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Camp Ballangaddie 30th. Jany 1815
Dear Father
 At length our long expected expedition
has taken place, and the Division to which I
belong is at the moment advanced, upwards of fifty
miles into the interior of the enemy's country, without
meeting with the smallest opposition. The Army
is divided into eight Divisions, which have entered the
Country at different points. To ours has been allotted the
most difficult route, tho' we have hitherto met with
few obstacles in the road, at least we think little of
them, compared with those which our guides inform us
we have to encounter. We remain here two days
for the purpose of cutting down our Palanquins which
we have brought with us at a heavy expence, to serve
as our bed and as a protection against the rain, and the
various damps of night. We are told it will be altogether
impossible to carry them in their present state,
from the narrowness, and depth of the defiles, and the
difficult ascent of the Hills. I may rather say mountains
for one that we have to pass over will take us a whole
day, having a march up it of six miles before we
gain the summit, and it is so steep in parts that
doubts are entertained as to the possibility of taking
horses up. Here we expect to be opposed as the Candians
have several forts on the Hill, which might defy all
the force we could bring against them would they but stand
their ground. But this they never do, after firing a shot
or two if our troops but advance, off they are helter
skelter the devil take the hindmost. They care but
little for our taking their guns as they are well
aware that we have not the means of taking
them on with us; all that can be done is to spike
them. Our prospects of gaining much honor in fighting
so cowardly and despicable an enemy, are not very sanguine as they
never shew themselves in open fight. Their manner
of warfare is certainly well suited to the nature
of the country. In the thickest parts of
the jungle, impenetrable by an human being but such monkey
like fellows as they are, holes about four feet in depth
are made at a short distance from the road, from these
safe retreats are made in case of need, and from these
they fire upon troops in passing. They then fall down
into these holes where they are perfectly secure
from all attacks and in this position they [***?]
and continually harass the march. But for all this
we look forward to gain something by the war.
As the whole treasury has been removed
to a fortified place, which lies directly in our
route, this if we gain possession of will
repay us for all the toils we have to undergo.
It must be immense as he is one of the most
rapacious and avaricious [***?] on the face of the
earth, his tyranny and oppression is such as
to have caused the revolt of almost all his
provinces, and they have placed themselves
under the protection of this Government.
This is the first instance of disaffection to
their king than has happened for several generations.
In this respect we certainly have undertaken
the war with brighter prospects of success
than any that have gone before us,
still I cannot but fear that we shall fail
from the same cause that all others have done
"The badly supplying of the troops from the
difficulty in transporting provisions on bullocks
across a Country almost impassable
by man." The moment we lose those comforts
so necessary in such a climate as this for
the preservation of the health of the troops,
that moment the game is up, and we may
take ourselves off a little farther than we
came. The fever is sure to begin and the
poor fellows will drop off by dozens
could we but escape this there can be
no doubt as to our ultimate success, as
[**?] is the only enemy we have to contend
with. I have some hopes that we may be able
to get on our supplies, as the Head men and the
inhabitants of the different villages through
which we have passed, have evinced every disposition
to assist us, they have supplied us with every
necessary in the way of eatable that could have
procured had we been in the British territory,
thus far all has been smooth sailing for we have
lived more like people on a party of pleasures
than those about to fight an enemy[.] [S]hould any thing
of consequence transpire before Captain Blyth
sails I shall not fail to inform you of every
particular. In my last letter to you I said it was my
intention to draw on you for forty Guineas – this I have
done in consequence of the letter received by the Wyndam
informing me that you had authorised Birch
to back my Bill on Mr Cookney for Fifty Guineas
annually. I return you many thanks for your goodness
but I hope my dear father you will not think
that I am asking for more than I really need when I
request you to make a small addition to the above
mentioned sum. I am sure you will not refuse me my
request when you find by enquiry how inadequate
our pay is to meet all the expences we are compelled
to run into by giving parties to the Civilians
and Ladies of the Island to whose Houses we are continually
asked[;] consequently if we have the respectability of our
corps at heart we cannot but return the compliments
I hope should it be my [**?] to be put on half
pay you will immediately let me know what [**?]
line of conduct I am to pursue[.] With remembrance
to all Friends and Love to Maria
(Tell her the Cockatoo is well)
Believe me
My dear Father
Your truly affectionate Son
D Wentworth
Provenance:
Wentworth Papers Vol. 1.
Letter from Lieut. D'Arcy Wentworth to D'Arcy Wentworth, Snr. 30 January 1815.
Original held in Mitchell Library Sydney
(ML Ref: A755; ff. 7-9).
Addressed to:
D'Arcy Wentworth Esqr
Principal Surgeon
New South Wales
To The Care
of Captain Blyth
Manuscript Transcripts
Transcript prepared by Robin Walsh
Macquarie University Library, Sydney, Australia.
© 2003
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