th of May, Major-General (afterwards Sir William) Medows assumed the command, and reviewed the army, which on the 26th of that month was put in movement towards the Coimbatore country.

The army reached Caroor, a fortified place, on the 15th of June, which the enemy abandoned on the approach of the British, who remained in this position, strengthening Caroor, and collecting grain, until the 2d of July, when they moved for Arrivacourchy, arriving there on the 5th, and continuing their route by Tooramboddy, arrived on the 10th of July at Daraporam. At this latter place was found a large supply of grain and other necessaries, which had been left by the enemy.

During the march to Coimbatore, where the British arrived on the 22d of July, Tippoo’s irregular horse were very active in hovering around, for the purpose of picking up stragglers and baggage.

The army halted at Coimbatore, and detachments were sent off to reduce Dindigul, Errode, and _Palghautcherry_. The flank companies of the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment, commanded by Captains Phineas M^cIntosh and James Robertson, were employed upon the latter service. In August the whole of the cavalry and the advance had been pushed forward to the Boovany, near to the Gudzelhetty Pass. Tippoo Saib, profiting by the divided state of the British force, descended with his whole army, and after a very severe conflict obliged Lieut.-Colonel Floyd to fall back. The troops from Coimbatore had marched to his support, and on the junction being effected, Tippoo retired. The British returned to Coimbatore on the 23d of September.

Upon the march of the main body, the flank companies of the SEVENTY-FIRST and Seventy-second were withdrawn from the siege of _Palghautcherry_, and ordered to take post in the fort of Coimbatore; and on the return of the army they rejoined the regiment.

The army was again put in motion on the 29th of September, proceeding towards the Boovany by Shawoor and Coopachitty-pollum, where the troops arrived a few hours after Tippoo had left it. Some elephants, bullocks, and camels loaded with rockets, fell into the hands of the British.

On the 4th of October the army arrived at Errode, the enemy keeping a respectful distance during the march; and on the 6th of that month it was ascertained that he had arrived with his whole force at _Darraporam_, against which he opened his batteries on the 8th. The fort had no cannon mounted, and the garrison, consisting of a hundred Europeans and two hundred sepoys, capitulated on honorable terms, to which the enemy strictly adhered.

The British army moved on the 5th of October, and on the 15th encamped in the neighbourhood of Coimbatore, where Lieut.-Colonel Stuart joined from _Palghautcherry_, after having taken the place, and left it in a tolerable state of defence. On the 20th of October, all the heavy baggage having been deposited in the fort of Coimbatore, the army recommenced moving, directing its march towards Errode, by Avinochy and Perentore, where it arrived on the 2d of November. On the 8th the army proceeded in the direction of Bovaneore, and thence to a ford about three miles below Errode, the whole crossing the Cavery on the 9th and 10th, while Tippoo marched with his entire force to attack a division under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Hamilton Maxwell, of the Seventy-fourth Regiment, then in the Bharamahl country. On the 11th of November the army moved by Sankerrydroog for the Tappoor Pass, and ascended on the 14th, encamping at Adamancottah, in the Bharamahl country; marched again on the 15th, and on the 17th effected a junction with Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell at Darrampoury. This officer had under his orders the Seventy-fourth and Seventy-sixth King’s regiments, the fourth battalion of Madras Europeans, the third, seventh, thirteenth, fourteenth, twenty-first, twenty-sixth, and twenty-seventh Bengal sepoys.

The Seventy-fourth joined the SEVENTY-FIRST and Seventy-second Regiments in the second brigade; and Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell assumed the command of the left wing in the place of Colonel Brydges, who was appointed to command at Trichinopoly.

On the 18th of November the army moved by Coveriporum to the Tappoor Pass, when the advance fell in with the rear of Tippoo’s force, but could make no impression.

It was now ascertained that the enemy, whose movements were always sudden, varied, and perplexing, was directing his course to the Carnatic by Namacul and Trichinopoly. The British in consequence pursued by Malusundrum, arriving on the 23d at Vavoor; the 27th at Jaloor; on the 6th of December at Munsarapett; and at Terany on the 31st of December.

[Sidenote: 1791.]

On the 1st of January 1791 the army arrived at Terrimungulum, and on the 12th at Arnee.