Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 25.11
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 25.11
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25.11.1
After this peace, he passed ten or twelve years in rest and tranquillity; but spent this interval in making mighty preparatives. He sent Embassadors with rich and curious presents to Kerim-qhan-zendi, then master absolute of all Iran; and these in their master's name requested leave to raise in his dominions some thousand men of cavalry. The permission being soon granted, the Envoys, who were furnished with large sums of money, soon brought from thence some thousand Persian Moghuls, all young vigorous men, commanded by proper officers of their own. On the other hand, he opened a correspondence with the French of Mauris, an island over against his country, and by their means he opened another correspondence with the Ministers of the French kingdom. Thither also he sent curious and rich presents. Meanwhile he imported into his country a number of excellent horses, which he got mounted by Bar-ghirs, or men which he paid a part, as it is customary in India. These he disciplined in a manner particular to himself, teaching some thousands of them to form their ranks, and without breaking them, to face about and attack on a full gallop some thousands of others opposite them. He also obliged the Moghul and Indian troopers that were in his service, to be exercised every day for nine hours together, in the evolutions and rules of moving and fighting in order; insomuch that he rendered them expert in their business, and capable of any service.
25.11.2
To this numerous body of cavalry, he added seventy thousand musqueteers, armed with flint locks, and which he disciplined in the European manner. This mighty army was followed by a train of seven hundred pieces of artillery, mounted and served exactly in the English and French manner. After spending some years in these preparations, he became so conscious of his own strength, that he sallied forth, and conquered both from the Malavar Princes, and from the Marhattas, an extent of ground that yielded a revenue of about four Corors a year. His army accoutred and furnished abundantly with every necessary, exactly as in Europe, is kept under the strictest order and discipline. They say that his eldest son, who is now his best General, does not dare to deviate a hair's breadth from any of his orders; so far are any others from daring it themselves. One day he commanded him to be on horseback seven hours after sun set, and to go to such a spot. It happened that although he mounted at the proper time, it was however after a short delay. But that short delay was taken up; that very moment he sent for him back, and made him undergo the punition of the whip. Nor was he less exact in other respects.
25.11.3
On observing that the Moghul and Persian Officers in his army, were perpetually fighting amongst themselves, he sent for them, and represented to them in a moderate tone of voice, and in a friendly manner, "That as he had procured them from afar, and they had cost him already an immense sum of money, they ought to reserve themselves for his service, instead of killing and slaughtering each other as they did every day; he added, that as they were strangers in this country, they ought to live upon good terms with the Indians, and by all means upon terms of tenderness and love with their own countrymen." But this friendly reprimand had no effect; and they went on in their usual way, above all, making no account of the Indians, and endlessly quarrelling and fighting amongst themselves, and against the others. Two or three times he repeated his reprimand, and two or three times he repeated it in vain. At last he grew tired, and one day he ordered two or three of those disobedient officers, to be seized and made fast to an elephant's feet, where they were trampled to death. From that day they returned to order and obedience; and having tucked up the hem of obedience into the sash of zeal and submission, they are now brought under a strict discipline, and are at all times ready for immediate action. To defray such expenses, he has got possession of immense treasures, amassed from ancient times by the Princes of Decan for several ages past;
25.11.4
nor is there in all Hindostan a power comparable to his in wealth, strength, splendour, discipline, and number of good troops. However, all this I mention upon general report; for after all, God only knows whether I am mistaken in that assertion. Haider-naic finding himself able to assert his rights, conceived now the design of recovering several territories which the Marhattas had wrested some years before from him; and he sent them word, that if they returned quietly those countries, and made a treaty with him, he would assist them with all his forces in their quarrel with the English; else, they must prepare for war. The Court of Poona which was now sensible of the importance of such an ally at such a critical time, concluded that it was as happy an offer as they might wish for; and having soon agreed to his demands, they proposed a treaty with him on these two conditions: The first, that he should himself come over to their assistance, and fight by their side. The second, that if his affairs did not permit him to come so far, then that he should invade the province of Arcat, carry ruin and devastation in every part of it, and keep in continual alarms, the armies and power of the English. Haider-naic, finding it impossible and inexpedient to join the Marhattas, accepted the second condition. As soon as this treaty had been concluded and executed, he prepared to fulfil it on his part.
