Star.
London, England, 1802-07-31 00:00:00

EAST INDIA AFFAIRS.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER OF HIS
MAJESTY'S 73D REGIMENT.
Gouty, February 4, 1802.
I little thought, when I was detailing to you the
unfortunate bufinefs at Pandallamcourchy*, that
I fbould be a witnefs to, and fuffercr by, a bufi-
nefs of the fame kind, though not quite fo tragical,
yet ferious to the 73d regiment.
In Oflober laft the ceded country being declared
perfetlly quiet and fettled, the troops were order-
ed into quarters, when it fell to the lot of the 73d
regiment to be divided. Five Companies under
Colonel MONEYPENNY were fent into this garrifon,
and the other five went with General CAMPBELL
to the head quarters of the diftriet, about 5o miles
W. from this called Bellarrie ; being attached to
Flank Companies, I remained with the Command.
ing Officer of the corps. About the beginning of
the laft month a fmall detachment was formed
here of fix Companies of Sepoys, two troops of
Native Cavalry, and fome Artillery, &c. We had
been fo accuftomed to things of this fort that it
created no kind of curiofity, not even to enquire
where it was going to. They, however, marched
towards Bellarrie, and were met half way by Ma-
jor STRACHAN with two troops of the 25th Dra-
goons and two of Native Cavalry, making alto.
gether fix troops of Cavalry, fix companies of Se-
poys, fame Artillery, &c.
They marched at three o'clock, P. M. on the
13th ult. and continued fo to do all night. Early
in the morning the cavalry arrived at and fur-
rounded a fmall ftrong fort in the poffeftion of a
number of Polygars, who had a few days before
murdered fome Bramins in the employ of our Col-
lectors, a crime of additional magnitude from their
being facred charaaers. Major STRACHAN imme-
diately attacked the place ; and the galloping guns
(6-pounders) of the 25th Dragoons being brought
no to the Pate. they encleavnared to blow it men.

lint to nn purpofe, and in a very Mort time there
were fo many killed and wounded that he was
obliged to retire, and wait for thc arrival cf the
Infantry.
Among the wounded was a Lieutenant DADS
of the Native cavalry, fence dead.
On the arrival of the infantry, the fort was again
attacked in two places with an afioniiiiing
perleve-
rance that lafted about three hours, when a Cap-
tain MAITLArb of the Company's fervice, a very
fine Young man, being killed, Major Sraacii:.:a
and CRANE wounded, and upwards of 5o Euro-
peans and Natives killed and wounded, was
deemed molt alviiable to draw off.
The foregoing was the account which reached
this on the 16th ultimo, with the addition, Loss-.
ever, that cur troops had furroUnded die Flacz lo
completely, that not a man crude efcape.
On the t 7th orders arrived from General Ca si r-
BELL, for our flank companies, encreafed to 103
each, to march immediately under our worthy
Commandant, Colonel MONEYPENNY, which we
did at half-pall three o'clock the fame afternoon,
and did not halt till we arrived at the place at nine
o'clock the following morning, a diitance of 5o
miles to the N. W. of this. A few hours after our
five companies from Bellarie arrived. The 19th
was appropriated to ref' and reconnoitring, and
on the zoth we attacked the place in the following
manner :—Colonel MONEYPENNY, with thc grena.
diers and two battalion companies of the 73d, fome
Sepoys, and four 6-pounders artillery, attacked
near the main gate. Major Siltachea, with the
light company, and two battalion companies of the
73d, fome Sepoys, and four 6-pounders artillery,
&c. attacked on a face of the fort to the right of
the main gate, and Major Mec Dom Atli, (73d re-
giment), with his own battalion company, fome
Sepoys and two 3-pounders artillery, &c. was to
have attacked a face of the fort oppofite to the main
gate (by tnillake he made it on the wrong face).
The fignal was the firft gun from his fide, which
was confidered more as a feint than a real attack,
although his orders were to get in if he could.
It was fired about a quarter before fix o'clock,
14 after day-break, and the different attacks be-
ing previoufly oppofite their fcveral points, we ad.
vanced from 300 yards till dole under the walls.
The objca was with the 6-pounders to knock off as
much of the parapet as would make our ladders
reach the top, and then to cfcaladc. In about an
hour the wall was deemed prafticable, and the
word being given, we advanced with the ladders
under the heavieft fall of large hones I ever law,
which killed and wounded many officers and men.
We however perfevered, and the leading men had
gained the top of the ladders, four in number, when
they were oppofed by filch a holt of pikes as tum-
bled them off as fart as they afeended,many rifking
their necks by jumping off to Cave themfelves from
being fpeared through the body. The misfortune
was, that the fpears or pikes ufed were fufficiently
long to reach any part of the rampart, the men
ufing them being concealed under the ramparts, and
out of the reach of (hot, the only defence our men
had to oppofe to them. You may form fome idea
of the helplefs fituation of a foldier on a ladder,
holding himfelf on with one hand, and his mufket
in the other. On experiencing the above, we again
brought up the 6-pounders, and endeavoured to
make a larger breach, every now and then making
frefh attempts to get over, in the courfe of which
a great deal of individual bravery was (hewn by
different men, in oppofing their perfons to and
battling with the pikes ; but it was all to no pur-
pole ; the enemy were determined, and knew the
tlrength of their fituation and weapons, and that
the whole of the time our men were dropping by
a fmart fire from the baflions, which commanded
and flanked the breach. We had continued attempt
after attempt for three hours, when a large (tone
from the infide (truck me on the fide of the head,
in the ad of encouraging the men to make another
trial.

