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December
Decr. 4.
Saturday. Early this morning arrived in Tellicherry Roads. — The Major
went on shore to wait on Mr. Taylor the Chief
of Tellicherry. In the Evening, Major Stirling with Four Companies of
the Regiment disembark'd; Capt. Whitelocke with
the remaining Five remained on board the Hercules. —
Decr. 5.
The Drake Cruizer with the Commander in chief, his Suite, and the
77th. Light Infantry, on board, Anchored early
this morning, in Tellicherry Roads; and soon afterwards, Genl. Abercromby went on shore. —
The Scorpion [**indecipherable **] of our Regiment, disembark'd
from the Hercules, this afternoon and were Quartered in the
Verandoes [sic] of Houses in the Bazar [sic] of Tellicherry; Capt. Montresor with his Light company, disembarked from
the Drake the same Evening. — Before I came on shore I received a
very friendly Note from Captain Donald Cameron of the Bombay 1st. European Regt. encamped
at Durmapatam a few miles from Town; and on my going on shore an Orderly
Serjeant waited on me with an Invitation from Capt. John Mc.Donald of the
same Corps, but Quartered in Town, to come to his House, and make it my
Quarters; which, I accepted of; I was but slightly acquainted with
Capt. Macdonald, and therefore, not entitled to
such friendly attention; but my good Friend Capt. Cameron, as he was not in Town himself, took care
that one of his Friends should be ready to accommodate me with quarters;
and had spoken to Capt. Mc.Donald to receive me
in the polite and friendly manner I have mentioned. I accompanied
Capt. Macdonald to the house of Major Jones,
Commanding officer of Artillery; where, we supped, with a large Company
of Ladies and Gentlemen; after Supper I return'd with Capt. Mc.Donald to his
Quarters; where I slept, and lodged during my stay at Tellicherry.
—
Decr. 6.
The Scorpion Cruizer, wh. Lt. Col. Balfour on board, the Battilas and Boats with
the 12th. Battn. of
Sepoys, Military Stores and Baggage, all arrived this morning. I waited
after Breakfast on Mr. Taylor the Chief of
Tellicherry, where the Commander in chief at present resides, I met here
with my Friend Capt. Cameron, who had come in
from Camp to wait on the Commander in chief. — A General Court
Martial, of which Major Stirling was President and myself a Member,
having been order'd to assemble for the trial of Capt. Anderson of the 1st. Bombay Regt. for Disrespectful behaviour to his Commanding
Officer Lt. Col. Peche, met this agreeable to
orders, and commenced the Trial.
At Four OClock this afternoon, agreeable to General Orders, our Regiment
Paraded and marched from Tellicherry to Encamp at Durmapatam; a very
pretty Hill form'd into an Island, by the confluence of two rivers, and
distant about Three Miles north from Tellicherry; – we had to
cross two small Rivers in going to it, in Boats called Jangards (two
Canoes joined) and did not reach our Ground untill [sic] Seven OClock at
night; the Tents of the Regiment thro' some mistake and carelessness
were not brought up; by which means the Men were obliged to ly [sic] on
the Ground in the open air all night, under a heavy Rain which began to
fall at Eight OClock at night, and continued all night and the greatest
Part of the next day. After seeing my Company lodge and secure their
Arms within a Shade I return'd to Tellicherry, on account of my being
obliged to attend as Member of the General Court Martial early next
morning; – it rained hard and the night was very dark, and I
should never have found my way back, had it not been for the kindness of
Capt. Cameron's, his Massaljee having guided
and lighted me all the way back to Tellicherry.
Decr. 9.
The General Court Martial was this day dissolved and their Sentence
approved, which was, that Capt. Anderson should
be publickly reprimanded by the Commander in chief and make an apology
at the Head of the Regiment to his Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Peche. — After dining with Capt. Macdonald and sending off my Servants and Baggage
before me, I set out with Capt. Macdonald for
Durmapatam Camp, where we arrived about Sun–sett; [sic] after
visiting my Company, I went to Capt. Cameron's
Tent where I staid all night, my own Tent not being Pitched. —
Decr. 10.
Friday. At Six OClock this morning the 77th. and 1st. Bombay Regts. marched from Durmapatam towards Egar Hill, to
form the new line of Encampment, with the Sepoy Battalions already
encamped under the Command of Major Dow, agreeable to General Orders.
— Egar Hill in a northerly direction is about Six Miles distant
from Durmapatam; — we marched most part of the way along a fine
Beach; – crossed two Rivers the first in Jangards, but the last we
forded. — Arrived at our line of Encampment on Egar Hill at Twelve
OClock; where we found the Commander in Chief Major General Abercromby
with his Suite before us. — The Tents were not come up, so that
the Troops were for the whole of this day and part of the next, exposed
to the heat of the Sun and a good deal of Rain which fell at night.
