Accession of Tippoo Saib—Compelled to learn Military Exercise—Without Food two Days—Cruel Treatment for complaining—Ears bored, and marked as Slaves—Peace concluded—Left unclaimed by the British—Fate of some English Officers—Defeat and Capture of Colonel Bailey.

About this time, Tippoo Saib, who had succeeded his father, Hyder Ali,^[5] sent an order to the killadare of Seringapatam to incorporate us in his four battalions of slaves—which was accordingly done; but we had no doubt it was so done through the malicious insinuations of Dempster, whom, after we knew, we treated with the most sovereign contempt. Here each individual was supplied with a stick of about four feet and a half long, as a substitute for a firelock; and our pay being shortened, we led wretched lives indeed; fabrications being circulated, and groundless complaints made against us, merely from a malignant antipathy. We did not at this time know much of the language; and when questioned relative to these complaints, many got severe beatings;^[6] for our silence was generally construed into guilt.

Once we were kept without food for two days; and conscious we had done nothing to deserve it, we sallied forth to the durbar, (a seat of justice so called,) in order to exhibit a complaint of our grievances to the killadare; but Abdel Gunney, to whom I have adverted, learning our intentions, was before us, and intimated to the killadare to take care of his person, for that we were coming in a body, and he knew not for what purpose. This alarmed the governor; and we no sooner arrived, than we were surrounded by a battalion of Sepoys, and our interpreter, Clark, a lieutenant in the Company’s service, who had begun to speak, was knocked down, and beaten in a most shocking manner. While he lay on the ground, they put him in heavy irons, and took him away, nor do I recollect ever seeing him afterwards. All this time we were secured by the Sepoys, who had orders to prime and load, and to fix their bayonets; and all this against fifty-two defenceless boys. Judge of our situation, my good reader, at this crisis! We were seized, and each of us was bound with two new ropes, confining our hands behind us; and, to make us secure, a strong man enclosed our arms, and with his knee almost dislocated our shoulders: many of us had the marks in our arms for some years after. This done, we were wheeled to the right, then to the left, by the myre, or adjutant, in broken English, who would frequently, in the most contemptuous manner, cry out, “General Mathews,”—“Colonel Bailey,”—“Captain Rumney,” and repeat the names of many officers they then had in their custody, of whom I shall very soon give the reader an accurate account.

We were hauled in this degrading manner, until I and several more fainted; when I came to myself, we were all seated on the ground. I was bound between two lads, both midshipmen of the Hannibal, who told me, when I fell they fell, with most of the rest; those who did not, informed us, that so many falling, they were ordered to sit down. The skin of our breasts was like a drum head, and I am conscious to this day, if it had not been for the humanity of the durga, an officer equal to a sergeant, in slackening the ropes about twelve o’clock at night, very few would have survived till morning. This was done on his part at a great risk: may God reward him for it!

The next day we were ordered to be untied, one by one, and our heads to be again shaved, which was performed; our ears also were bored, and a slave’s mark was put in each of them. This being done, we were prohibited from speaking to each other in English, under pain of severe punishment. We were then marched, or led crawling, rather, to our square, where they gave those who could immediately make use of it, some food. Here we met every day, more or less, with severe treatment, until the year 1784, when a peace was concluded between the East India Company and Tippoo. This was a woful and heart-rending peace for us; but prior to my saying any thing on that head, I shall introduce the condition and fate of many of our brave officers; together with the fate of the unfortunate brachmins, as it fell immediately under my notice. And first, of Colonel Bailey, who was in leg-irons, with Captain Rumney, and Lieutenants Fraser and Sampson. The three latter had their throats cut at Mysore. Colonel Bailey appeared much emaciated; I rather think grief was the cause of destroying his constitution; for when he was insulted by Dempster, who took a pride in marching us before him, we could frequently see the tears trickle down his manly face. He was alone, after the captain and lieutenants were taken from him; but not long, for he was removed also, and we supposed very secretly, for we never could learn what became of him; and whether he died by poison, or a natural death, we could not positively ascertain; but we could easily believe the former. It may not be amiss here to say something relative to his defeat. The circumstances which led to this melancholy catastrophe are well known, therefore I shall only describe the manner, partly from the EncyclopÆdia, and partly from information I received at Patam, from several who survived that dreadful day.

