On the following day the troops advanced, and succeeded in carrying all the barriers and positions opposed to them; one private was wounded at the stockade, near Harringharry.
The difficulties of the country, both natural and artificial, became excessive, and demanded, as they received, the very utmost exertions of the troops to bring forward the artillery. In one day’s march of continued labour, for upwards of fourteen hours, a distance was gained of only five miles.
On the evening of the 4th, a flag of truce arrived from the rajah, proposing that the troops should halt until he could conclude a negotiation, into which he proposed entering. The Brigadier received the flag, and consented to a truce so far as regarded actual hostilities, provided the enemy refrained from them; but he signified his determination to advance until the rajah surrendered himself an unconditional prisoner.
No further opposition was experienced, and the increasing strength of the stockades and positions, rendered it evident that, if adequately defended, they could only have been carried at an enormous sacrifice. The head-quarter division reached Mercara, the capital, on the 6th; and the British ensign displayed on the walls of its fort, speedily announced the addition which the force had made to British power. The rajah, who had retreated to a country palace, surrendered his person on the 10th of April, and the war was considered at an end.
The conduct of the regiment had throughout this short campaign met with the unqualified praise and approval of the Brigadier, who concluded one of his despatches by saying:—
“It remains, therefore, for me only to bring to the notice of His Excellency the excellent conduct of that part of the Eastern Column which has been acting under my orders. To Major Poole of His Majesty’s Thirty-ninth regiment, whom I placed in immediate command of the Infantry Brigade, I have been indebted for the most zealous and able assistance; and I do but justice in reporting that the officers and soldiers, of every rank and degree, have under all circumstances, and in all respects, merited my most perfect approbation.”
The following is an extract from the despatch of Lieut.-Colonel Stewart, commanding the second division of the Eastern Column:—
“The detachment of His Majesty’s Thirty-ninth regiment surmounted all difficulties with the characteristic behaviour of British soldiers.”
On the 11th of April, the three companies with Captain Smyth, who had been latterly employed in opening the communications, rejoined, and the regiment remained in camp at Mercara until the 11th of May, when, in consequence of an order for the reduction of the force, it marched for Bangalore, and arrived there on the 28th of May.