— The line of Encampment fronted northerly towards Cananore, our
Right towards the Ghauts, and our left towards the Sea; the Enemy were
strongly posted on the Heights about a Mile on our Front covering the
Town of Cananore – about a Mile in the rear of the new line of
Encampment, and on the Ground that Major Dow with the Sepoys occupied,
the Troops Halted for a short time when the following Arrangement and
Division of our little Army was made by the General vizt. — Two Companies of Artillery with the
Lascars under the command of Major Jones, The 77th. Regt. commanded by Major
Stirling, the 2d. Battn. N. Infantry commanded by Capt. Burchall, and the 10th.
Battn. N. Infy.
Commanded by Capt. Wiseman formed the Right
Brigade under the command of Lieut. Colonel
James Balfour; Lieut. Chas. Erskine 77th. Regt. Major of Brigade;
– the 1st. Bombay European Regt. Commanded by Capt.
Jno. Mc.Donald, the
3d. Battn. N. Infy. commanded by Capt Oakes, formed the Left Brigade
under the command of Lieut. Colonel Peche,
Lieut. Hook Major of Brigade; – a Flank
Corps was formed under the command of Major Dow consisting of Nine
Companies vizt. – the 77th. Grenadiers
and Lt. Infantry – 1st. Grenadiers Bombay Regt.,
One Sepoy Grenadier Compy. from the 2d.
Battn. Native Infantry, One from the 3d. Battn., One from the
10th. Battn., One from the 12th. Battn., and Two from the
6th. Battn. of N.
Infantry (left in Garrison at Tellicherry under the command of Capt. Murray) — this Corps, as soon as we arrived
on our new line of Encampment, was advanced about a quarter of a Mile on
our Front to watch the motions of our Enemy. — Capt. Dacer was at the Head of the Engineer Department,
and Thomas Nixon Wensley Esqr. was appointed Dy. Paymr. Genl. and Commissary of Provisions, to the Army. —
The General's Staff and Suite, were Major Sinclair Deputy Adjutant
General, Major of Brigade Auchmuty Military Secretary, Lieutenants
Wilson and Sandiford Aids de Camps; and Mr.
Galley Private Secretary; – these arrangements being made the
General with his Suite return'd to Tellicherry in the Evening; leaving
the command of the Line to Lt. Col. Balfour the
Senior Officer in Camp. — I Pitched my Tent in the Evening.
Decr. 11.
Saturday. The Tents of the Regiment came up and were Pitched. — I
dined today with Col. Balfour, who had a visit in the Evening from the
Rajah of Cartanad [?] just arrived in Camp at the Head of Two Thousand
five Hundred Nairs to join our Army; – these Troops belong to the
Rajahs in alliance with us vizt. the Cartanad, the Cottiote, the
Cherica, and the Corga Rajahs, who have all been cruelly oppressed
for some years past by the Tyranny of Tippoo Saib, and now are come to
join the British Forces to revenge their injuries upon him, and to be
reinstated in the possession of their Lands and Property so long
withheld from them by him. — Our little Army, Europeans and Sepoys
altogether amount to about Four Thousand Fighting Men; and the late
reinforcement of the Troops of the Rajahs in alliance, makes our force
now very respectable. —
Decr. 12.
Sunday. General Abercromby with his Suite and Staff arrived in Camp from
Tellicherry, and affirmed the command of the Army, now ready to move on
any Service. —
Decr. 14.
