In December occurred the death of Hyder Ali, who was, however, succeeded without commotion by his son Tippoo Saïb, to whom he left a kingdom of his own acquisition, which made him one of the most powerful princes in India. Notwithstanding that by private information overland news was received of a peace having been concluded between England and the other belligerent powers in Europe, still the Madras Government determined to persevere in its original plans for the attack of Cuddalore. With this view Major-General Stuart put his army in motion on the 21st April, marching by brigades in a1783. southerly direction. It consisted of the Seventy-third and Seventy-eighth, and One hundred and first regiments, a considerable body of native troops, and a detachment of Hanoverians under Colonel Wangenheim. Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Elphinston, Seventy-third Highlanders, took the lead with the Fifth brigade, to the command of which he had been appointed, in consideration of his distinguished conduct and important services in the field. Lieut.-Colonel James Stuart, Seventy-eighth Highlanders, commanded the First or European Brigade, of which the Seventy-third formed a part, and which amounted to 1,600 men. Colonel Elphinston in his advance possessed himself of the Permacoil ruins, from whence the enemy’s advanced parties could be plainly seen upon the Red Hills. The remainder of the army joined him there on the 2nd May. About this time accounts were received of the death of Lieut.-General Sir Eyre Coote, and Major-General Stuart temporarily succeeded to the command of the forces in India.
After leaving Permacoil, the army advanced to Killinoor, and from thence towards the Red Hills. On the 4th June, Major-General Stuart encamped close to the Pannar river, about five miles west of Cuddalore, behind which the French army was descried in an intrenched camp. The British passed the Pannar river on the 6th June without opposition, passed the Bandipollam Hills, and took up a strong position not more than two miles from the south face of the fortress of Cuddalore, having the right flank covered by the sea and the left by the Bandipollam Hills. The enemy, commanded by General de Bussy, had in the meantime thrown up works along his front. On the 12th June Major-General Stuart determined to attack General de Bussy in the position he occupied, and issued preparatory orders accordingly. At 4 o’clock on the morning of the 13th June the action commenced by a movement from the British left against the enemy’s right flank. A very obstinate and sanguinary contest ensued, continuing without intermission until the evening, when, both armies remaining upon the field of battle, each claimed the victory. In this action the Seventy-third Highlanders highly distinguished itself, having wrested from the enemy in the course of the conflict seven different redoubts. The loss it sustained was very severe, amounting in killed and wounded to 13 officers and 272 men, being one-half of the number in the field. The regiment was commanded by Captain Hugh Lamont. Captain the Honourable James Lindsay, commanding the Grenadier Company, Captain Alexander McKenzie, Lieuts. Simon Mackenzie and James Trail, 4 sergeants and 80 rank and file were killed. Captain John Hamilton, Lieuts. Charles Gorrie, David Rannie, John Sinclair, James Duncan, and George Sutherland, 5 sergeants and 107 rank and file were wounded. The enemy’s loss was estimated at 62 officers, 961 men killed, wounded, and missing.
The following flattering compliment formed part of the General Orders issued by the Commander-in-Chief at the conclusion of the action:—
“I am also grateful to Captain Lamont and the officers under his command who gallantly led the precious remains of the Seventy-third Highlanders through the most perilous road to glory, until exactly one-half of the officers and men were either killed or wounded.”
The British prosecuted the siege of Cuddalore with vigour, and on the 25th June the first parallel was completed. On that day the enemy made a sortie, but was repulsed with considerable loss after a severe contest. The commander of the party, Colonel le Chevalier de Damas, was among the prisoners taken. On the 1st July a frigate arrived in Cuddalore Roads, bringing official accounts from England of a general peace having been concluded, and hostilities consequently ceased.
By the 2nd August the British army had received the supplies, of which it stood greatly in want, and the camp was broken up, the troops marching to St. Thomas’s Mount where they arrived on the 16th August. Shortly afterwards, the army went into winter quarters, the Seventy-third occupying the fort and cantonment of Arcot. On1784. the conclusion of the peace, in March, 1784, Captains Baird and the Honble. John Lindsay, Lieut. Melville and about 30 men, who were taken in Colonel Baillie’s affair, were released and rejoined the regiment. During the remainder of the year the Seventy-third continued at Arcot, and was only employed, beyond the usual routine of duty in quarters, for a short time in quelling a mutiny which broke out in the native cavalry at Arnee. The regiment at this period was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel William Dalrymple. In the course of the month of June it was removed from Arcot to Fort St. George, where it was joined by several officers of the late second battalion, which had been disbanded. Lieut.-Colonel Dalrymple having returned to England, Lieut.-Colonel the Honble. George Mackenzie took command of the regiment, which continued in quarters at Madras for the remainder of the year.[3]
At the commencement of the year 1786, the numerical title of the regiment was changed to the Seventy-first Highlanders, and new colours were received from England bearing that number, which designation it has since retained. In March quarters were changed to Wallajahabad and Chingleput, nine companies being cantoned at the former and one at the latter under Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Hamilton Maxwell.
On the 4th June, 1787, Colonel the Honble. George Mackenzie, commanding the regiment, died after a short illness and was interred at Madras. He was succeeded in the command by the senior major, Brevet Lieut.-Colonel John Elphinston, who was succeeded in the majority by Captain David Baird.
During the year 1787 no change of quarters took place.
1788.