December

Decr. 5.
Agreeable to orders issued the preceeding [sic] day, the Army moved forwards from their Encampment on the Heights of Cananore towards (as is supposed) the Ghauts; the Reserve or Advanc'd Brigade leading, the Army having marched from the Right, in Columns of half Companies. — The Army marched at half after Six OClock in the morning, and arriv'd at their Ground at Caroley at Eleven OClock; distance Twelve Miles. —

Some of my Coolies having gone to Tellicherry to buy Provisions, I was under the disagreeable necessity of leaving my Tent standing and all my Baggage on the Ground at Cananore; I therefore was obliged to ride back to look after it; fortunately my Coolies arriv'd there before me; and I found my Europe Servant Malcolm Mc.Innes, (whom I this very day took into my Service) in charge of the whole: – I had my Tent Struck and everything pack'd up immediately to be ready to move next morning at day-break to join the Regiment.

I reckon myself very well Equipped for taking the Field this Campaign: being provided as follows vizt. a Horse to ride occasionally. — Six Bullocks for carriage of my Baggage. — a Dooly to sleep in or to be carried in case of Sickness. — four Dozen of Madeira, Four Doz. Brandy, some Gin, Two Maunds of Fine Biscuit, a Cheese, Spices, Two thirds of a Tub of Sugar, Eight Pounds of Fine Tea, some Fowls and a small quantity of Salt Beef, composed my Eatables and Drinkables. — Two small light Trunks contained my Clothes, Linens and books and Shoes. — I have a new Tent, a Table, a Chair, Lamps or Lanthorns, and Ten Pounds of Wax Candles; these and several other little Equipments unnecessary to mention cost me upwards of ... ... [text blank] I have at present Ten Servants and Coolies; my Head Servant that was sent me from Bombay turn'd out a great Rascal, and deserted my Service about Ten days before I left the Cantonments at Durmapatam, altho' he was always well treated, and received previous to his leaving Bombay from my Agent there, the Sum of Sixty Rupees as three months Wages in advance. —

Decr. 6.
I got up at day-break, had my Bullocks loaded and sent my Servants off with all my Baggage: – the Bullocks were very restive and troublesome at first setting out and went on very slowly, often laying down with their Loads; on coming up to Caroley, found the Regt. had marched with the whole of the Army that morning forwards; I consequently proceeded on to follow them without halting; but, after marching about five miles more, I found my Bullocks and coolies were so much tired that I order'd them to halt for the night; and went on myself accompanied by my Dooly, to where the Army had halted, which was near Illiacour or Eariacore, and arriv'd where the Regiment was encamped about Sunsett [sic] : – having left orders with my Servants to come on with my Baggage as early in the morning as possible.

[Decr. 7.]
— I slept in Doctor Anderson's Tent, it having rained all night very heavy, and our men were exposed to all the violence of it, no Tents being up for them. — The Reserve crossed the River Billiapatam at Illiacour the same day and encamp'd on the Heights above the Town.

I rode back, carrying two Soldiers with me, early this morning to meet my Baggage – I met it coming on very slowly – left the soldiers with it to assist my Servants in bringing it along, and return'd to join the Regt. which I found had just marched with the rest of Army to cross the River, distant about half a mile – I followed immediately and joined them – we crossed the River in Boats, there being an immense body of water at this time in the River, tho' we forded it in February last at the same place: – the Army had a short march this day, having only proceed[ed] as far as Calliat about Four Miles from Euricoon, where we found most excellent grazing for our Cattle. — As soon as the Regiment were dismissed on their Ground at Calliat, I return'd across the River in quest of my Baggage again, and found it was arriv'd at the Ground we had left – I had it all removed on to the bank of the River, and it being too late for crossing to the other side, I determin'd on staying with it all night in order to see it all safe across the River in the morning.

