“Major-General Doyle having received the warrant for the disbandment of the second battalion of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, and carried the orders of the commander of the forces into effect, it now only remains for the major-general to express, in the most unqualified manner, his perfect approbation of the sober, orderly, and soldier-like conduct of the corps in quarters, for a period of upwards of one year and a half, during which it has been under his immediate command.

“Major-General Doyle feels it his duty as well as inclination to mark particularly the zeal and attention with which Major Barlow has conducted the discipline of the corps, and in which he has been ably supported by the officers under his command, and in case the service should be deprived of so valuable an officer, the major-general trusts it may be only for a short time.

“The major-general requests the commanding officer will convey to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, his best thanks, and his good wishes for their individual welfare. He is confident that the uniform good conduct, for which the Thirty-fourth have always been conspicuous, both in the field and in quarters, will be the same, in whatever part of His Majesty’s dominions the service of the corps may be required.”

1818

At this period a confederacy of the native princes in India was formed against the British authority, and extensive preparations for war were made by the coalesced Mahratta States. Their designs were partly discovered and disconcerted by the governor-general, the Marquis of Hastings; but hostilities could not be avoided, and the British took the field for the preservation of their territory from unjust aggression. On this occasion the flank companies of the Thirty-fourth, mustering eight officers, eight serjeants, six drummers, and two hundred rank and file, under the command of Captain Tew, marched from Vellore, to the frontiers, and joining a division of the army assembling for field service at Adoni, were formed in a flank battalion, with the companies of the Sixty-ninth and Eighty-fourth Regiments. This battalion penetrated the southern Mahratta country, with the division under Brigadier-General Munro, to whom the fortresses of Dummul, Kooshgúl, and Darwar surrendered in succession; and the division halted during the rainy season at Darwar, where the flank companies of the Fifty-third joined the flank battalion, which was commanded by Major Giles. Leaving Darwar in October, the division penetrated the Sundoor valley, and afterwards advanced into the interior of the southern Mahratta country, Brigadier-General Pritzler commanding. The division skirmished with the enemy at Bejapoor; and overtook the rear of the Peishwa’s army at the Salpée Pass, on the 8th of January, 1818, when the Mahratta troops fled in every direction, over a difficult country, which prevented any great loss being inflicted on them. The division pursued by forced marches, under a burning sun, until the Peishwa’s army separated, and passing the flanks, marched to the north.

The battalion companies were relieved from garrison duty at Vellore, and proceeding to Bangalore, joined a division of the field force, on the banks of the Toombudra, under Major-General Long, and remained at this station during part of the Mahratta and Pindaree war; but suffering severely from dysentery, they were removed into garrison at Bellary.

Meanwhile the flank companies had joined part of the Bombay army; but after the surrender of the hill-fort of Sattarah they separated from that force, and again proceeded, with the division under Brigadier-General Pritzler, to the Salpée Pass, taking part in the siege and capture of the hill-fort of Singhur, the reduction of the fortified pagoda and village of Sassoor, the hill-forts of Uizaghur, and Poorunder, and afterwards returning through the pass, the operations of the division were followed by the surrender of a number of small fortified places. Then proceeding by Sattarah to the western ghauts and forests, the division captured the hill-fort of Woossottah, restored the family of Sevajée to its ancient dignity, and joining the division under Brigadier-General Munro, took part in the defeat of a body of hostile troops at Sholapoor, the capture of the enemy’s artillery, and the reduction of the fortress, which surrendered on the 15th of May. The flank companies of the Thirty-fourth distinguished themselves on the 10th of May, and a gallant charge made by them greatly contributed to the capture of the enemy’s artillery.

After forcing the fortress of Nepaunee to capitulate, the division was cantoned, during the remainder of the year, at Hoobly, where the soldiers suffered from cholera.

In September the battalion companies left Bellary for Bangalore, and being attacked by cholera on the march, lost thirty-seven men in nine days.

1819