BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1818-1826

Kirkee—Seetabuldee—Nagpore—Maheidpore—Corygaum—Nowah—Bhurtpore—Hindoostan—India.

THE SECOND MAHRATTA WAR, 1817-18.

The conclusion of the First Mahratta War of 1803-04 left us nominally at peace with all the ruling Sovereigns in Central and Southern India. At the same time, the result of that campaign had in no way impaired their power for evil. Their armies were, so far as numbers went, enormously powerful, and in a measure well organized and equipped. In most cases they had been drilled by European instructors, and certainly for irregular warfare they constituted a very formidable foe. Although they had accepted peace, it was well known that there was not a ruling Prince in India who would not willingly see our downfall; and in the event of war with one, it was doubtful who we should not find arrayed against us. The Governor-General, then, had to prepare for an alliance of all the central and probably of one or more of the southern rulers. Our possible enemies were the Peishwa, the hereditary chief of the Mahratta Confederacy; Scindia, the Maharajah of Gwalior; Holkar, the Maharajah of Indore; the Maharajah of Nagpore; the Nizam of Hyderabad, in whose dominions there was considerable disaffection; Ameer Khan, a Moslem freebooter, who, though possessing neither territory nor population, had nevertheless a powerful and well-disciplined force at his command; and, lastly, the Pindarees.

It must be borne in mind that at this time we had Subsidiary Forces, composed of native troops, maintained by the different rulers, but officered by Englishmen, at Hyderabad, Nagpore, Poona, and Gwalior; and through these officers, as well as through the Residents at the Courts of these Princes, we were well able to judge of the numbers and value of the forces that could be brought against us. These forces were estimated to be as follows:

With but few exceptions, the cavalry was undisciplined and unorganized, but well mounted, and the men as a rule admirable swordsmen. To combat this possible alliance, the Marquess of Hastings determined to utilize the troops of all three Presidencies, and to take the field in person, and so assume the direction of the operations. The Bengal army would deal with Scindia, and then push to the south and west to assist the troops of the other Presidencies. The Madras troops, with Secunderabad as their base, after assuring the neutrality of the Nizam, would operate from the south, whilst the Bombay army was left to deal with the Peishwa, whose disaffection was beyond doubt.

The Bengal army was composed of four divisions, under the personal command of the Marquess of Hastings. These were commanded respectively by Major-Generals Browne, Donkin, Marshal, and Sir David Ochterlony. Each division comprised one cavalry and two infantry brigades. Of the troops which composed that army, few regiments are left. The 24th Light Dragoons were disbanded shortly after the campaign, and the majority of the native regiments fell away from their allegiance in the unfortunate rebellion of 1857. Of the regiments which went to make up the First Division, the 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) still survive; of the Second Division, the 8th (Royal Irish) Hussars, the 14th (West Yorkshires), and Gardner's Horse are yet on the rolls of the army. The 67th (Hampshires) and the 2nd Gurkhas, with Skinner's Horse, also survive.

The Madras army was under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Hislop. Of its cavalry brigade no representatives remain; of its four infantry brigades we have many survivors—first and foremost, the Royal Scots and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers; then the 1st Madras Europeans, which, with the 17th Madras Infantry (now the 93rd Burmah Infantry), composed the First Brigade. The Second Brigade was made up of three light infantry regiments (native), of which the 63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry and the 74th Punjabis are with us. There were, all told, two regiments of British and six of native infantry.

The Hyderabad Division, commanded by Major-General Doveton, comprised a battalion of the Royal Scots and ten regiments of Madras infantry; whilst the Hyderabad Subsidiary Brigade was made up of a wing of the 1st Madras Europeans (now the Royal Dublins) and three native regiments. Sir John Malcolm commanded the Third Division of the Madras army. It comprised a regiment of Madras cavalry, four battalions of Madras infantry, 4,000 Mysorean horse, and three regiments of what were so long known as the Hyderabad Contingent.

In the neighbourhood of Poonah was Sir Lionel Smith, with the 65th (York and Lancasters), the 1st Bombay Europeans (now the 2nd Royal Dublins), and four regiments of Bombay infantry.

Watching events in Guzerat was General Sir H. Grant Keir, with the 17th Lancers, the 47th (Loyal North Lancashires), and four battalions of Bombay native infantry; whilst at Nagpore was Colonel Adams, with a regiment of Bengal and one of Madras cavalry, and seven battalions of Madras infantry.

