November

Novr. 3.
Sunday!!! — Accounts were received from Calcutta by this day's Post, stating, that, the great and good Marquis Cornwallis lay at the point of Death on the 1st. of the present month at Ghazipore, near Benares, on the Banks of the Ganges! - this indeed is most afflicting news ! —

Novr. 4.
Monday! — The Ship Minerva of this Post arrived this forenoon from Bussora with a Packet, bringing Letters and Newspapers from England down to the 9th. of July! —

I received Letters by this opportunity dated early in June from my much esteemed friends Lestock Wilson Esqr. and Jno. De Ponthieu Esqr. of London, conveying to me the accounts of my recent Promotion to the Lieut. Colonelcy of the 73d. Regiment, and which I now find appeared in the London Gazette of the 1st. of June last. —

But no official intimation of my Promotion having yet reached the Commander in Chief in India, I cannot with propriety apply for Leave to go Home; nor can I with honor and credit avoid joining my old Regiment in the Field — the war against Holkar being now about to commence again in earnest. —

By the Minerva came Passenger from Bussora Lieut. Colonel Hastings Fraser of the 86th. Regt., having come out Overland from England which he left on the 13th. of June, in order to join his Corps in this Country. — This officer very soon after I left England was allowed to Exchange with Colonel Lloyd; who accordingly went into the 10th. Foot in room of Lt. Col. Fraser, and very soon afterwards sold out of the Army entirely. — I find Lt. Colonel Fraser is not particularly anxious to join the 86th. immediately, nor until his Baggage arrives from England by Sea. — His arrival here, therefore, tho' certainly most unlooked for and unexpected, does not in the smallest degree alter or derange my plan of proceeding to join the 86th. Regt. in the Field, for which I mean to set out in a few days.

Novr. 7.
Thursday!!! — The renewal of the War with Holkar being now beyond all doubt, and all my Equipments for the Field being completed, and my Servants, Horses, and Baggage being already shipped on board of a Dhingie for Baroach; I announced yesterday my intention, to the Govr. and the General, of setting out this day to join my Regt. in the Field; the Governor having kindly ordered one of the Company's Cruizers to be in readiness to carry me up as far as Baroach in Guzerat.

I accordingly intended to Embark and to set out from Bombay early this morning; but the Governor having expressed a wish that I would stay until the Bengal Post came in , I did so accordingly. —

At 10,O'Clock the Post came, and brought the Governor an Express from Calcutta, announcing the mournful and lamentable accounts of that great, good, and illustrious amiable Nobleman - The Marquis Cornwallis Governor General and Commander in Chief of British India! - who breathed his last on the 5th. of October at Ghazipore near Benares on the Banks of the River Ganges - an event that must ever be considered as a great and severe Publick National Calamity - as well as an irreparable Private loss to his Family and Friends.

Mr. Duncan felt most poignantly and deeply the irreparable loss of his best Friend and Patron, and I took leave of him in the greatest grief and affliction on account of the lamented death of this great and good Nobleman, so deservedly regretted by all descriptions of People. —

The Colours of the Garrison, and of all the Shipping in the Harbour, were immediately Hoisted Half-Mast-high, and minutes Guns, corresponding with his age, were fired in honor of the Deceased noble and illustrious Governor General whose loss at this momentous crisis every Patriotic British Bosom must sincerely lament and deplore. —

At 1,O'Clock P.M. I embarked on board the Honble. Company's Armed Schooner the Vigilant, commanded by Isaach, a fine old veteran Native Tindal or Captain. —

I was accompanied by Lieut. Henry Jacob of the 86th. Regt., who goes with me to join his Corps. — The Vigilant weighed anchor and sailed immediately on my getting on board, having my Baggage-Boat under her convoy. —

Novr. 13.
Wednesday. — at 5.P.M. after a very pleasant Passage of six days from Bombay, we crossed the Bar at the mouth of and Entered into the great River Nerbudda. —

Novr. 14.
Thursday. — At 1.P.M. Anchored in the River Nerbudda abreast of and close to the Town & Fort of Baroach.

My old friend Doctor Drummond came off immediately in the Custom-Master's Boat to welcome and carry me on shore. — My young Friend and myself accordingly accompanied Doctor Drummond and at Half past 1,O'Clock landed at Baroach.

