Captain Richardson and Lieutenant Lanphier distinguished themselves on this occasion; and the enterprise being accomplished with the loss of a few men killed and wounded, the troops returned to Baroda.
In pursuance of the plan suggested to the Governor-General by Major-General Hon. Arthur Wellesley, five hundred men of the Eighty-sixth, a small detachment of the Sixty-fifth, a proportion of European artillery, and a battalion of Sepoys, advanced, under Lieut.-Colonel Woodington, to besiege the strong fortress of Baroach. On the 23rd of August, this small body of troops encamped on the bank of the river within a few miles of the fortress, expecting the arrival of the battering train in boats. The baggage of the regiment was this day attacked by a numerous body of the enemy’s horse, when nearly every soldier and follower was killed or wounded, and the baggage captured and plundered.
A schooner and gun-boat having arrived with cannon and ammunition, the troops advanced on the 25th of August, and arriving within two miles of the fortress, discovered a numerous body of hostile cavalry, infantry, and Arabs, in order of battle on the plain. These opponents were speedily routed with the loss of their flag and a number of killed and wounded; and the armament soon afterwards attacked, and carried, the pettah with great gallantry; Ensign D’Aguilar distinguished himself on this occasion.
The siege of the fort was commenced, and a breach was reported practicable; at one o’clock on the 29th of August, the storming parties assembled in the streets under the command of Major Cuyler; the bayonets were firmly fixed by the introduction of a piece of cotton cloth, to prevent the Arab swordsmen disengaging them, and the soldiers proceeded quietly to their post behind the battery. At three the signal to attack was fired, and the forlorn hope, consisting of Serjeant John Moore and twelve soldiers of the Eighty-sixth, sprang forward; a hundred soldiers of the Eighty-sixth, and a hundred Sepoy grenadiers, under Captain Richardson, rushed towards the breach, followed by three hundred men under Major Cuyler, and a reserve of two hundred under Captain Bethune.
Passing the ditch knee-deep in mud, and climbing the long steep and difficult ascent to the breach, the soldiers encountered the Arab and Scindian defenders, who made a desperate resistance. Hand to hand the combatants strove for mastery, and amidst the clash of steel and turmoil of deadly contest, many feats of valour were performed. Captain Maclaurin, who evinced great ardour, was wounded and made prisoner, but he was rescued from the Arabs, by Private John Brierly. Captain Richardson and Captain Grant signalized themselves, and Serjeant Bills was conspicuous for the heroic courage with which he fought. At length British valour proved triumphant, and the breach was won, when the Eighty-sixth crowned the rampart, the Scindian colours were pulled down, and the British standard planted in their place, by Serjeant Moore.
Having overpowered all resistance at the breach, Captain Richardson’s party swept the works to the Cuttoopore gate; Major Cuyler led his detachment at a running pace to the Jaraseer gate, and firing upon the Scindians and Arabs who were escaping by that avenue, wounded one of the elephants in the passage. The Arabs threw down their matchlocks, drew their creesis, and rushing upon their assailants with deadly fury, refused to give or receive quarter. The contest was of short duration; British discipline and prowess were again victorious; two hundred Arab horsemen and foot lay on the ground, and the Eighty-sixth stood triumphant on the scene of conflict. Among the trophies of the day, were fifteen stand of Scindian and Arab colours, which were sent to head-quarters, excepting two, retained by the Eighty-sixth regiment, as trophies of the valour displayed by the corps on this occasion.
Thus was captured a fortress of great importance to the commercial interests of Britain, with a territory yielding a considerable revenue, which were added to the British dominions. In his public despatch, Lieut.-Colonel Woodington highly commended the conduct of Major Cuyler and Captain Richardson, and added,—“The whole of the officers and men employed on this service have conducted themselves so much to my satisfaction, that I cannot express myself too strongly in their commendation.”
The Governor-General in Council, also, signified in general orders,—“his particular approbation of the valour and judgment manifested by Major Cuyler, of His Majesty’s Eighty-sixth regiment, throughout the service at Baroach, and in commanding the storm of the fort, and by Captain Richardson of the same corps, leading the assault. His Excellency in Council, also, observes with particular satisfaction the conduct of Captain Cliffe, of the Engineers of Bombay. To all the officers and troops, European and Native, employed on this honorable occasion, His Excellency in Council signifies his high commendation.”
Serjeant Bills was rewarded with the appointment of serjeant-major; Serjeant Moore received a donation of five hundred rupees from the Government for his gallantry, and Private Brierly was promoted corporal, and afterwards serjeant.