Tuesday. — Early this morning, as soon as the Tents were
Struck and the Baggage loaded, agreeable to the Orders of the preceding
day, the Line moved forward towards the Enemy in Column of Half
Companies from the Right; the Field Pieces attached to Corps and
Battalions in the front of the Heads of Columns of Corps, and the Park
of Artillery marched in the center between the Right and Left Brigades:
— the General with his Suite preceded the front Column of the
Right Brigade; — in this order the Army marched, flanked by the
Nairs, (the Troops of the Rajahs in alliance) from the Ground it
occupied near Egar about Six OClock in the Morning, and moved forward
for some time without being molested by the Enemy, who were observed
strongly posted on the Heights to the Southward and Eastward of
Cananore, fortified with Redoubts of Masonry and Stockadoes [sic] Forts
to cover them; — Our Line moved on a Height parallel to their
Right; about Nine OClock, after a very slow march of about two miles,
the Front Halted on a Hill, at the termination of which and within about
Fifteen Hundred Yards was situated the Fort of Avery with a few Pieces
of Cannon in it and defended by Tippoos Troops; — the Line
immediately formed and loaded; Our Right extended to the left of Avery
to the brow of the Hill, our center was opposite to the Enemy's Right,
and our left extended to a Ridge of Hills on the Flanks of their Right;
a deep creek or valley ran Parallel to our front, between us and the
Enemy Posted on the opposite Height of Carley Hill, at the termination
of which was situated a Strong Fort called Carley; to dislodge the Enemy
from these two Forts was found necessary to be effected; before the
Troops could enter upon any other operations; [sic] a small Battery was
for this purpose immediately errected [sic] near the Right of the Line
to reduce the Fort of Avery, to which Three Eighteen Pounders were
brought up by the Elephants and in about an hour opened upon the Fort;
but the distance being too great for battering in Breach, our shot did
no execution; the fire was, however, kept up from our Battery for some
time, and was very smartly return'd from the Enemy from Avery Fort, but
their Guns were so badly directed that few of their Shot did us any
hurt, most of them having come a great way over out Line; — the
Fort of Carley opened its fire from Two Guns upon the Center of our
line; but, without effect, their shot falling short of the front of our
line about Three Hundred Yards; some of the Enemy Posted opposite to our
Center Sniped from the Jungle in the Valley a good deal at our Line and
a number of their shot lighted close to our Mens Feet, but none were
touched, except one Man of the 77th. who had a
Biscuit that was in his Pocket, broke to Pieces by a Spent Musquet Ball;
a number of Rockets were thrown by the Enemy also at our Line, without
doing us any injury. —
About Eleven OClock, the Enemy made a very spirited attack on our own
Right with Rockets and Musquetry, with a view to Possess themselves of
the Battery raised against Avery Fort, which the Nairs very gallantly
repulsed, and obliged them very soon to retire with loss without
approaching near enough to hurt our line or occasion its moving; a great
many of the Enemy were killed during this attack, and our Allies the
Nairs lost a number of Men also, killed and wounded during the conflict
and before they obliged the Enemy to retreat under Cover of the Fire of
their Guns from Avery Fort. — About Three OClock in the afternoon,
the General finding that the Battery was errected [sic] at too great a
distance to demolish Avery Fort, order'd the Guns to cease firing
altogether, and the Line to ly [sic] upon their Arms during the rest of
the day and ensuing night; this day was remarkably warm indeed, our Men,
however, tho' standing under Arms the whole day, fortunately did not
suffer from the extreme heat of the Sun. —
I was warned in the Evening, with two Subalterns, and Sixty Men of our
Regiment, for a Working Party to attend the Chief Engineer; several
other Parties under the command of Subalterns were order'd from the Line
to join mine which they did at Sun–set at the Battery errected
[sic] today, where we waited untill [sic] it was dark to prevent the
Enemy from seeing us; the Enemy were in the mean time order'd to Pile up
their Arms and take off their Accoutrements, and being shortly
afterwards Served out with Working Tools, they were set to work to dig
Earth and fill Sand Bags for constructing a New Battery nearer Avery
Fort by Four Hundred Yards than the first one raised; the enemy fired a
good deal in the direction of the Place where the Men were at Work, and
One Man of the 77th. was slightly wounded in
the Shoulder; as soon as sufficient number of Sand Bags were filled and
the Spot for errecting [sic] the Battery fixed upon, the Party were
ordered by the engineer to carry all the materials to the place which
were immediately complied with and the constructing of the Battery was
commenced about Twelve OClock; the night was as clear – it being
moon light, that the Enemy, who were advanced so close to us that we
could hear them speak, saw very plainly, what we were about, and kept up
a very heavy fire of Musquetry upon us during the whole night from the
moment they saw us advance with the Materials for raising the Battery;
the whole of the Party, Europeans and Sepoys, under my command behaved
remarkably well, working hard and very steadily notwithstanding the very
galling fire from the Enemy: – One Poor Sepoy was mortally wounded
just as he was laying down his Sand Bag on the Ground; except this Man,
who died next morning of his wounds, I had no more of my Party hurt,
which was surprising considering the unremitting heavy fire kept up by
the Enemy. — About Three in the morning when the Battery was
almost finished, a fresh working Party was sent from the Line to relieve
mine, and I consequently marched off with my Working Party (who were
very much fatigued with hard working) to the Line where I dismissed them
to repose themselves for a few hours.
Decr. 15.