We proceeded directly to the House of my much esteemed friend Jas. Augs. Grant Esqr. (late Secry. To the Governor of Bombay) now 2d. Judge in Guzerat and residing in Baroach. — We found him at Home waiting our arrival at his House at Amzed Baug, [?] where he received myself and my young Companion in the most cordial and friendly manner possible, and insisted on our living with him during our stay at Baroach. —

Our Servants, Horses, and Baggage were all landed in the course of the afternoon; and having made Isaach the Native Commander of the Vigilant a Pecuniary Present, I gave him his orders to return immediately back to Bombay, giving him a letter for my friend Mr. Money the Superintendant of the Honble. Company's Marine. —

I accompanied my friend Mr. Grant to dine with Mr. & Mrs. Prendergast, who had a large Party, and spent a very pleasant Evening with them. —

Novr. 15.
Friday. — As soon as we had Breakfasted, Mr. Grant accompanied me to call on all the Ladies &Gentlemen now residing at Baroach, all of whom I knew formerly at bombay. — I rode out in the afternoon with Grant and Drummond some distance into the Country, and dined again this day with Mr. and Mrs. Prendergast. —

Novr. 16.
Saturday. — Mr. Grant was so good as to accompany me this morning immediately after Breakfast round the works of the Fort of Baroach, every part of which we visited; and amongst other Places the spot where the gallant General Wedderburn lies buried, who was killed at the first Siege of Baroach, when taken from the Mahrattas in the former War. —

In the afternoon I sent off my Servants and Baggage before me to Baroda, with orders to wait my arrival about half-way. —

I dined today at Home with my friends Grant and Dr. Drummond, who live together very comfortably. —

Novr. 17.
Sunday. — Having taken leave of my friends Mr. Grant and Dr. Drummond last Night, I set out this morning on Horseback at 5,O'Clock, accompanied by my Travelling Companion Lieut. Jacob, and after a very pleasant ride, through a very fine rich well cultivated Country, arrived at the Village of Miergaum, distant 26 Miles from Baroach, about 12,'Clock . — Here we found our Servants and Baggage waiting for us, with a good Breakfast ready prepared for us. — We halted the rest of the day at Miergaum.

Novr. 18.
Monday. — We set out from Miergaum at 5,O'Clock this morning and after a delightful ride through a beautiful rich Country, arrived at the Residency at Baroda, distant 24 Miles from Miergaum, about 11,O'Clock in the forenoon; and were there most kindly welcomed and received by my old and much esteemed friend Major Alexr. Walker the Political Resident at the court of the Guccawar [?] Rajah of Baroda. — Major Walker ordered Breakfast for us immediately, which was most acceptable after our long and hot morning's ride from Miergaum. The Major also insisted upon our living with him at the British Residency during our stay at Baroda.

Novr. 19.
Tuesday. — I visited Lieut. Colonel Woodington Commanding the Troops stationed North of the River Nerbudda in the Province of Guzerat, at his Bungalow in Cantonments near the Town and Fort of Baroda, to report my arrival to him from Bombay so far on my way to join the Army in the Field; and to request that he would, agreeably to the orders transmitted to him by Lieut. Genl. Nicolls, prepare and hold in readiness, as soon as possible, all the officers and men now at Baroda belonging to the Bombay Field Army, to march under my Command to join it. The Colonel accordingly promised to lose no time in collecting the officers and men in question and placing them under my orders; telling me at the same time that he thought they might be ready to march in four or five days. — On my return to the Residency I wrote to M. Genl. Jones Commanding the Bombay Field Army, reporting to him my arrival at Baroda and my intention to march from hence in a few days for the Frontier Station of Dohud with all the officers and men now here belonging to his Army; my intention to wait at Dohud for his further Instructions, in conformity to the orders I had received from Lieut. Genl. Nicolls previous to my leaving Bombay; which directed me not to attempt to stir beyond Dohud until I received orders from M. Genl. Jones so to do; and requesting that he would lose no time in sending me the necessary orders for joining him, as well as point out the readiest and easiest means of doing so from Dohud.

This letter was sent off on the same day by Major Walker the Resident per an Express Cossid to Genl. Jones.