25.11.5
In the middle of the year 1194 of the Hedjra, he invaded the province of Arcat with an army that covered the plains, like the waves of an angry sea, and with a train of artillery that had no end. Being arrived at about forty or fifty cosses from the territory of Mendradj, he stopped there, and suddenly dispatched a strong body of troops under his son, with orders to push hastily to the capital. This General arriving unexpectedly, made himself master of that city, as well as of the palace of Mahmed-aaly-qhan, the Viceroy of the province, together with whatever they contained. They say that he did not offer much injury or damage to the inhabitants of the city, but that he ruined the gardens and country-houses belonging to the English, and made prisoners those he found there. Gen. Monro, the same who had heretofore beaten the Vezir of Hindostan at Bacsar, when he was only a Major, was now General, and appointed to the defence of the factory and fortress of Mendradj. He came out of the walls with ten battalions of Talingas, and sixteen pieces of cannon, furnished with every necessary, such as ball and powder; and he intended to fight. But Haider-naic hearing of this, wrote to his son to retreat from thence, and to draw the English army into the plain, and meanwhile to retrograde himself gradually towards his father. The son having obeyed punctually, Gen.
25.11.6
Monro put his army in battle array, and having ordered a regiment with some Captains, and Lieutenants, and Ensigns, and some Sergeants, with two pieces of cannon, and necessaries to advance forward as usual, at two or three cosses distance from the main body, he followed himself with his whole army; and in this manner he advanced ten or twelve cosses farther from the fortress. Haider-naic hearing of this, sent a body of troops under the command of his son, with orders first to charge the regiment in question, and then to send intelligence every moment, and meanwhile to stand ready to execute further commands. The son did as he was commanded; and he attacked the regiment with so much vigour, that the Commander of it, after having bravely stood his ground, and received the enemy with a fire of musketry and cannon, sent word to the General, that the combat was drawing to a length; that his numbers were thinned; the enemy numerous; and that he wanted immediate relief. As the distance was great, and one-quart of the day was already spent, when the combat commenced, it was noon before the trooper with the intelligence arrived; and some time more being spent before the General could fix his mind on a resolution, there remained only one-third of the day, when he sent four regiments to the assistance of the first, two of which were European white soldiers, new landed from Europe, the others being Indian Talingas. But it was evening before they could arrive.
25.11.7
The five regiments being joined, passed the night on the spot. On this intelligence, Haider-naic sent his son-in-law with fresh troops to his son's assistance; and these recommenced the attack at day-break. The English were worsted; and finding that their General had erred, in not marching up with his whole army, they thought it expedient to retreat to the main body; and they commenced a retreat, but always in good order, and always turning about, and always facing their pursuers. The enemy continued pressing on all sides, and perpetually attacking with rockets, cannon-balls, muskets and bombs; and they had already burned the plants of the lives of numbers of English soldiers, when they were likewise favoured by fortune. It happened that one of the English carts of powder and ammunition took fire. In an instant the whole provision blew up, and carried away such vast numbers of men, which happened to be near or at no great distance, that those that survived the disaster, proved not numerous enough to continue the combat. The enemy having surrounded them, sent them promises of quarter. The English who are a courageous nation, full of military pride and firmness of heart, refused to surrender; upon which an order came to put them to the sword; and the poor souls were all hacked to pieces. It happened that three or four men escaped from the slaughter, and reached General Monro's encampment;
25.11.8
but their report struck such a panic in his mind, that this General, whose courage had never been doubted to that day, no sooner heard the detail of the slaughter, than he lost his wonted firmness, and betrayed every mark of fear, trepidation and dismay. The report goes that he passed the night without going to bed. And that at day-break he mounted a fleet horse, and without stopping anywhere, or giving himself a moment to breathe, he retired within the fortress of Mendradj. The forlorn army following in much distress and disorder retired into the fortress likewise; and the victorious in full pursuit of the runaways, entered the city of Mendradj, which they mastered; so that there remained to the English nothing but the fortress of that name. They say that in a few days after, the fortress of Arcat, the capital of Mahmed-aaly-qhan's dominions, who was the Viceroy of the Carnatec, was taken by the enemy, as well as that of Pool-churry, which last had been lately taken by the English from the French; and as in times of calamity, a misfortune never comes alone, it happened that a difference arising between the English and the Talingas of the garrison of Is-hac-patan (Vizagapatam), these last who were numerous, fell upon the small number of the English, and killing some of them, imprisoned the others; and thus that place also came cheaply in Haider-naic's power.