Wednesday. The new Battery now advanced within Breaching distance of
Avery Fort, being completely finished early this morning and the Guns
brought up, a heavy fire commenced from three Eighteen Pounders at Seven
OClock upon Avery Fort, which return'd our Fire for some time pretty
warmly; but in about an hour was totally silenced, and a great part of
the Walls of the Fort demolished; and on a Party being advanced with
Cannon to Storm, the Enemy abandoned the Works with precipitation.
At the same time; the Left Brigade advanced in Line, passed a Valley in
their Front, and without halting, possessed themselves of the Heights of
Carley, on which a large Body of the Enemy was posted, who made but a
very short stand behind their Stockadoes [sic] and Dykes, while our
Brigade advanced up the Hill rapidly in Line and drove the Enemy before
them, who took shelter under the Fire of Carley Fort; from whence they
retired through Cananore to their Camp at Night.
In the course of the Night of the 15th., a
Battery was raised within Breaching distance of the Fort at Carley,
which surrendered at [**] OClock.
Decr. 16.
We were now in possession of all the heights to the Southward of
Cananore, and the situation of Tippoo's Troops became to them
particularly alarming: if they remained, by a short march we posted
ourselves on strong Ground between Billipatam River and Cananore, and
effectually shut them up: – if they abandoned their strong Ground,
and attempted to retire, it was impossible they could cross the River
before our Army came up with them. — Thus circumstanced, they
offered to capitulate; in the Evening the articles were agreed on, and
Hostages were sent by the Bibbee of Cananore up to Tellicherry, and by
Tippoos General into our Camp; the terms they stipulated were, that they
should lay down their Arms, engage not to serve again during the War;
and deliver up all Circer [sic](Government) but keep all Private
Property. —
Decr. 17.
Friday. Early this morning the Army moved forward and occupied the
Heights above Cananore and the Enemy's Camp; and as soon as our line
formed in front of and facing their Encampment, they marched out
opposite to the Left of our Line, where they laid down their Arms, to
the amount of between Four or Five Thousand Fighting Men,
besides a Prodigious number of Followers; and after this humiliating
ceremony was over, they marched along the Front of our Line, to a Place
alloted [sic] for them on the right, where a Guard was placed over them
and proper Provisions supplied to them untill [sic] they were sent away
to their own Country. — A Flag of Truce was then sent to the Fort
of Cananore, which the Bibbee immediately surrendered at discretion; and
Capt. Wiseman with Twelve Companies of his
Battalion was ordered to take Possession of it. — At the same time
Major Dow was detached with the Flank Corps and Two Field Pieces to
Billipatam Fort, on the Banks of the River of that name, which also with
its Garrison of Eighty Men surrendered on the same terms as the rest of
Tippoos Troops. — There were taken on this occasion, Two of
Tippoo's Head Generals, vizt. Mier Mahomed, the
Commander in chief, and Seid Mahamood, the second in command; several
Officers and about Five Thousand Fighting Men; — Thirty Four Stand
of Colours, Two Field Pieces, and about Four Thousand Muskets. —
The loss of the Enemy in killed and wounded on this occasion must have
been considerable; but could not be exactly ascertained, as it is the
custom among the Mahometans [sic] to bury their dead as soon as they are
killed. — Our loss was very small when the value and importance of
our late success and acquisition is considered: the whole of our killed
and wounded on this occasion, in the Europeans, Sepoys, and (of our
allies) the Nairs did not exceed Ninety; no Officers were killed, or
wounded, excepting Mr. Cochrane, Surgeon to the
2d. Battn. of Native
Infantry, who was struck by a spent Cannon shot on the Breast slightly,
which bruised and stunned him a good deal, but not dangerously. Our
Prize money upon this occasion is not likely to be much: – The
Bibbee being allow'd to keep all her Private Property, and she took care
we should not find Treasure or Publick [sic] Stores in the Town or Fort
of Cannanore, [sic] having, as soon as she heard that she was to be
attacked, sent off all her valuables to the Lacadive [sic] Islands,
which belong to her; a good deal of Grain is likely, from what we are
told to be found between Cananore and Billipatam, which with the Guns,
Arms, Stores and Circar Horses already taken from the Enemy, will amount
to a little Money. — In the Evening, the Line of Encampment being
mark'd out, and our Tents and Baggage being brought up to the new
Ground, the Tents were Pitched. Our Line of Encampment was on a Ridge of
hills, about a mile from the Town of Cananore, fronting nearly north
East; our Right towards the Ghauts and Left to the Sea, covering the
Town and Fort of Cananore. — The Advanced Corps under Major Dow,
encamped on the Banks of Billipatam River, about Five Miles in our
Front. — As soon as the Tents were Pitched and the Regt. dismissed, I took a walk along with Capt. Whitelocke to see the Town and fort of Cananore.
