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Average strength of 2d Battalion

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Deaths

Received from duty as sappers, and from other quarters

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Recruits and two prisoners from the Enemy

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Average total strength of the Regiment

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A Chaplain was attached to the 4th battalion. Colonel Thomas Bruce, Lieutenant-Colonel G. Conningham, and Major W. Malcolm, were the field-officers of the 1st battalion. Colonel Braithwaite, Lieut.-Colonel E. Collins, and Major Alex. Wynch of the 2nd: Colonel James Bridges, Lieutenant-Colonel R. Tolson, and Major Cuppage, of the 3rd; and Colonel Charles Fraser, LieutenantColonel Thomas Prendergast, and Major F. Gowdie, of the 4th.

Among other officers of the corps who were on the general staff of the army were the following:Colonel Braithwaite commanded the centre division; Colonel Fraser, and Lieutenant-Colonel Prendergast, Vizagapatam; Major Malcolm was Adjutant-General of the army, and eventually Military AuditorGeneral; Captain Barry Close, Deputy AdjutantGeneral, and afterwards Adjutant-General; Captain Gabriel Doveton, with Tippoo's sons; Lieutenant William McLeod, intelligence department with the grand army; Captain Alexander Agnew, Deputy Adjutant-General of the army.

In July 1793, on the breaking out of the war with France, a force, commanded by Colonel Braithwaite, of which two battalions of the corps formed part, marched against Pondicherry, which surrendered on the 23rd of August.

Pondicherry was garrisoned by 900 European troops and 1500 militia.

The latter end of the year, the 4th battalion

marched to Ellore, and in May 1794, its flank companies embarked at Masulipatam for the Presidency, and were intended for service at the Isle of France, had not that expedition been abandoned. The same month, three companies of the same battalion embarked for Vizagapatam, to crush an outbreak in that quarter.

In October, the Reverend Mr. Owen joined the 3rd battalion at Pondicherry as its chaplain.

In the latter end of December, the 3rd battalion marched from Pondicherry to Poonamallee.

In February 1795, a company of the 2nd battalion of the regiment was sent to garrison Bencoolen.

In July, an expedition, of which the 1st and 3rd battalions of the regiment formed part, sailed from Madras with Admiral Rainer's squadron, for the reduction of the Dutch possessions. The land forces were commanded by General James Stewart. Trincomallee, in Ceylon, was besieged for three weeks, and capitulated as preparations were being made to carry it by storm.

In February 1796, Colombo and Point De Galle were also taken, and the complete subjugation of Ceylon effected; after which a part of the expedition, including detachments from the 1st and 3rd battalions, sailed against Malacca, Amboyna, Banda, and Ternate, which were all reduced after a slight resistance.

On the 20th November, 1795, the following Government Order was published :—

"The Right Honorable the President in Council is pleased to publish the following resolution of the Honourable the Court of Directors in their letter to His Lordship under date 10th June, 1795:

"Resolved, that the thanks of the court be given to Colonel Braithwaite, late Commander-in-chief of the forces, and to the officers and soldiers under his command, for their good conduct, and the important services rendered to the Company by them in the reduction of Pondicherry, and that the same be communicated to them in public orders."

In January 1796, two small corps of Europeans, one of artificers, and the other of pioneers, were formed for service in the Island of Ceylon, and were composed of drafts from the 2nd and 3rd battalions of the regiment: each corps consisted of one subaltern, two sergeants, two corporals and twenty-six privates.

During 1796, the battalions were stationed as follows:-1st and 3rd on service at Ceylon, and to the Eastern Islands; 3rd at Pondicherry, with a detachment in Ceylon; and the 4th at Masulipatam.

In July, the following General Orders by Government were issued, regarding the European infantry :

Fort St. George, 12th July, 1796.

"The Right Honourable the President in Council, is pleased to publish for the information of the army, the following extracts of orders of the

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Honourable Court of Directors, under date the 8th of January, 1796:

"Orders of the Honourable Court of Directors, 8th January, 1796.

"We have taken into our most serious consideration, the state of the Company's military establishments at our several settlements, together with the memorials which have been addressed us from the respective corps of officers, and having maturely considered the same, we have resolved that the peace establishment for your presidency shall be as follows:

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"EUROPEAN INFANTRY.-Two regiments.

Having thus detailed the new peace establishment for your presidency, we have great satisfaction in acquainting you, that in order to prevent the existence of jealousies between the King's and Company's troops :

"The Right Honourable Henry Dundas, one of His Majesty's principal secretaries of state, has engaged to recommend to His Majesty to give every officer of the Company a king's commission of the same date with that which he receives from the Company, with a retrospect founded on the date of the general brevet which has taken place in His Majesty's army.

Paymasters.

"That to each regiment or battalion, one of the officers be appointed paymaster, with proper allowances for the same: such appointment to be

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