I wrote also this day to my friend Govr. Duncan informing him of my safe arrival at Baroda. —

Novr. 24.
Sunday ! — Lt. Colonel Woodington having yesterday sent me a Return of the officers and men now here belonging to the Army in the Field and placed them under my immediate Command in his Division Orders; I marched them off this morning from Cantonments at 7,O'Clock for Dohud, under the next senior officer to myself Captain Broomhall, with orders to halt and Encamp at Jerode until I should join them in the course of the Day; being obliged to go to the British Residency previous to my final departure to transact some business with Major Walker.

The strength of the Detachment thus placed under my immediate orders consisted of 15 European Commissioned Officers, 2 Native Commissioned Officers, and 388 European &Native Noncomd. Officers &Soldiers, belonging to the different Corps of M. Genl. Jones's Army.

Having Breakfasted with my friend Major Walker and finished all my business at Baroda, I accompanied him to pay a Visit of Ceremony to the Guccawar [?] Rajah at his Palace within the Fort of Baroda. — His Highness received us very graciously, and after a short audience we took our leave of the Rajah. —

I accompanied my friend Major Walker back again to the Residency where I took leave of him and my other friends of his Family. —

At 11,O'Clock, I set out from Major Urquhart's House, in the Major's elegant Bullock-Hackery, to follow the Detachment, accompanied by my young friend Lieut. Jacob. We arrived at Jerode at Two O'Clock, distant 12 Miles from Baroda. — The Detachment had just arrived at their Ground, and were Pitching Tents on the Spot I had directed Capt. Broomhall to occupy, close to the side of a large Tank about a quarter of a mile from the Village of Jerode. — I discharged Major Urquhart's Hackery on my arrival at Jerode, and returned it to him with my best thanks. —

Novr. 25.
Monday. — At 6,O'Clock in the morning, I marched off with the Detachment from Jerode, and after a very hot disageeable march of 15 miles, over rough bad Roads, arrive at 2.P.M. on the South side of the Kalole River, where we took up our Ground. —

Novr. 26.
Tuesday. — Marched off the Detachmt. At 6.a.m. from the Banks of the River Kalole, passed through the Town of that name on the opposite Bank, and at the Town of Godra, marched through it, and Encamped on fine clear Ground near the Town and close to a very large Tank full of good water. — Our march this day for 16 miles all the way between Kalole and Godra was through a beautiful rich Country, good Roads, and finely shaded the greater part of the way. Crossed a large River just before our arrival at Godra, now almost dry. —

Novr. 27.
Wednesday. — Remained all this day at Godra in order to refresh the Troops. — A most daring Robbery was committed late this night by some Plundering Bheels on Lieut. Jacob's Baggage Cart, which was close to my Tent, and over which a Sepoy Sentinel was posted. — But the Sentry having fallen asleep, the Thieves had the opportunity of carrying off their Booty with impunity - and the alarm was given too late to seize them. —

Novr. 28.
Thursday. — Marched from Godra at 6. A.M. and arrive at 11,O'Clock at Ouzawarra [?] - disce. 12 miles, and Encamped near a large Tank of Water.

Novr. 29.
Friday. — Marched off the Detachment from Ouzawarra at 6.a.m. - and after a very pleasant march of 12 Miles, through a finely wooded Country, arrived at 10,O'Clock at Jerry, a pretty little Village; and Encamped a little way to the Right of it close to a Tank full of Water. —

Novr. 30.
Saturday. — At 6.a.m. I marched off the Detachment from Jerry. Passed through a very pretty Village called Comaria [?] at 10 O'Clock about nine Miles from Jerry crossing a large but fordable River near it. — Halted for about an hour in the Jungle close to the Banks of this River to rest the men and give them an opportunity of filling their Canteens with water. —

From this place of halting we had a very hot disagreeable march, over very bad rough Roads, entirely exposed to the Sun from want of Trees, the day being uncommonly hot; and having nine miles more to march to our next Ground, several of the Sepoys were knocked up. —

At 3,O'Clock the Detachment arrived at the Village of Lackercote 18 Miles from Jerry, and Encamped along the Bank of a small River, having a fine large Well of most excellent water on our Right Flank. — Lackercote being only one easy march from the Frontier Station of Dohud, I sent forward an Express Cossid, immediately on my arrival here, to Lieut. Colonel Drummond Commanding at Dohud to inform him of my near approach to that Station, and that I should arrive there tomorrow morning. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 6 July 1804 - 16 March 1807.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A770 pp.263-288. [Microfilm Reel CY300 Frames #373-#386].