Earls of Cromartie > [NSLBLANK]

1789.] WAR IN THE CARNATIC IN 1780. ccliii
The European infantry stood firm as a wall while they had a shot left, and were almost
all kill'd or wounded. I do not expect to see many of the latter belonging to my regiment,
as I am told they die daily from want of proper care, and from harsh usage.
I hope, by the next ships, to get a good recruit, as otherwise I am affraid we will in a
short time not be able to guard our coullours.
As I am ordered by the King's instructions to inform you, when opportunities offer, of
what occurrences happen, I think it my duty, in obedience to his Majesty's commands, to
acquaint you of the present situation of this country, so far as is within the reach of my own
knowledge, and no further.
About the 20th of July, advices arriv'd here from different quarters that Hyder Ali had
invaded the Carnatic with a powerful army, but no attention was paid by the people in power
to this intelligence, which they treated with contempt.
The 23d of July I took the liberty to tell the Governor that perhaps Hyder's invasion
might be true, and that I thought at all events they ought to take some measures to oppose
him. His answer was, What can we do ? We have no money. He then added, we mean,
however, to assemble an army, and you are to command it. That evening put, however, the
invasion beyond a doubt, even with the Government here ; for certain intelligence was then
receiv'd that Porto Novo, on the sea-coast, and Conjeveram, not 50 miles from this capital,
had been plunder'd by the enemy.
The 27th of July I receiv'd orders from the Select Committee to march with the troops
assembling at Poonamallee, consisting of the first battalion of my own regiment, a battalion of
Sepoys, and the artillery with 2 field-pieces, amounting in all to about 1650 men, to Conje-
veram and to Eioncollam, where I was to be join'd by a weak battalion of Europeans from
Vellore, and was then to march to Wandewash, where Col. Brathwaite was to join me with
another weak battalion of Europeans, and 3 battalions of Sepoys from Pondichery. This
order occasion'd my writing a letter to the Select Committee on the 31st of July, of which I
have the honour to inclose you a copy.
The 1st of August I receiv'd orders from the Select Committee to march early next morn-
ing towards Conjeveram. Eioncollam, etc., provided the provisions and stores shou'd arrive in
camp that night; but they did not arrive that night, nor are they yet arriv'd. The same letter
informd me that the Select Committee had appointed Sir Hector Munro to command the
army, and that Sir Hector wou'd join me next day, or the day following, on the march.
By order of the Governor and Select Committee, I march'd, the 17th of August, in the
evening, from Poonamallee to St. Thomas's Mount, where I arriv'd and encamp'd the troops
son, then serving under Sir David Baird iu leod's return from India, he made a special
Ireland, dated May 1821, says, " I remember application by letter, dated 21st January
a story, that when report came to Europe 17S4-, to Lord Sidney, as Secretary of State,
that Tippoo's prisoners (of whom Baird was on behalf of Captain David Baird, then senior
one) were chained together two and two, his Captain in the 73d regiment, in the hope that
mother said, 'God pity the poor lad that's justice might be done to that deserving
chained to our Davie.' " After Lord Mac- officer. — [Copy letter at Tarbat House.]