March

Mar. 1.
Tuesday. Regular Stages, were this day established, by the Commander in chief, between Illiacour and the Corga Ghaut, for the purpose of Transporting the Guns and Stores with the greatest ease. — Working Parties, and Escorts for convoys, were also order'd to be always in readiness, from the Corps at different Stations. — The Commander in chief arrived from Illiacour on his way to the Ghaut. —

Mar. 4.
I wrote letters of this date to Lieut. Murdh. Maclean late 74th. Regt., and to Mr. John McLean of Laggan, by the Worcester Indiaman; and sent them to be forwarded from Tellicherry.

Mar. 5.
I had a very pleasant walk this Day, in the afternoon, in company with Brigade Major Erskine, Doctor Anderson & Lt. John Campbell, to the Village of Viatore, distant about three Miles: – visited a Pagoda there, and bathed in a River that runs through it.

March 7.
Doctor Anderson and myself finding our situation rather uncomfortable on the spot where we first Pitched our Tent, we removed this day into the Woods in rear of the Left of the Regt., where we cleared a very pleasant Spot for our Tent, Followers and Cattle: – we find this a very agreeable change, being much cooler and more retired, than we formerly were. — Lieut. John Campbell who lately joined our Regt., being appointed in room of Lt. Trevor, to the Company I command, is now in the Mess with Mr. Anderson and myself, and removed along with us to our pleasant rural Retreat.

March 8.
Tuesday. I wrote of this date to my Agents at Bombay, Messrs. Bruce, Fawcett & Co., for Necessaries to my Company to be sent to Tellicherry before the rains set in. —

March 9.
Wednesday. The Commander in chief wishing to make the Roads from Illiacour to the top of the Ghauts passable for Transporting the Park, Battering Train of Artillery, Heavy Stores, and Provisions, thither as soon as possible, ordered that our Regiment should move forward from the Camp at Viator nearer the Foot of the Corga Ghaut; and at the same time order'd the Bombay Regt. to advance from Illiacour towards Viatore; both Corps having orders to give strong Working Parties until the Roads to the top of the Ghauts shall be completely finished; — in consequence of these orders, the 77th. Regt. moved at Daybreak, marched about Six miles Forward, and encamped on very pleasant Ground in a Wood, close to a fine River within about Four Miles of the Foot of the Corga Ghaut. — The 2d. Battn. N. Infantry was left stationed at Viatore.

March 10.
Thursday. I was sent out at Daybreak, with a Party of Two Subalterns and One Hundred Men of the 77th. Regt., to work on the Roads, under the direction of the Chief Engineer Capt. Dacer: – the Party wrought from Six till Eleven O'Clock, and returned home, having made about a mile of Road. — The 14th. Battn. of N. Infantry commanded by Capt. Wauhab, belonging to the Madras Establishment, lately from Paulagautcherry, marched this day past us on their way to join the Advanced Corps on the top of the Ghauts.

Mar. 13.
Sunday. I was out this day with a strong Working Party making roads; and walked along with Brigade Major Erskine as far as the Foot of the Corga Ghaut, distant from our present Encampment Five miles.

The Park of Artillery arrived this morning at our Encampment from Illiacour on their way up the Ghauts. I sent off this morning by way of Tellicherry, letters for Messrs. Bruce, Fawcett & Co. dated the 12th. Inst., enclosing the 1st. Set of a Bill of Exchange on the Paymr. Genl. at Bombay, drawn in my favor (on account of the Officers of the Regiment) for 7,657 Rupees.

Mar. 15.
I wrote of this date again to Messrs. Bruce, Fawcett & Co. covering the Second Set of the above Bill, and advising of my having drawn upon them on the 14th. Inst. Sundry Bills, amounting to 6,157 Rupees; – wrote of this date also, to Mr. Adamson enclosing Capt. Montresor's Bill, and to Lt. Hill, A. Dy. Paymr. Genl. to H.M. Troops enclosing the Copy of Distribution to 24. April 1791. —

I wrote of this date to my Friend Genl. Maclean, by the Worcester Indiaman, to be dispatched from Tellicherry for England, on 17th. Inst. —

Mar. 21.
Monday. Orders having been received from the Commander in chief for that Purpose, the 77th. Regiment marched this morning at Day-break to join the rest of the Troops encamped with the Commander in chief on the top of the Ghauts. Our march to the foot of the Corga Ghaut was very pleasant being about Five miles from our last Ground; but the ascent we found exceedingly Steep indeed for Four Miles, and consequently very fatiguing to the poor Soldiers, who were loaded besides their Arms, Accoutrements and Necessaries, with Thirty Six Rounds of Ball Cartridges, and Five Days Allowance of Biscuit and Rice; they performed their march, however, with great cheerfulness and arrived in high health and Spirits, after an up-hill difficult march, of about Ten Miles, the four last miles of which was almost up a Precipice, on the top of the Corga or Poodicherrum Ghaut at Ten OClock, and encamped on a very pleasant clear Hill, a little to the right and rear of the Advanced Corps – and directly in the rear of the Head Quarters. — We were visited by a number of our Friends of the Advanced Corps – I dined with Capt. Montresor today; – on the 22d. with Qr. Mr. Stewart 75th. Regt., on the 23d. with Capt. Dond. Cameron, on the 24th. wh. Capt. McKenzie; and on the 24th. with the Commander in chief. —

Mar. 26.
We had a very heavy smart Shower of Rain this afternoon about Four OClock, and which continued untill [sic] it was dark; – this is the first Rain we have had this Season, and it has commenced earlier than usual; it is to be hoped, however, we shall soon get out of the reach of the Malabar Monsoon, there being no periodical Rains in the Mysore Country, where we soon expect to be.

Mar. 27.
I was sent out today about Five Miles in front, with a Foraging Party of 150 Men of the 77th., to collect Straw to Thatch the Men's Huts with, intended to be built as a security against the approaching Monsoon, in case we should remain much longer on this Ground.

The Two Brass Field Eighteen Pounders were brought up the Ghaut this Evening with immense labour; and which, could hardly have been effected without the powerful assistance and exertions of these noble and sagacious Animals, the Elephants hired by the Company from Moosser the Black Merchant at Tellicherry. I went down the Ghaut in the Evening to see them drag up the Guns and was much pleased by the Sight.

Mar. 31.
Thursday. I received this Evening the very disagreeable accounts of the death of my Servant Donald Campbell; he was left sick in the General Hospital at Iliacour [sic] on the 25th. of February the day the Regt. marched from thence, where he died on the 30th. Inst. of a severe Dysentery and Fever; notwithstanding the aid and assistance of every medical skill being administered to him during the latter part of his illness; for, Doctor Grant Clugstone the surgeon General, having learned that he was my Servant, paid him on that account every attention in his power. —

I most sincerely regret the loss of this poor fellow; being a clean good Soldier; and having always found him sober, honest, faithful, and attached exceedingly to my Person and interest, ever since I hired him as my Servant the 18th. of January 1788 at Glasgow: this I think is a tribute of Praise that is justly due to the memory of so excellent a Servant; and so faithful and attached a follower of my Fortunes. —

Accounts arrived in camp this day, of the Death of Colonel Charles Frederick, commanding the Bombay Detachment at the Siege of Darwar; he died a natural Death; which, in part, is attributed to disappointment and vexation of mind, he must have suffered on account of the tediousness of the Siege of that place. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 - 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.237-247. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #124-129].