Those of the detachment who had hitherto escaped sickness and wounds, were emaciated, sallow, and debilitated to an extreme degree.
They were almost all barefooted; and many of those who had escaped the fire of the enemy, fell victims, after our arrival at Trincomalé, to the effects of their previous sufferings.
Amongst those, I am sorry to mention Lieutenant Rogers, of the Bengal Sepoys, who died of a fever a few days after his return. This officer, by his exertions during the retreat, and especially after I had lost the services of Lieutenants Vincent and Smith, had, by his activity and zeal, rendered most essential services to the detachment. He was ever foremost in danger.
To the exertions, indeed, and animating example of the officers in general, and the persevering courage of the soldiers, particularly those of the Royal Artillery and 19th, may be principally attributed the safety of the detachment.
Return of killed, wounded, and missing of the detachment under the command of Captain Johnston.
| Detail. | Royal Artill. | |
| Sergeants. | Bombardiers. | |
| Killed | 1 | |
| Wounded | 1 | |
| Missing | ||
| Total | 1 | 1 |
| Detail. | 19th Regiment. | ||||
| Subidars. | Sergeants. | Corporals. | Drummers. | Privates. | |
| Killed | 1 | 4 | |||
| Wounded | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Missing | 2 | 2 | |||
| Total | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| Detail. | Malay Regiment. | |||||
| European Lieutenant. | Malay Captain. | Malay Lieutenant. | Serjeants. | Corporals. | Privates. | |
| Killed | 3 | |||||
| Wounded | 4 | |||||
| Missing | ||||||
| Total | 7 | |||||
| Detail. | Bengal Sepoys. | |||||
| Lieutenants. | Jemedars. | Haveldars. | Naigues. | Drummers. | Privates. | |
| Killed | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | ||
| Wounded | 1 | 1 | 27 | |||
| Missing | 1 | 12 | ||||
| Total | 3 | 2 | 1 | 48 | ||
N.B.—Owing to the great desertion (during the latter part of the march) amongst the Coolies and Pioneers, the amount of their killed and wounded could never be ascertained; but there is every reason to believe it was very considerable.