Reserve Bombay Division (Brigadier Munro): 22nd Light Dragoons, 7th Madras Cavalry, a battalion composed of the flank companies of the 34th, 53rd, 69th, and 84th Regiments, the 1st Bombay European Regiment, and three battalions of Bombay sepoys.

Prior to the army being put in motion, we had as garrisons at the various capitals, or in their immediate vicinity, the following troops:

At Secunderabad, watching the Nizam, a wing of the Madras European Regiment and three battalions of Madras sepoys.

At Poonah, watching the Peishwa, a detachment of the Bombay European Regiment and four battalions of Bombay sepoys, whilst another detachment of the 65th Foot (York and Lancaster) was on the march as a reinforcement.

At Nagpore were the 6th Bengal Cavalry, the Madras Bodyguard, and two battalions of sepoys.

Kirkee, November 5, 1817.

This honour is borne on the colours of the

Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
102nd Grenadiers.
113th Infantry.
112th Infantry.
123rd Outram's Rifles.

The attitude of the Peishwa's advisers left little room for doubt as to their intentions, and Colonel Burr, who was in command at Poona, took the necessary steps to secure the safety of the Resident and to maintain a hold on the capital of the Mahratta Confederacy. He concentrated his forces at Kirkee, where on November 5 he was attacked by the whole of the Peishwa's army. From a study of the casualties, it would appear that the British regiment was not engaged seriously, and there is no doubt that the brunt of the fighting fell on the Bombay sepoys, who behaved with exemplary steadiness. The result of the day was a serious check to the Peishwa's forces, our losses being inconsiderable. General Lionel Smith now pushed up reinforcements, and assumed command at Poona, where, on the 17th of the month, a second action was fought, known as the Battle of Poona; and though this is not borne on the colours of the regiments engaged, the troops present were awarded the India medal, with a clasp inscribed "Poona." Those who were at both engagements received one clasp, with the names of both actions engraved.

Casualties at the Action at Kirkee, November 5, 1817.

Casualties at the Action at Poona, November 17, 1817.

Seetabuldee, November 26, 1817.

This distinction is borne on the colours and appointments of the Madras Bodyguard and the 61st Pioneers. Colonel Hopeton Scott, who was in command of the troops at Nagpore when hostilities broke out, withdrew his force to the fortified hill of Seetabuldee, in the immediate neighbourhood of Nagpore. He was more fortunately situated than Colonel Burr at Poona, inasmuch as he had under his command a regiment of Bengal cavalry, whose commanding officer was one of those men not rarely met with in our Indian army—a born leader of irregular troops, with no idea of shirking responsibility. On November 26 Colonel Scott found himself attacked by the whole of the Nagpore army, numbering some 18,000 men, with thirty-six guns. His position was naturally a strong one, and the attacks were never pressed home; but his situation was critical, owing to the immense numbers opposed to his small force. The Bengal cavalry were by no means averse to testing the metal of the Nagporeans, and, in spite of express orders not to provoke a conflict, their commander, Captain Fitzgerald, took every opportunity of charging into the masses of the enemy whenever occasion offered, and finally charged down on the flank of the Nagpore infantry as they were recoiling from an attempt to carry the hill by storm, and converted a momentary confusion into a rout. In this he was supported by a small detail of the Madras Bodyguard. Colonel Scott's men had sustained a series of attacks extending over eighteen hours, and a glance at the list of casualties shows that the honour "Seetabuldee" was well earned. More the pity that the cavalry regiment which bore the major part in that day's work no longer exists.

Casualties at Seetabuldee.

Nagpore, December 16, 1817.

On learning of the action at Seetabuldee, Brigadier Doveton pushed on to reinforce Scott, and on December 16 was fought this action, which is borne as an honorary distinction on the colours of the

Royal Scots.
6th Jat Light Infantry.
2nd Q.O. Sappers and Miners.
61st Pioneers.
62nd Punjabis.
81st Pioneers.
83rd Light Infantry.
86th Infantry.
88th Infantry.
97th Infantry.

The brunt of the fighting fell on the Royal Scots, who have ever shown themselves to the front in our Indian wars, and on the Berar Infantry, who were then fighting against their own ruler. The honour is borne by one of the representatives of Russell's brigade, yet, if contemporary returns are to be trusted, all the Hyderabad regiments did well at Nagpore.