Decr. 8.
I got up at Day-break, got my Horse, Dooly, Bullocks and all my Baggage safe across the River after a good deal of fatigue and trouble, owing to the immense crowds of Men and Cattle that were crossing at the same time; after seeing my Bullocks reloaded, I proceeded to Camp, where I arrived about Eleven OClock: – I Pitched my Tent and made myself as comfortable as I could, after my Fatigues during the three preceeding [sic] days; – the only accident that happen'd me on this occasion was One Bullock having strayed into the Woods after bringing its Load to the River-side; this incommoded me a little, as I was obliged to leave One Bullock Load at Euricoon at the Moody-Kauna; but, as soon as the rest of my things arriv'd in Camp, I sent two Coolies back in quest of the lost Bullock, which they found and brought into Camp late in the Evening. —

Decr. 11.
The Army, excepting the 3d. Brigade, marched this morning at Half Past Six OClock and arrived at Viatore at One OClock; having had a very tedious tho' short march. — All my Baggage did not come up till the next morning; my Bullocks having turned out very ill being very lazy and restive.

Decr. 12.
The Three Brigades moved again this morning at the usual Hour – we arrived on our respective Grounds near Stoney-River about 1'OClock.

All my Baggage came up this night, excepting One Bullock, which did not arrive till late next day. My Tent was too late of coming up to get it Pitched this night, so that I had no other cover than my Dooly to shelter me from a very heavy rain that continued to fall all night.

Decr. 13.
All this day rained very heavy; and the Army continued to remain on the same Ground: – the roads to the Ghauts are reported to be very bad.

Decr. 14.
The Troops remained on the same Ground.

Decr. 15.
The Guns attached to the different Corps of the Army, were sent forward this morning (with a strong Working Party from the Line) to the foot of the Ghauts: – these Guns (two Six Pounders to each Regiment and Battalion) were brought up by water as far as Earicour, where they were attached to the Corps and from whence they carried them. — The Grenadier Battn. of Native Infantry was sent up the Ghauts this day also. —

Decr. 16.
Friday. The Army, agreeable to orders, marched this morning at Six OClock from their Ground near Stoney River, and arrived at the foot of the Ghaut about Nine OClock, where the Corps took charge of their respective Guns to carry them up to the top of the Ghauts: – this proved as very fatiguing and difficult operation: the ascent being very slippery in most places owing to the late heavy falls of Rain; the Advanced Brigade got up all their Guns before dark; but the 1st. Brigade only got part of theirs up, and the 2d. Brigade being the last, were obliged to leave all theirs in the Ghauts untill [sic] next morning, altho' we wrought and drag'ed them for a considerable time after it was dark; by which means our Regiment (being in the rear of the whole) did not arrive at the Ground on top of the Poodicherrum Ghaut untill [sic] Ten OClock at night; neither Officers or men had any Tents or Baggage up; and very few Officers had even their Camp Cloaks along with them, these, their Doolies and Servants being prevented from coming up with us by General Orders for fear of crowding the Ghaut too much untill [sic] all the guns were brought up; we were, therefore, very properly broke in this night at the commencement of our Campaign, every one being under the necessity of laying out on the Cold Ground in the open air during the night, which was exceedingly cold indeed; I felt it extremely so, for I was thinly clothed and had no Cloak or anything to cover me, nor nothing to eat; so that I may safely say it was one of the most disagreeable nights of my life.

Decr. 17.
It being my Tour of duty, I was order'd to go down the Ghaut at day-break this morning, with Four Subalterns and Two Hundred and Fifty of our Regiment, to bring up our Two Guns and Two Tumbrels, which Duty we executed in two Hours from the time we set out, the morning being very Cold and consequently favourable for labour of this nature. —

I was agreeably surprised, about One OClock today, to find that all my Servants, Bullocks and Baggage, were safely arrived in Camp: – my Bullocks being bad and my Baggage heavy, led me to suppose, that they wou'd not get so easily up.

Our Regiment is on nearly the same Ground we occupied here last Campaign: – the Reserve is advanced about three miles in front, where the Travancore Troops were encamped last Campaign.

Decr. 18.
We moved to a new Ground of Encampment about a Quarter of a Mile to the Right.

Decr. 19.
It rained very hard all this night, and there was a great deal of Thunder and Lightning: – the weather for these three days past has been very unpleasant – constant fogs or light rain.

The whole of this month we had very unpleasant cold weather at night and in the Mornings.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 - 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.332-347. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #172-179].