In order to do this, it may be necessary to inform the reader, that Hyder Ali, after suddenly seizing the passes, which might have been secured, poured through them an army of 100,000 men, among whom was a large body of European troops under French officers, and commanded by Colonel Laly, a man of great bravery and experience in war. Alarm being given on the 24th of June, 1780, that Hyder’s horse were only nine miles distant from Madras, the inhabitants instantly deserted their houses, and fled into the fort, while the unresisted barbarian burnt the villages, reduced the inferior forts, and prepared to lay siege to the capital. It being now absolutely necessary to make some resistance, measures were taken for assembling the troops; in doing which, an express was sent to Colonel Bailey, at Gumuapenda, about twenty-eight miles from Madras, to proceed from thence directly to Conjeveram with the corps under his command, where the main body was to meet him; but when the main body was under marching orders, the 1st regiment of cavalry positively refused to move without money; and, as they persisted in their refusal, they were made prisoners, and sent to Madras. The main body, then consisting of 1500 Europeans and 4200 Sepoys, under Sir Hector Monroe, with the train of artillery, proceeded towards Conjeveram; and such were the fatigues of the march, that 200 men belonging to the 73d regiment, were left lying on the road. On their arrival, they found the town in flames, great bodies of the enemy’s cavalry advancing on both flanks, and no appearance of Colonel Bailey’s detachment; the march of this body having been impeded by a small river, swelled by a sudden fall of rain. On this occasion, the officer who records this disaster, makes the following observation: “In this incident we have a remarkable proof and example of the danger of procrastination, and on what minute circumstances, and sudden springs of the mind, the fortune and general issue of the war may depend. Had the colonel passed over Trepuscore without halting, as some advised, and encamped on the south instead of the north bank, the disaster that soon followed would have been prevented, and an order of affairs, wholly different from what took place, would have succeeded.”

Hyder Ali having now raised the siege of Arcot, in which he had been employed, marched towards Conjeveram, in the vicinity of which he encamped, and in a few days offered battle. On the 6th of September, he detached his son, Tippoo Saib, with the flower of his army, to cut off the detachment under Colonel Bailey, who was now at Pernambaukham, a small village, distant from the main body about fifteen miles; he himself remaining near Conjeveram, to watch the motions of Sir Hector Monroe. The detachment of Tippoo consisted of 30,000 horse, 8000 foot, and 12 pieces of cannon: notwithstanding this superiority of numbers, they were bravely repulsed by Colonel Bailey’s handful of troops, and a junction was effected with a detachment under Colonel Fletcher, sent by Sir Hector Monroe, on first hearing the noise of the engagement. This junction was effected on the 9th of September, and the next morning orders were given for the whole army to march, Colonel Fletcher’s detachment being dispersed in different parts of the line. From the moment they began to march, the enemy played off their rockets, which, however, did little execution: but about ten at night, several guns began to open on the rear of the English; Colonel Bailey, therefore, after some manoeuvres, caused his troops to form a line, while the enemy cannonaded them incessantly with great execution. On this, Colonel Bailey detached Captain Rumney with five companies of grenadier Sepoys, to storm their guns; which service they would undoubtedly have accomplished, had not their march been interrupted by a torrent of water, which at that time happened not to be fordable. Captain Rumney, therefore, returned about half-past eleven, when the guns of the enemy were heard drawing off towards the English front, and a general alarm was perceived throughout their camp, owing, as was supposed, to their having received intelligence of the party that had been sent to storm their guns; for, from their noisy confusion, and irregular firing, says my author, one would imagine that a detachment of our men was among them with fixed bayonets. At that critical moment, had a party of grenadiers been sent against them, they might, without difficulty, have routed the whole of Tippoo’s army. Having, about ten o’clock in the evening, advanced about five hundred yards into an avenue, Colonel Bailey remained there in perfect silence till the morning. Colonel Fletcher being asked why Colonel Bailey halted? modestly replied, that Colonel B. was an officer of established reputation, and, no doubt, had reasons for his conduct. It cannot, however, be concealed, that this halt afforded an opportunity for Tippoo to draw off his cannon to a strong post, by which the English were obliged to pass; and, at the same time, of informing Hyder of their situation, and suggesting to him the expediency of advancing, for the improvement of so favourable a conjuncture.

On the 10th day of September, at five o’clock in the morning, our little body marched off by the right in subdivisions, having their baggage on the left; and not many minutes after, six guns opened on their rear; on which the line halted. A few minutes after, large bodies of the enemy’s cavalry appeared on their flanks; and at the moment the pagoda of Conjeveram appeared in view, and our men had begun to indulge hopes of a respite from toils and dangers, a rocket boy was taken prisoner, who informed them that Hyder’s whole army was marching to the assistance of his son Tippoo. Four guns now opened on the left with great effect; and so hot was the fire they sustained, and so heavy the loss, that Colonel Bailey ordered the line to quit the avenue, and present a front to the enemy; and at the same time detached Captain Rumney with ten companies, to storm the enemy’s guns. Within a few minutes after this party had left the line, Tippoo’s guns were silenced. Captain R.’s little detachment immediately took possession of four cannon, and completely routed the party that was attached to them. Captain Rumney, overcome with fatigue, ordered Captain Goudie, the next in command, to lead the party, and take possession of more of their guns; but in a few moments, as they were advancing, a cry was heard among the Sepoys, of, Gora! Gora!—Horse! Horse! The camp followers, whose numbers were nearly five to one of the troops, were driven on part of our line by the numerous and surrounding forces of Hyder Ali, who being informed of the situation of Colonel Bailey, had left his camp without striking his tents, with a view of concealing his march from General Monroe. A great confusion among the troops was the unavoidable consequence of this unexpected onset. The Europeans were suddenly left on the field alone, and at that critical moment a part of Hyder’s advanced guard pressed on with great celerity between our line and Captain Rumney’s party. The commanding officer, therefore, apprehensive of being cut off from our little army, judged it most prudent to retreat. Colonel Bailey, when he was informed that an immense body of horse and foot was advancing towards him, and that this was supposed to be Hyder’s main army, said, “Very well, we shall be prepared to meet them.”

