“Lieut.-Colonel Fletcher and twenty-nine European officers, with one hundred and fifty-five European rank and file, were killed; Lieut.-Colonel Baillie, with thirty-four officers, and almost all the European privates, were miserably wounded; sixteen officers and privates, from a Divine protection, and the generous clemency of the French hussars, remained unhurt, who, with the rest, were all made prisoners. The whole of the sepoys were either killed, taken, or dispersed.”
The flank companies were almost annihilated. Captain Baird received seven wounds, and Lieutenant the Hon. John Lindsay nine; both were made prisoners.
Lieutenant Philip Melvill[8] was totally disabled by his wounds, and was conveyed to Hyder’s camp, where many other wounded prisoners were crowded together in one tent, so as to prevent a moment’s ease or rest. They were afterwards confined at Bangalore, where they endured the greatest suffering for three years and a half, when, peace being concluded, the captives were released.
Lieutenant William Gunn, of the grenadiers, and Lieutenant Geddes Mackenzie, of the light company, were killed.
These were the whole of the officers serving with the two companies. Of the non-commissioned officers and privates only two men joined the battalion, and those were found in the jungle desperately wounded.
The melancholy fate of these companies rendered it necessary for Colonel Lord Macleod to form two new flank companies from the battalion.
After the defeat of Lieut.-Colonel Baillie, Major General Sir Hector Munro retired with the army to Chingleput, much pressed on the march by the enemy. The wounded and sick being left at Chingleput, the army went into cantonments on Choultry Plain for the rainy season, which had set in. The troops in the retreat had suffered severely from fatigue and want of provisions.
Captain Alexander Gilchrist, of the grenadiers, whose ill-health prevented him from being with his company when Lieut.-Colonel Baillie was attacked, died at this period[9], and Lieutenant Alexander Mackenzie was wounded, together with several soldiers, in skirmishes with the enemy.
2d bat.
After the British fleet had departed from Gibraltar the Spaniards renewed the blockade by sea, and attempted to destroy the vessels in the harbour by fire-ships, but failed. Towards the close of the year provisions again became short. A limited supply was occasionally obtained from the Moors. The effects of the scurvy were mitigated by cultivating vegetables on the rock; and the brave defenders of the fortress maintained their attitude of defiance to the power of Spain.