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1799

The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War

The year 1799 would be a significant one for Lachlan Macquarie. He took part in the British military expedition against Tipu Sultan and his island fortress at Seringapatam. The capture of the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore and the death of Tipu in the fighting, signified the end of effective opposition to British expansion in South India, and marked the real beginning of the consolidation of the British empire in India.

As an officer on the General Staff of General Stuart's Bombay Army Lachlan Macquarie was in a unique position to observe the campaign and be privy to the inner workings of the command and strategic planning for the final assault on Seringapatam on 4 May 1799. His journal is an important eye-witness account of the fighting in the months of March-May.

Letter:
15 March 1799
Macquarie's unique eye-witness account of the six-hour battle at Sedaseer (near Siddapura) on 6 March 1799 between the Bombay Army advancing from Cannanore and Mysorean forces under Tipu's direct command. Heavy fighting in thick jungle terrain, with severe losses and casualties to Tipu's army.

Notes For A Journal:
14 February — 1 June 1799
Lachlan Macquarie's summary chronology - to assist him in preparing his journal of the campaign and siege of Seringapatam.

Journal:
10 April — 5 May 1799
Lachlan Macquarie's account of the campaign and siege of Seringapatam.

Additional transcripts and historical details are also available at the associated website: Seringapatam 1799

seringapatam1799

In June Macquarie accompanied General Stuart by ship to Madras; and afterwards received permission to visit Calcutta. Here he visited friends and acquaintances, and then travelled 400 miles up the Ganges to Kissengunge. After returning to Calcutta he sailed back to Bombay on board the Royal Navy Frigate La Forte in December 1799.

January
Sun 6 13 20 27
Mon 7 14 21 28
Tue 1 8 15 22 29
Wed 2 9 16 23 30
Thu 3 10 17 24 31
Fri 4 11 18 25
Sat 5 12 19 26
February
Sun 3 10 17 24
Mon 4 11 18 25
Tue 5 12 19 26
Wed 6 13 20 27
Thu 7 14 21 28
Fri 1 8 15 22
Sat 2 9 16 23
March
Sun 3 10 17 24 31
Mon 4 11 18 25
Tue 5 12 19 26
Wed 6 13 20 27
Thu 7 14 21 28
Fri 1 8 15 22 29
Sat 2 9 16 23 30
April
Sun 7 14 21 28
Mon 1 8 15 22 29
Tue 2 9 16 23 30
Wed 3 10 17 24
Thu 4 11 18 25
Fri 5 12 19 26
Sat 6 13 20 27
May
Sun 5 12 19 26
Mon 6 13 20 27
Tue 7 14 21 28
Wed 1 8 15 22 29
Thu 2 9 16 23 30
Fri 3 10 17 24 31
Sat 4 11 18 23
June
Sun 2 9 16 23 30
Mon 3 10 17 24
Tue 4 11 18 25
Wed 5 12 19 26
Thu 6 13 20 27
Fri 7 14 21 28
Sat 1 8 15 22 29
July
Sun 7 14 21 28
Mon 1 8 15 22 29
Tue 2 9 16 23 30
Wed 3 10 17 24 31
Thu 4 11 18 25
Fri 5 12 19 26
Sat 6 13 20 27
August
Sun 4 11 18 25
Mon 5 12 19 26
Tue 6 13 20 27
Wed 7 14 21 28
Thu 1 8 15 22 29
Fri 2 9 16 23 30
Sat 3 10 17 24 31
September
Sun 1 8 15 22 29
Mon 2 9 16 23 30
Tue 3 10 17 24
Wed 4 11 18 25
Thu 5 12 19 26
Fri 6 13 20 27
Sat 7 14 21 28
October
Sun 6 13 20 27
Mon 7 14 21 28
Tue 1 8 15 22 29
Wed 2 9 16 23 30
Thu 3 10 17 24 31
Fri 4 11 18 25
Sat 5 12 19 26
November
Sun 3 10 17 24
Mon 4 11 18 25
Tue 5 12 19 26
Wed 6 13 20 27
Thu 7 14 21 28
Fri 1 8 15 22 29
Sat 2 9 16 23 30
December
Sun 1 8 15 22 29
Mon 2 9 16 23 30
Tue 3 10 17 24 31
Wed 4 11 18 25
Thu 5 12 19 26
Fri 6 13 20 27
Sat 7 14 21 28

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