— The Town stands at the Bottom of a very fine Bay a beautiful
Situation and surrounded by a very fine rich Country; the Bibbee's
Durbar or Palace is a very good Building, something in the English
stile; [sic] the rest are rather indifferent; the Town is large but the
Streets are all very narrow; there are a great many Mosques or Temples
in different Parts of the Town, in which the Moormen Perform their daily
ablutions and worship. We walked through the Town and along a fine Beach
to the Fort, which is built of stone and surrounded with a wet Ditch,
and is tho' not regular, a very strong Fortification: – its of a
Triangular form and situated on a Point of Land that stretches into the
Sea on the right of the Town. — The Bibbee or Queen of Cananore
was at this time in her House within the Fort, not a very elegant one;
but we could not be gratified with a sight of Her Majesty, as she was
shut up in her most retired Apartment, mourning the loss of her lately
deceased Husband, Ally Rajah, who had died on the night of the Day
(14th.) we came before Avery Fort; and it was
strongly suspected that he was carried off by Poison by the Private
directions of his now afflicted consort, and the reason assigned is,
that he was so strongly attached to the interest of Tippoo Saib that he
never would hear of or allow the Bibbee to surrender the Fort of
Cananore to the British Troops while he was alive; they found it,
therefore, necessary to save many lives and the Fort being taken by
Storm, to dispatch the poor old Rajah. After a pleasant walk returned to
Camp, and just came in time to mount the Out Line Picquet of our
Brigade. — My Friend, Surgeon Colin Anderson and myself mess and
live together in One Tent, and enjoy one another's society very
comfortably.
Decr. 20.
Monday. — The Circar Horses captured from the Enemy were this day
sold by the Prize Agents at Publick [sic] Auction; at which I purchased
a very pretty chestnut coloured Mare, between Five and Six year old and
between fourteen and Fifteen Hands high, for Ninety Rupees; I have got
the loan of a very elegant Saddle and Bridle from my old chum Honble.
Lt. Cochrane, so that I am now handsomely
Mounted, – and I am lucky enough to have hired a very good
Horsekeeper, whom I procured among the Prisoners of War lately taken;
and also a Pair of very good Bullocks for Eighteen Rupees to carry our
Tent. — The Commander in chief left Camp this Evening and embark'd
at Cananore on board the Phoenix Frigate Capt.
Byron, in which he went down to the Southward on a visit to Lieut. Colonel Hartley's Detachment now at Ferokabad on
the Paniana River distant about Sixty Miles; the intention and object of
this visit is supposed to be, to settle some business, previous to that
Detachment joining us here. — The Pheonix [sic] Frigate, and her
zealous and indefatigable Commander, Capt.
Byron has attended all our operations, and co–operated with our
little Army ever since our arrival on the Malabar Coast.
Decr. 24.
The Commander in chief returned to Camp. I went out today on a visit to
Billipatam Camp, where I agreed and settled with Captain Montresor, to
act for him, as Paymaster to the 77th. Regiment
during the continuance of the War, as he could not act in that capacity
himself on account of his being detached with the Light Infantry; I
accordingly received his Books, and took upon myself the duties and
responsibility of Regimental Paymaster from the 24th. day this Month of
December 1790.
Decr. 26.
The Line changed Ground to the Left this morning about Half a mile,
preserving the same Front as formerly.
Decr. 27.
Capt. Oakes with his Battn. of Sepoys and Two Companies of the 1st. Bombay E. Regt. (Mc.Donald's & Cameron's) a Detachment of Artillery and
Two Field Pieces, marched from Camp this morning to the Southward, in
order to reinstate the Cartanad Rajah in his former Possessions,
part of which being still in the Possession of Tippoo's Troops vizt. Barrygurry and Cottipore Forts — the last is
his Capital and this Detachment is now sent to take both Places. —
Decr. 29.
I wrote letters of this date, to Bombay, Per the Worcester Indiaman
which sailed this Evening, to Mr. Bruce, Mr. Henshaw, Lt. Hill 75th.
Regt., & Ensn. Whitla 77th. Regt., on business as
Paymaster to the Regiment.
Accounts were received in Camp that Lieut.
Genl. Earl Cornwallis the Governor General and
Commander in chief in India, arrived at Madras with his Suite about the
middle of this month from Calcutta, in the Vestal Frigate, in order to
take upon himself the command of the Grand Army and direction of
carrying on the War.
 
Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 – 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.196–225. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #104–118].
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