The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-26 00:00:00

GENERAL BOWSER.

This distinguished Officer first served as an
Ensign at the siege and reduction of Tanjore, in
the year 1773, then garrisoned by Dutch and na,
tive troops ; and for three years after he was at
the siege and capture of many forts in the north-
ern circars. In 1778 he was Acting Adjutant to a
battalion of Sepoys at the celebrated siege of
Pondicherry ; and the following year he served
in the campaign in the Guntoor circar. In 1780
he was a Lieutenant in a European grenadier
company, in the army of Sir Hector Munro.—
He marched from Conjeveram with the rest of
the grenadiers of the army, and joined Colonel
Baillie, under whom, in the memorable engage.
ment with Hyder Ally's army, in which Colonel
Baillie was defeated, Lieutenant Bowser receiv-
ed no less than eight severe wounds ; and being
taken prisoner was confined in Seringapatarn
for three years and eight months,, three years
and four months of which he was ,loaded
with irons. In. 1784 he obtained his liberty,•
and received the temporary command of a bat-
talion of Sepoys, to collect the revenue of an un-
healthy district. This service, his wounds, and
long and cruel imprisonment, impaired his con-
stitution, so that a return to England became
necessary. Here he remained three years, and
returned to India in 1789, In 1792 he serv-
ed as Captain of a European grenadier company,'
under Sir W. Meadows; was at the reduction'
of the Coimbetore country, and the storming of
the hill fort of Dindegall, of which important
place he was left in command. Without solici-
tation, and in consequence of the valuable intel•
ligence he communicated to Lord Cornwallis,
that Nobleman appointed Colonel Bowser to the
permanent command of a sepoy battalion, and
soon after to the command of Kytar. In 1798
he .served under General Braithwaite, at the
second siege of Pondicherry, after which he re-
turned to his station at Kytar. We next find
Colonel Bowser employed with his corps against
the refractory Rajah of Ramnad, who was taken.
prisoner with such dispatch that the Lieutenant-
Colonel obtained the thanks of Lord Hobart in
Council. In the year 1796 he embarked with
his corps in open boats to assist in the reduction
of Ceylon. Here he planned and executed the
reduction of the island and fort of Calpenteen,
by landing the right wing of his battalion from
open boats, although the fort mounted 22 guns..
Ile re-embarked his corps in the same boats, and.
proceeded to Colombo, at the siege of which he
served. As soon as his service at Ceylon was at
an end, lie was selected by General, now Lord
Harris, to reduce the French force at Hydra bad,
under General Perron. This being successfully
performed, he obtained the command of a brigade
under the Duke of Wellington, then the Hon. Col.
A. Wellesley. Seringapatam being taken, Col.
8.. was selected to command a force of the Com-
pany?s army, and that' of the Nizam, to take
possession 'of that pail of the country which
had been ceded to' his Highness. The Killedar
of the almost impregnable fortress of Gooty,
Tippoo's principal garrison against the Nizam
and- the Mahrattas, having refused to surrender
the place upon any terms, General Bowser storm-
ed thelortified village, and having made a prac-
tical breach in the lower fort, whose walls were
of solid and exquisite masonry, from 30 to 40
feet high, and from 20 to 25 feet thick, and
mounting 57 guns, he forced the garrison, to sur-
render at discretion. After returning to Hydra-
bad he was placed at the head of a granadier
battalion of Sepoys, a regiment of cavalry, three
battalions of Sepoys, with guils,'Stc, a body of
Mahratta and Nizam horse, "and joined Colonel
Wellesley against Dhoondiah Waugh. After a
variety of other important services, finding his
health again impaired, he returned to England in
1803. General Bowser received the thanks of
all under whom he served, and had the honour
and the happiness to enjoy the full confidence of
he Indian Government. In 1820 he went out

again to India, and was placed in the command
of the Mysore division of the Hon. Company's
army, but was lately called to the Command.in.
Chief of the Madras army on the death of Sir
Alexander Campbell, who had previously corn-

mantled it. The following is a copy of the gene-
ral orders he issued on that event taking
place :--

GENERAL ORDERS.

HEAD-QUARTERS-CHOULTRY PLAIN, BANGALORE,
DEC. 15, 1821.
GENERAL ORDERS BY LIEUTENANT-GENERAL BOWSER,

COMMANDING TILE AILMY-IN-CHIEF.
Bangalore, Dec. 15, 1825.
Lieutenant-General Bowser succeeds to the command of the
Madras army with no common feelings of pride and satisfaction;
its long established character and increasing tame he has wit.
nessed through every rank. The high principles of military
pride and devotion to the service, which have long characterise
this army, and which were supported and imprdssed by the late
lamented and distinguished Commander-in-Chief, his Excel.
lency General Sir A. Campbell, Bart. and K.C. 8., with such
energy, as justly to mark the value and ability of that gallant
soldier, who was so devotedly attached to his profession, and' 5G
true a friend to the Madras army : an army in which he had
'served with such enviable reputation, that the Lieutenant-Ge-
neral cannot but express his hope that these principles wily be
strictly attended to, and.he pledges his assurance that he, wilt
not fail in his best endeavours to unite with Sir Alexander
Campbell's professional pride and zeal, his never-ceasing anxiety
for the honour and'interest • of the Madras Army, which will'
long deplore the irreparableloss of such a man and such 'au-
officer.

Lieutenant-General Bowser desires that all orders issued by
his late Excellency General Sir Alexander Campbell, Bart..
K.C.8., may be strictly obeyed, and he feels every confidence
in the zealous support and unceasing attention of the officers of
the army, to maintain its character, for discipline, 'effiCiency,
and obedience.

-•
The late brilliant successes of the army, under the command
.of Brigadier-General Sir Alexander Campbell, K.C.13:, in de-
featidg the Burmese army, in successive attacks on its position
at Rangoon, affords Lieutenant. General Bowser a pleasing 01.
portunity to congratulate his brother officers and soldiers, On ti -e
gallant conduct displayed by their comrades employed on that
service. •

J. 11. S. CONWAY,
Adjutant-General of the Army.

Besides the eight severe wounds Which Lieut.-
General Bowser received at the battle of Conje-
veram, he was once wounded at the siege el
Pondicherry, in 1778, and again at the capture
of the fortress of Gooty.

Ships at 'Market.
iii Newcastle
16* Sunderland

Price.
28s 6d•to 378
34s 3d to 38s Cd

COAL MARKET. MAY 25.
Ships sold

Printed and Published for the PROPRIETORS, at the Sus•
OrricE, No. 112, Strand, by J. B. GIRSTAIRS.