The arrival of General Coote, a very able officer, at Madras from Bengal, and a description of the battle of Muhammad Bunder, and the death of Meer Alí Ruza Khan. Also, the march of the victorious army towards Tanjore and Nuthurnuggur,* and the victories then gained; being the year 1195, Hijri, 1780.
AN English officer of rank, named General Coote, who was unequalled among his compeers in ability, and experience in war, and who had frequently fought with the French of Phoolcheri, (Pondicherry) in the Karnatic, and by his military knowledge and talents had as often gained the victory over them, had lately returned to England: but at that time the country of Bengal being a new conquest, and requiring regulation and settlement, he was ordered from England,* that he might himself carry the necessary arrangements into effect. Hearing, however, of the march of the Nawaub’s army to the conquest of the Karnatic, the taking of Arkat, and most of the other forts, and the defeat of the English troops, through the pride and insolence of young officers,* this commander postponed till a future time the regulation of affairs in Bengal, and with six hundred Europeans, and two battalions of Bengal Sipahees, embarked on swift sailing ships, and with all expedition arrived at Madras. On the following day, he visited Muhammad Alí Khan, Surájuddowla, who had left Turmul Ghurri, or Gurhi, and now resided in the Motial Peenth, and asked him “What have you done with your troops?” Muhammad Alí replied, “I have been deceived in putting too much reliance in the aid of your troops; and, in consequence, have fallen in rank and respectability. The reason of this is, that certain English gentlemen strongly asserted and insisted, that one European or man of their country was equal to twenty men of this country, that is, of my servants, as had been often seen, and why should money be thrown away in employing such useless men? Relying on deceiving words like these, I have disbanded my troops, and their monthly pay I hand over to you, and consequently I expect you to provide for my defence.” The General smiled at hearing this story, and said, “Some wag has told you this out of fun or in a joke; but it is necessary that princes should maintain forces and state,* to the extent of their means, otherwise they may soon expect to become beggars.”
In fine, Surájuddowla, repenting of what he had done, hid the face of shame in the hood of patience, and assembling two or three thousand musketeers, three hundred troop, or regular horse, and two hundred dismounted cavalry, the worthy or appropriate* force of his state, and taking the horses of his own stables, and the riding horses of his sons and relations, he handed them over to the General for service. The whole of the carriage oxen of the merchants, and citizens, were also borrowed to draw the guns, and two lakhs (200,000) of Hoons or pagodas* in specie, which he had in the treasury, were presented to pay for the carriage of the baggage of the army.
Determining to chastise the brave soldiers of the Nawaub, the General now, by prudent management, gradually restored the confidence of the before frightened, dismayed army, and encamped with them in the plain of Frengi Koh,* (the French rocks,) where he expended hundreds of thousands of pounds* from the (E. I.) Company’s treasury, and for three months occupied himself in disciplining his troops, enlisting recruits, and collecting provisions, (ships continually arriving from Bengal laden with corn), and procuring military stores, ammunition, and artillery. To convey his ammunition, tents, &c. he sent for bullocks from the Wankul and Neeloor districts, which had not yet been ravaged by the fury of the Kuzzaks, or trodden under the hoofs of the plundering cavalry. After he had thus completed all his arrangements, he marched forward by the route of Choongul Peeth (Chingleput), but with great care and caution. The Nawaub, on hearing this news despatched his horse in front, under the command of Sidi Hillal, and Gholaum Alí Khan, Bukhshi, to surround and harrass the army of the General, and himself followed from Arkat.
In this time, the General attacked the fort of Girgit Paleh, which was garrisoned by the Nawaub’s troops; and, surrounding it before day break, by the means of ropes and ladders, his men mounted the walls, and, with musketry and the bayonet, killed all those who manned the bastions. After the commandant had gallantly defended the fort for an hour, and had drank of the cup of martyrdom, the General, being the conqueror, divided the stores found in the fort among his own troops, and marched on, and that day encamped in the neighbourhood of Achurwakum. Roshun Khan, Dustadár, who was employed in the siege of Purmokul Gurh,* and Rustum Alí Khan Farooki, who also had afterwards been appointed to take that hill fort, having, notwithstanding their great exertions, failed to reduce the garrison, now left their batteries as they were, behind them, and joined the Nawaub’s army. The next day the English General marched, and, under cover of the hills and forests, arrived at Purmokul, where he conferred high honours on the brave officer who commanded there; and, taking him with the army, he left another officer in charge of that mountain fort. The next day the General proceeded on the road to Phoolcheri; (Pondicheri); but, although the victorious troops (Hydur’s,) surrounded and attacked on all sides the English army on its march, and considered whatever baggage remained in the rear as their own property, no field was found qualified for an open fight. Having reached Phoolcheri, the General obtained grain and provisions from the mercenary French merchants of that place, on paying for the same; and thence marched to Kootoor, where he arrived safe, and encamped before the castle or fort, and sent for his supplies of grain and warlike stores by sea from Madras, Mutchliputtun, (Musulipatam) &c.