In July 1816, Serjeant Broadfoot, and sixteen rank and file were detached from the head-quarters of the corps at Sydney into the interior of the country, to protect the inhabitants from the natives, and were employed on this service until December of the same year, during which period their conduct was such as to call forth the thanks of Major-General Macquarie, from whom Serjeant Broadfoot received a certificate approving of his "zeal and activity during his services against the natives."
After chasing the bushrangers for six months, Corporal McCarthy and his party, in July, came up with the main body, consisting of eleven desperate characters, and headed by a deserter from the seventy-third regiment, named Geary. They were all armed, each with a musket and a brace of pistols, and well supplied with ammunition. The corporal and his men, now reduced to five, engaged them for an hour and a half, when the leader of the bushrangers being mortally wounded, his followers endeavoured to escape; two, however, were taken, tried, and executed. The corporal and his men received one hundred pounds for Geary, and twenty-five pounds for each of the other two, and were highly recommended by Lieut.-Governor Sorrell for their zeal, courage, and perseverance.
On the 10th of August following, this small party again came up with the remainder of the banditti. Their leader was shot during the action, and another of his followers was wounded, and made prisoner.
1817
On the 8th of September, 1817, the regiment embarked in three divisions at Sydney Cove on board the "Matilda," "Lloyd," and "Dick" transports, and arrived at Madras on the 16th of December following. On the 29th of that month the regiment marched for Vellore.
1818
The regiment arrived at Vellore on the 8th of January, 1818, and on the 26th of September following proceeded from thence en route to the Presidency of Madras, and arrived at Fort Saint George on the 12th of October.
Previously to the FORTY-SIXTH quitting Vellore an Order was issued by Colonel Hall, commanding the troops at that garrison, in which he stated "that during the period the regiment had been in the garrison, he had not had occasion to confine or pass a censure on any rank," and then added, "that a stronger proof cannot be offered of the excellent interior arrangement and discipline of the corps."
1820
On the 1st of July, 1820, the regiment commenced its march from Fort Saint George for Bellary, in the Ceded Districts, and arrived at that station on the 10th of August following.