With the repulse of the Nagporean army, Doveton's troubles were not at an end. A body of 300 Arabs withdrew into the fort, and before they surrendered the English commander was compelled to open a regular siege, in the course of which many casualties were incurred. On December 24 the Arabs came to terms, and we took possession of the city.

Casualties at the Engagements in the Neighbourhood of Nagpore, November 16-24, 1817.

Maheidpore, December 23, 1817.

This battle honour, which commemorates the only general action fought by the main army during the course of the Second Mahratta War, is borne on the colours and appointments of the

Royal Scots.
Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
28th Light Cavalry.
2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners.
63rd Light Infantry.
74th Punjabis.
87th Punjabis.
88th Infantry.
91st Light Infantry.
94th Russell's Infantry.
95th Russell's Infantry.

The distinction was granted in recognition of the services of the army under Sir Thomas Hislop, which resulted in the total defeat of the army belonging to the Maharajah Holkar, of Indore, at Maheidpore on December 22, 1817. Holkar's army far outnumbered the English in cavalry, as well as in guns. We captured no less than sixty-five of the latter. The Holkar force had the reputation of being well trained. For many years the Maharajah had availed himself of the services of English and French instructors, but on the outbreak of hostilities he had foully murdered all the English in his employ, and their absence, no doubt, shook the confidence of the men, who for so long had been accustomed to European leadership. From the returns it would appear that the 27th Light Cavalry (then the 3rd Madras Cavalry) suffered some casualties on this occasion.

Casualties at the Battle of Maheidpore, December 22, 1817.

Corygaum, January 1, 1818.

This distinction is borne on the colours of the 34th Poona Horse and 102nd Grenadiers. It commemorates a very gallant stand made by a small body of Bombay Sepoys during the Second Mahratta War, in face of vastly superior forces. Colonel Burr, who was left in command of the troops at Poona after the defeat of the Peishwa in November, found that, owing to various circumstances, that army, though defeated, was by no means demoralized, and there was reason to fear a fresh attack. He therefore ordered Captain Staunton, who was at Seroor, some fifty miles distant, to fall back on Poona. Staunton had with him a couple of guns of the Madras Artillery, with twenty-six English gunners, 500 of the 2nd (now 102nd) Grenadiers, and 250 of what was then known as the Reformed Horse (now the 34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse). Staunton moved off on receiving Colonel Burr's orders, but on nearing Corygaum found himself in the presence of the main body of the Peishwa's army, estimated at 18,000 men, with thirty-six guns. The village lent itself to defence, though the position was much cramped, especially for the large number of horses attached to his little force. Staunton knew that Sir Lionel Smith was within a couple of days' march, and that if he could hold out for that time he was sure of relief. He had taken the precaution to move with double the usual supply of ammunition, and he was seconded by eight British officers as gallant as himself.

On the evening of December 30 he occupied the village, which he proceeded to strengthen so far as was possible. The want of water was a great drawback, and, as I have said before, the large number of horses within such a confined space impeded the movements of the men. The fight was an exceedingly fierce one. The enemy on more than one occasion obtained an entrance into the village, and were able to seize the temporary hospital. The wounded were cruelly massacred, but a fine charge led by Dr. Wylie enabled Staunton to regain possession of this building. On another occasion during an assault by an overwhelming number of the enemy one of the two guns was lost, but a counter-attack retrieved this loss. For thirty-six hours the little force held its own. Five out of the eight officers were hors de combat, only six men were left to work the guns, and the sepoy battalion had lost 150 out of 500 men. On the evening of New Year's Day the fire of the assailants began to slacken, and ere nightfall it had died away. News had reached Sir Lionel Smith of the hard straits of Staunton's force, and he at once moved off to relieve him. The Peishwa's army was in no mood to face a well-organized British army, and it hurriedly withdrew from before Corygaum, leaving Staunton with the consciousness of having placed on record one of the finest feats of arms in the history of the Bombay army. Both Staunton and Dr. Wylie ultimately received the Companionship of the Bath for their services, and a monument was erected at Corygaum to commemorate the fight.

Casualties at the Action of Corygaum, January 1, 1818.

Nowah, January 21, 1819.