I was fent bleeding to the rear. It was fo ex-
traordinary a wound that the furgeons would not
be convinced, but that it was by a ball, and that it
had lodged in my head, till the man uho,ftw the
Rone ftrike me, came down likewife wounded, and
affured them it was by a flone. The wound was
in an angular Nape, with a large round hole in the
centre, and which occafioned the doubts of the
furgeons. I fuppofe it mutt have been occafioned
by a projeaion in the Hone. It cut clean through
my hat and to my &till, which was much bruited
but not fraCtured. lam told the attacks conti-
nued about half an hour longer, when all the fix-
pounder ammunition, upwards of too° rounds, be-
ling expended, and upwards of tso of all defcrip-
tions killed and wounded, and no probability of
getting into the place without a better breach,
General CAMPBELL ordered the troops off.—Our
fors in the 73d alone was found to be Colonel MO.
NEYPENNY, Major M'DONALD, Lieutenant THOM.
sos, and myfelf wounded, and 65 Serjeants and
Rank and File killed and wounded.—l was fent
in here a few days ago with other wounded.
There is a Grenadier now in the hofpital with fix
pike wounds in his body, which he got at the fame
moment in attempting to gain the top of the wall.
Had the breach at Seringapatam been defended
by half the bravery (hewn by thole Polygars we
llsould not have entered fo eafily as we did. 'Some
heavy guns were fent from this, with which on
the 3oth ultimo the place was breached, (formed
and taken, without a man on our fide being hurt,
and, as you may fuppofe, every male put to death
(children scepted.)--The foregoing is anc :her
inftance of the mifguided pat finiony of the Icon.
Company's Government in this Country. !lad
the Government of Fort St. George complied w ith
General CAMPBELL'S requifition many months
ago, of fending him proper batter
lives of many brave fellowswould h
who might hereafter have been of cl
to their country in a more ardur
caufe.

On reading over my detail, I find
obferving that the circurnflance attei
Pr NsY'sattackwere nearly the lam,

as for Major M.DoN AIM'S, with lad,
for the walls, and POP-GUNS to hr

4nnit• .chat remla

1

IMF

tin, guns the
avelnen laved,
cticntial fervice
ions and baler
•,
I have omitted
ending bloc E Y.
,•
te as our's; and
Ldders too Short
)reach them, I
- • •