East India Company Dispatch - Real Corporate War

The following dispatch from the commanding officer of an East India Company expedition in 1805 speaks for itself. The British Empire took over India less by design than by mercantile accident, the ready availability of British troops to compliment company forces, and the fact that India had been occupied by Muslim Mughal's for a few hundred years and was anxious to see them off. Presented in its entirety:

From the London Gazette, Saturday, June 23
The following intelligence has been received at the East-India House, from Bengal
To his excellency the Most Noble Marquis Wellesley
My Lord - My dispatches of the 24th and 25th instant [letters were not received] will have informed your Lordship of the complete success of our operations against the town and fort of Deig. I attribute our early possession of this strong fortress entirely to the panic which the garrison experienced, on witnessing the irresistible valour and intrepidity of our troops in carrying by assault the outwork, and storming their numerous batteries under the walls of the town, which were supported by extensive entrenchments, occupied by a large force consisting of several of the Rajah of Burtpore's battalions, and the remaining infantry of Jeswunt Rao Holkar. The number of enemy killed on the night of the 23rd inst. Was immense. The ardent zeal, energy, and irresistible valour which marked the conduct of our Officers and troops deployed on the occasion, under circumstances of peculiar difficulty and danger, must ever reflect on them the highest credit and the benefit the nation has received from their exemplary and heroic behavior, must be matter of proud exultation to every well wisher of the British empire. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on every corps engaged, for the perfect regularity with which this service was performed. I found it necessary to divide the force, destined for this service, into three columns, the whole moving off so as to reach different points of attack a little before twelve at night. The right column, under Captain Kelly, consisting of four battalions companies of the Hon. Company’s European regiments, and five companies of the 1st battalion, 12th regiment Native Infantry, were ordered to carry the enemy’s batteries and trenches on the high ground to the left of the town. The success of this party was complete, and entides Capt. Kelly to every praise for the manner in which it was conducted, and for the coolness and gallantry he displayed under every trying circumstance, exposed to heavy fire from artillery, which was defended with desperate resolution. Captain Raban, of the Artillery, who accompanied this party for the purpose of spiking or bringing off captured ordinance, particularly signalized himself in this dangerous service. The left column under Major Radcliffe, consisting of the remaining four battalion companies of the Honorable Company’s European regiment, and five companies of the 1st battalion 12th Regiment Native Infantry, were destined to carry the trenches and batteries on the enemy’s right. The column was equally successful with that opposed to their left, and the service was performed with equal gallantry and spirit, and reflects infinite credit on Major Radcliffe. The centre column, led by Lieut. Col. Macrae (who had the general command of the whole), consisting of the flank companies of his Majesty’s 22d, 76th, and of the Hon. Company’s European regiment, and of the 1st battalion 8th Regiment Native Infantry, composed by the storming party. I have hardly words to express my sense of the conduct of this party, who, under a galling fire, on their flanks, of cannon and musketry, from the enemy’s batteries and trenches, and over broken and extremely unfavourable ground, rushed onto the breach and gained possession of the work, with a spirit and ardour which must have ensure success, whatever might have been the opposition.

I feel myself under the greatest obligation to Lieut. Col. Macrae, to whose conduct on this occasion I attribute the ultimate success of the attack. Lieut. Col. Ball, who commanded the 1st battalion 8th Regiment Native Infantry, is entitled to the greatest praise for the activity and spirit he displayed in leading on his men; and for the able assistance he rendered Colonel Macrae, in the adoption of such measures which afterwards became necessary to secure us in possession of the place. It is with sincere grief I add that this Officer received a severe, though, I trust, not a dangerous wound, but which, I fear, will deprive me of his services for some time. The conduct of Capt. Lindsay, of his Majesty’s 22d Regiment, has been represented to me as highly meritorious; I lament to add that this gallant Officer is likewise wounded. It is unnecessary for me to detail more fully the conduct of individuals, on a service where merit has been, throughout all ranks, so eminently conspicuous; but I feel it my duty to draw your Lordship’s attention to the services rendered by Lieut. Col Horsford, commanding the Artillery, to whose professional knowledge and service throughout this siege, and on every other occasion, I feel infinitely indebted, as well as to the whole of that corps, for their spirited and unremmited exertions. The Officers of the Engineer department, Capt. Robertson, and Lieut Smith, have particular merit, and are entitled to my best thanks and approbation. The corps of the Pioneers, under the orders of Capt. Swinton command my warmest praise for the cheerfulness with which they performed their laborious duties, and particularly the alacrity the displayed on the night of the 23rd inst. Too much credit cannot be bestowed on Capt. Swinton, who on this and every former occasion has been most zealous and active. I am sorry to add that this excellent Officer is severely wounded, as is Lieut Forrest of the same corps, whose conduct was equally meritorious. Your Lordship will, I am confident, receive much pleasure in learning the highly exemplary conduct of the three corps of British calvary in the camp, the whole of whom volunteered their services as working parties for the trenches and batteries, and assisted very materially in accelerating our operations against this place; they have received my sincere thanks for this duty, and for a zeal so honourable to the British character. I have the honour to enclose returns of the killed and the wounded during the siege, and on the night of the assault, with a return of the captured ordinance &c. The fugitives, composed of the Rajah Burtpore’s battalions and his garrison, with the remainder of Jeswunt Rao Holkar’s infantry, appeared generally to have taken the direction of Burtpore. By every information, great numbers have deserted; and I do not imagine they will again attempt to oppose us. I shall move toward Burtpore as soon as possible. Before I conclude this dispatch, I beg leave to mention to your Lordship the very spirited conduct of Mr. Metcalf of the Civil Service. He volunteered to accompany the storming party, and was, I am informed, the foremost to ascend the breach.

I have the honour to be, &c. G. LAKE
Head-quarters, Camp at Deig, Dec 26, 1804
Total Return of Killed and Wounded of the troops that formed the Storming Party, commanded by Brigadier Macrae, on the night of the 23d inst:
Europeans, 28 killed, 78 wounded – Natives, 101 killed, 100 wounded, 5 missing (supposed to be killed).
(Signed) J. GERRARD, Adj. Gen

As it turns out, the town and the citadel were taken, but the fortress at Burtpore never was, despite several assaults. It's interesting to note that this dispatch, written the day after Christmas in 1804, didn't reach England and get published until June 23rd. The only other thing I have to add to this excerpt is a minor note on English literature. I've often come across the phrase "mentioned in a dispatch" as a testament to the worthiness of a character in a novel. One such civilian is mentioned in this dispatch, he earned his placed by being first into the breach. Not an easy way to get your name into the newspapers. Franklyn Dailey has transcribed a Parlimentary debate about the condition of the British soldier about this time, the third reading of the Mutiny Bill.