This name is inscribed on the colours of the 94th and 95th Russell's Infantry, and commemorates a little-known episode in the history of our dealings with the peoples of Southern India. A mud fort held by a rebellious chief defied the power alike of the Hyderabad Nizam and the British Resident. It became necessary to bring the recalcitrant chief to reason, and the Resident despatched a portion of the Hyderabad contingent to reduce the fort. Fortunately, the operations were attended with no loss of English life, but a glance at the casualty list shows that the fighting was far more severe than in many actions which are recognized on the colours of better-known regiments than the direct representatives of Russell's brigade.

Casualties at the Siege and Assault of Nowah, January, 1819.

Medal for the Second Mahratta War.

For their services in this campaign the survivors were awarded the India General Service Medal, the issue of which was notified in the London Gazette of February 28, 1851. The following clasps were issued with the medal:

Those who were present at both actions received one clasp, engraved "Kirkee—Poona."

Those present at both engagements received but one clasp, inscribed "Seetabuldee—Nagpore."

Bhurtpore, January, 1826.

This battle honour has been conferred on the following corps:

11th Hussars.
16th Lancers.
West Yorkshire.
East Lancashire.
Royal Munster Fusiliers.
1st Skinner's Horse.
1st Prince of Wales's Own Sappers and Miners.
2nd Queen's Own Rajput Light Infantry.
1st Brahmins.
3rd Brahmins.
4th Rajputs.
1st Gurkhas.
2nd Gurkhas.
9th Gurkhas.

It commemorates the services rendered by the forces employed at the siege and capture of the famous fortress which twenty years before had successfully defied Lord Lake. In 1803 the Maharajah had thrown in his lot with the Mahratta Princes, and Bhurtpore was a depot of arms for the armies of Holkar. Lord Lake, after his successful actions at Deig, Delhi, and Laswarree, determined to effect its capture. On January 3, 1804, he appeared before the fortress with a force which included the 22nd (Cheshire), 65th (York and Lancaster), 71st (Highland Light Infantry), 76th (West Ridings), and the 1st Bengal European Regiment (Royal Munster Fusiliers). On January 9 the place was assaulted, and we were driven back, with a loss of 5 officers and 64 men killed, 23 officers and 364 men wounded. On the 21st of the same month a second assault was repulsed, our losses being 18 officers and 569 men killed and wounded. The siege was now carried on more systematically, but with a very inadequate train, and on February 20 and 21 two assaults were delivered, which cost us no less than 51 officers and 1,771 men hors de combat. Lake then raised the siege.

In 1826, when the British army once more appeared before its walls, the army of the Maharajah of Bhurtpore, remembering the successful defence in 1804, felt pretty confident of holding its own against the British. On our side, the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Combermere, a Peninsular veteran, determined to leave nothing to chance.

Two divisions were assembled—one at Agra, under Major-General Jasper Nicolls; the second at Muttra, under Major-General Reynell, C.B.; whilst Lord Combermere assumed the chief command in person. The cavalry division was composed of two brigades, under Colonel Sleigh, of the 11th Hussars, who was given the rank of Brigadier-General.

The infantry was composed as follows:

First Division: Major-General T. Reynell, C.B.

Second Division: Major-General Jasper Nicolls, C.B.

The artillery of the force comprised eight horse and twelve field batteries, with a siege-train of 112 pieces, including twelve mortars of 10-inch and fifty-eight of 8-inch calibre. The siege operations were under the directions of a very distinguished Company's officer, Brigadier Anbury, C.B.

On December 9, 1825, the two columns advanced from Muttra and Agra respectively, and on the 28th of the month the first battery opened fire. On January 17 the breaches were reported practicable, and the Commander-in-Chief determined to assault, Major-General Reynell being placed in command of the three storming columns, which were detailed as follows:

The remainder of the army was drawn up to the left of the fortress to afford general aid. The defence was most stubborn, all three commanders of the assaulting columns being badly wounded; but the men of the 14th (the "Old Bucks" of those days, now the West Yorkshire) would not be denied, and ere sunset the fortress was in our possession. The individual losses of the existing regiments were:

Note.—Of the many native infantry regiments above enumerated the 15th have become the 2nd Queen's Own Light Infantry, the 32nd the 3rd Brahmans, the 33rd is the 4th Rajputs, and the 63rd the 9th Gurkhas. The remainder, with the exception of the Gurkha regiments, were lost to us in 1857.