The loss of the regiment was Captain William Semple, killed in the breaching battery on the 25th of August—an excellent officer, whose fall was much regretted; also two serjeants and ten rank and file killed; Major Cuyler, Captain Richardson, Captain Maclaurin, and twenty-three rank and file wounded.
From Baroach the regiment proceeded to Baroda, from whence five hundred rank and file of the Eighty-sixth, a battalion of Sepoys, some irregular horse, and a battering train, marched to attack the fort of Powanghur, situated on a stupendous rock of extraordinary height and of difficult ascent. Arriving before this place on the 14th of September, and the garrison refusing to surrender, the walls were battered until the 17th, when orders were issued to prepare to attack the lower fort by storm. The garrison was intimidated by the knowledge of the fact, that if they defended the breach, their communication with the fort on the top of the mountain would be cut off, and their escape rendered impossible; they therefore surrendered. Thus a fort of great strength by nature and art fell into the hands of the British.
The district of Champaneer, the only territory remaining to Scindia, in the province of Guzerat, had thus been reduced, and annexed to the British dominions. Lieut.-Colonel Murray, of the Eighty-fourth regiment, assumed the command of the troops at Baroda, and advanced towards Scindia’s territories, in the province of Malwa, in quest of Holkar’s forces, but it was found impossible to bring the armed bands of that chieftain to action. On the 18th of October the city and fortress of Godera was taken possession of, the enemy retiring as the British approached. At this place information was received of the victory of Assaye, gained by the troops under Major-General the Hon. Arthur Wellesley, on the 23rd of September, which was followed by the submission of two of the hostile chiefs, Scindia and the Rajah of Berar, leaving Holkar, Canojee, and some minor chiefs in the field.
Leaving Godera, the troops took possession of Balinsanere in the beginning of November; and advanced towards Lunawarrah. On the march, the rearguard, consisting of five companies of Sepoys, and some native cavalry, was suddenly attacked, while passing through an extensive jungle, by a numerous body of the enemy in ambush.
The hostile bands did not venture to attack the Europeans of the advance-guard, nor the column, but rushed with great fury upon the native troops in the rear, occasioning the loss of many Sepoys and camp followers, with some baggage, before assistance could arrive from the column. The Eighty-sixth had several men killed and wounded on this occasion.
Lunawarrah was evacuated by the enemy, and Dhowd was taken, about six weeks afterwards, with little opposition.
In this part of the country, the Eighty-sixth, and other corps, with Lieut.-Colonel Murray, remained about two months[4], watching Holkar, who had power to concentrate an overwhelming force, which rendered vigilance particularly necessary.
1804
On the death of Lieut.-General Grinfield, King George III. conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on Lieut.-General Sir James Henry Craig, K.B., from the Forty-sixth Foot, by commission dated the 5th of January, 1804.