Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

now created fresh doubts of the fidelity of the sepoys, nor did that of the native officers in general escape suspicion. A distrust which at length gave rise to a very disagreeable circumstance.

On the 23d of February, in consequence of a horseman having imputed treachery to the subahdar Missauber, the Europeans came at night to the commanding officer, alleging the horseman could prove the subahdar to have frequently received letters from Mirza, and carried on his correspondence by the man who formerly conveyed letters from captain Torriano to colonel Gordon; adding that the subahdar was accessary to the late desertions, and particularly to those of the preceding night: all this was firmly believed by the regulars, and under this circumstance the distressed state of the garrison rendered it difficult on what measures to resolve. If only a private and delicate investigation took place, the complainants might attribute it to an ill-founded confidence, and be apprehensive of falling a sacrifice. If, on the contrary, a public inquiry was adopted, they might lose the attachment of an officer, whose great exertions and general good character had given him much weight in the garrison, and particular influence over the sepoys. Engineer Blachford was also informed, that two sepoys of the sultaun's guard had just been with the quarter-master serjeant, and informed him of a concerted plot for assassinating the officers and seizing the fort: the attack was to commence at head-quarters.

A fresh difficulty now arose, in consequence of two sepoys being ordered for execution in the evening. The Europeans employed to execute the last criminal, having been stigmatized by their companions as hangmen, were averse to a repetition of that

disagreeable duty, and modestly represented their objection to the commanding officer; who informed them the duty must be done, and he would be present at the execution. This representation having been respectfully made, no notice was then taken of it: at the appointed hour captain Torriano, accompanied by three other gentlemen attended the party. The place of execution was between the enemy's batteries and the fort: while on their way thither they were interrupted by the hasty arrival of a person who had been employed to gain information; after a private conversation with the captain he retired, and the party proceeded. While the criminals stood under the gallows with halters about their necks, the quarter-master serjeant, hitherto distinguished for exemplary conduct, with a countenance expressive of every humane sensation, dropped upon his knees; and, in the name of all the Europeans supplicated for a pardon to the deserters. The commandant immediately replied, that both himself and his brave comrades must be sensible it was his first wish to oblige them in every reasonable request, but in the present instance a paramount duty to his employers, himself, and every man under his command, precluded all possibility of compliance. This he was assured they would readily credit, when at a proper time they were informed of the reasons for this resolution. The execution was then ordered; but on the appearance of some reluctance, captain Torriano took a pistol from the holster, and threatening to shoot the first man who refused obedience, the criminals were launched into eternity.

On leaving this distressing scene, captain Torriano hastened to the fort, where an alarming occurrence required immediate attention. The person who so hastily addressed him, when pro

ceeding to the place of execution, gave information that all the sepoys posted in the outworks, headed by their jemautdar, had agreed to desert to the enemy the following night. The guards were directly withdrawn from the outworks, and the guns brought into the fort. The jemautdar, suspected to be the ringleader, was put in irons, and sent into close confinement; where, conscious of his guilt, he committed suicide.

In the mean time Mr. Cruso repaired to Mirza's durbar, to complain of his not having relieved the sultaun's guard stationed at Onore, and to inform him, if not immediately done, twenty of his men would be ordered out of the fort. Mirza sent an apology with the necessary order, which had only been prevented by a multiplicity of business. In the evening the sepoy who communicated the intended assassination of the European officers, underwent an examination, in which it appeared he was addicted to drinking, and his story proved altogether absurd and improbable; the garrison were nevertheless so strongly impressed with the idea, that at night when the commanding officer retired to his couch near the breach, he found himself attended by a guard of Europeans, with fixed bayonets. On the sultaun's guard being relieved, agreeably to the stipulation, two field-pieces, loaded with grape-shot, were placed under a proper guard, with lighted matches, immediately opposite the station; where they remained until the evacuation of Onore. It is almost unnecessary to remark, that this step was taken for the sole purpose of dissipating the prejudices of the Europeans, which no argument could subdue. When it is considered that these prejudices originated entirely

from fidelity and attachment to their officers, they will be found more deserving of applause than reprehension.

The commander in chief being daily expected in a vessel off Onore, captain Torriano prepared the following letter to be ready on his arrival, which affords a statement of affairs on the 28th of February, 1784.

"It is with the greatest surprise and regret, I find the repeated representations I have made of the distress, and alarming situation of the Onore garrison, totally unattended to; and my frequent and ardent request that some vessel of force, for various reasons, should lay off this port, not complied with. Regardless of my own fate, I cannot but acutely feel the sufferings of my brave comrades, who although now greatly reduced in number, a prey to disease, surrounded by death, and deceived by fruitless promises of relief, still adhere to me. To enumerate their sufferings would swell this letter beyond a prudent size for its conveyance; I shall therefore only mention, that within the short period of six weeks five hundred persons, soldiers and natives, have fallen victims to a cruel pestilence which rages within these walls. Desertion nearly keeps pace with death: so serious and so incredible is the former, that among the number lately gone over to the enemy is a British officer. The effect of such conduct on the mind of the now almost desponding garrison, is easier to conceive than describe. Mirza, the sultaun's commanding officer, is daily urging us in the strongest terms and most threatening manner, to capitulate; assuring us we need no longer indulge any hope of relief; and that if the terms granted by Tippoo Sultaun to the garrison

of Mangulore are not now accepted, less merciful will be the portion of those, who, from famine and disease, must in a short time inevitably fall into the hands of the sultaun.

66

Every means in my power shall be exerted to defend the place, while a grain of rice remains for subsistence; but I trust the British arms will not be so shamefully tarnished as to admit this fortress, unsupported, to fall into the enemy's hands. Of my few officers, death has deprived me of one, desertion of another; my garrison is reduced to sixty effective men: to preserve them I have been reduced to the necessity of withdrawing the guards from the outworks, the enemy having nearly succeeded in seducing the whole; for although every man taken in the act of desertion, has been put to death, still so great is the dread of the horrid disorder, which sweeps away all before it, and so little the hope of relief, that the executions have not had the intended effect. The quantity of provisions remaining in the fort is very small; and with regret I add, that great part of the rice, the only food of the sepoys, is much damaged.

"The enemy have received a strong reinforcement, and the buxey informs me they are to be increased by ten additional battalions: on their arrival we are told more hostile measures will be adopted, to bring us to a proper sense of our condition; for which purpose the sultaun has sent another officer to command the Onore army. Much of this information was intended to intimidate the garrison; and I am sorry to add it has had the desired effect on most of the sepoys.

"I hear hostilities are commenced in the Sadurhagur quarter; and from various causes I have great reason to be apprehensive

[blocks in formation]
« ForrigeFortsett »