Historical record of the 71st Regiment Highland Light Infantry /

by Henry John Thoroton Hildyard

The enemy’s loss was very severe, being estimated at 20,000 hors de combat. Eighty pieces of cannon were taken by the British. The following general order was issued:—

“Feb. 7th.

“The conduct and valour of the officers and soldiers of this army have often merited Lord Cornwallis’s encomiums, but the zeal and gallantry which were so successfully displayed last night in the attacks of the enemy’s whole army in a position which had cost him so much time and labour to fortify, can never be sufficiently praised; and his satisfaction on an occasion which promised to be attended with the most substantial advantages has been greatly heightened by learning from the Commanding officers of divisions that this meritorious behaviour was universal through all ranks, to a degree that has been rarely equalled. Lord Cornwallis therefore requests that the army in general will accept of his most cordial thanks for the noble and gallant manner in which they have executed the plan of the attack; it covers them with honour, and will ever command his warmest sentiments of admiration.”

On the 9th of February the army took up its final position for the siege of Seringapatam, and on the 15th Major-General Robert Abercromby joined with the Bombay force, consisting of the Seventy-third, Seventy-fifth, and Seventy-seventh regiments, besides native troops, making a total of about 6,000 men.

The Seventy-first Highlanders, commanded by Major Dalrymple, crossed the south branch of the Cavery at nine o’clock at night on the 18th of February, and two hours later attacked by surprise a camp of the enemy’s cavalry, of whom a great part were slain and the remainder dispersed in all directions. This movement was designed to cover the operation of opening the trenches, which took place at the same time within 800 yards of the fort. Until the 24th of February the approaches were carried on with the greatest activity, when the general orders announced that the preliminary articles of peace had been signed, and in consequence all hostile measures immediately ceased.

On the 26th of February the two sons of Tippoo Saïb, Abd-el-Khalik and Musa-ed-Deen, the former ten years of age and the latter eight, were brought to the British camp as hostages for the due performance of the preliminary articles.

In consequence of some obstacles which had been opposed by Tippoo to the arrangement of the definitive treaty, working parties were ordered, and the guns replaced in the batteries on the 10th March. This state of suspicion and preparation lasted until the 15th of March, when it was discontinued, and on the 18th of that month, the definitive treaty being duly executed and signed, was delivered by the young Abd-el-Khalik to each of the confederates. On the 20th the counterpart was sent to Tippoo Saïb.

Thus terminated a war in which the confederates wrested from the enemy 70 fortresses, 800 pieces of cannon, and destroyed or dispersed at least 50,000 men. By the articles of the treaty Tippoo Saïb was bound to pay a large sum of money and to cede one-half of his dominions. The Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in India granted from this money a sum equal to six months’ batta for all ranks, and the Court of Directors afterwards made a similar grant. The East India Company also granted an annuity of £50 to Captain P. Melville for his services in India.

On the 26th of March, the exchange of the definitive treaty being completed, the British commenced moving towards Bangalore, from whence they proceeded to the Pednaigdurgum Pass, where the Bengal troops were ordered to their own Presidency.

Early in May the army descended the Ghauts, arriving soon after at Vellore, where the Commander-in-Chief arranged the cantonments of the troops and proceeded to Madras. The Seventy-first received orders to march to the southward, and in the month of June arrived at Warriore, near Trichinopoly, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Baird, who during the campaign had been absent from the regiment in command of a brigade. Eight companies were stationed at Warriore, and two were detached with Major Dalrymple to Dindigul. In this situation the regiment continued for the remainder of the year.