Hyder’s whole force now appeared incontestably in view; and this barbarian chief, who, as was observed of the Roman general by Pyrrhus, “had nothing barbarous in his discipline,” after dividing his guns agreeably to a preconcerted plan, opened from sixty to seventy pieces of cannon, with innumerable rockets. His numerous cavalry, supported by his infantry, driven on by threats, and encouraged by promises, and led on by his most distinguished officers, bore down upon our little army, without making the least impression; our men, both Europeans and Sepoys, repeatedly presenting and recovering their arms, as if they had been manoeuvring on a parade. The enemy was repulsed at every attack; numbers of their best cavalry were killed, and many more were wounded; even their infantry were forced to give way; and Hyder would have ordered a retreat, had it not been for the advice of General Laly, who informed him it was too late, as General Monroe was most probably advancing from Conjeveram; for which reason, nothing remained but to break the detachment by their artillery and cavalry. Tippoo Saib had by this time collected his party together, and renewed the cannonade; so that at the same time the English were under the necessity of sustaining an attack from both father and son. Two of their tumbrils were blown up by Hyder’s guns, and a large opening was made in both their lines; they had no other ammunition than grape; their guns ceased firing; and in this dreadful situation, under a terrible fire, not only of guns but rockets, losing great numbers of men and officers, they remained from half-past seven till nine o’clock, when Hyder Ali, perceiving that the guns were quite silenced, came with his whole army round their right flank; the cavalry charged them in distinct columns; and, in the intervals, the infantry poured in volleys with dreadful effect.

Myar Saib, Tippoo’s brother, with the Mogul and Sanoor cavalry, made the first impression; these were followed by the elephants and the Mysorean cavalry, which completed the overthrow of the detachment. Colonel Bailey, though grievously wounded, rallied the Europeans, and once more formed them into a square, and, with this handful of men, he gained an eminence, where, without ammunition, and most of his people being wounded, he resisted and repulsed fifteen separate attacks; but fresh bodies of cavalry continually pouring in, they were broken, without giving way.

Captain Lucas’s battalion of Sepoys, at the time when our men moved up to a rising ground, was stationed to the right of the European grenadiers; but that corps seeing the Europeans in motion, and perhaps understanding that motion for a retreat, broke in the utmost confusion. The Europeans, however, bravely maintained their reputation for intrepid valour, and remained in this extremity of distress steady and undaunted, though surrounded by the French troops, and Hyder’s cavalry, to the number of 40,000. They even expressed a desire, though their number did not exceed 400, of being led on to charge a battalion of Topasses, (natives, so called from their wearing hats,) who lay about thirty yards distant, and kept up an incessant fire with great effect. Many attempts were made by the enemy’s cavalry to break this body of men; but, by their steady conduct and courage, they were repulsed; until Colonel Bailey, finding that there was now no prospect of being relieved by General Monroe, held out a flag of truce to one of the chiefs of Hyder’s army: but this was treated with contempt, and the chief endeavoured at the same time to cut off the Colonel. The reason that the enemy assigned for this, was, that the Sepoys had fired after the signal was hoisted. A few minutes afterwards, the men had orders to lay down their arms, with intimations that quarter would be given: this order was scarcely complied with, when the enemy rushed in upon them with the most savage brutality, sparing no age or condition in life, and, but for the humane interposition of Laly and Pencron, who implored and insisted with the conquerors, to shew mercy, the gallant remains of our little army must have fallen a sacrifice to that savage thirst for blood with which Hyder disgraced his victory. In this unfortunate action, near 700 Europeans were killed on the spot. The loss on Hyder’s part was so great, that he industriously concealed it, being enraged to think that the conquest of so inconsiderable a body should cost him so many of his bravest troops. He seemed, ever after, to consider the English with an extreme degree of terror; insomuch, that notwithstanding his pretended exultation on account of the present victory, he no sooner heard of Sir H. Monro marching to attack him, than he left his camp in the utmost confusion, abandoning great part of his tents and baggage, as well as a vast number of the wounded.