November

Novr. 1.
In the General Orders lately received from Earl Cornwallis, communicated to him by the War Office, and issued today to this Army; it is announced, that His Majesty has been pleased augment his Regiments of Infantry serving in India, to One Thousand Rank & File each, from the twenty third day of March last; One Serjeant and One Corporal being added to each Company.

Novr. 2.
The Raymond East Indiaman (Capt. Smedley) arrived at Cananore, with Stores and Recruits from Bombay; Capt. Spry. Lt. Bridgewater and Lieut. Gibbs, with upwards of Three Hundred Recruits for the 77th. Regiment, which lately arrived from England as the augmentation for the Regt., came Passengers in the Raymond from B'bay.

Novr. 4.
The Recruits joined the Regiment from Cananore early this morning; having been marching all Night. owing to their being late of setting out.

I went into Town, where I waited on General Abercromby to pay my respects. The 4th. Battalion of Native Infantry commanded by Capt. Home arrived at Cananore from Bombay. —

Novr. 9.
I was at a Ball and Supper given by Mr. and Mrs. Taylor at Tellicherry to the Commander in Chief and the principal Officers of the Army; – there were Nine Ladies who danced, which for as small a Place as Tellicherry was thought an extraordinary thing: I danced a Reel with pretty Agnew, Mrs. Taylor and Genl. Abercromby.

Novr. 11.
Friday. — In this days General Orders, the different Corps of the Army (the 3d. Battn. N. Infantry excepted) are ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march on the shortest notice. — When the Army is assembled, it is to be Brigaded in the following Order vizt. —

     1st. Brigade
Colonel Balfour, & Major Mc.Pherson
Major of Brigade Erskine; Dy. Mr. Geo. Gordon
H. M. 75th. Regt.; 2d. Bombay, & 14th. Madras
Battalions of Native Infantry.

     2d. Brigade
Lieut. Col. Peché & Major Dow
Major of Brigade Hooke; Qr. Mr. Stewart
H. M. 77th. Regt.; 4th. & 7th.
Battalions of Native Infantry

     3d. Brigade
Majors Stirling and Lampard.
Major of Brigade Weston; Qr. Mr. Manly.
1st Bombay European Regt.; 6th. & 10th.
Battalions of Native Infantry.

     Reserve (or Advanced Brigade) H. M. 73d. Regt.; Grenadier, and
12th. Battalions of Native Infantry;
Lieut. Col. Hartley, & Major Spens.
Major of Brigade Woodington; Qr. Mr. Brattan.

The European Corps to be formed in the center of each Brigade and of the Reserve. — The Senior Native Corps on the right of the 1st. & 3d. Brigades & Reserve, and on the left of the 2d. Brigade. —

Major Jones will receive Orders respecting the Posting of the Artillery in the Line: —

Novr. 12.
General Abercromby inspected the 77th. Regiment this morning. —

Novr. 13.
Major Stirling being appointed to the command of a Brigade, gave over charge of the 77th. Regt. to Capt. Whitelocke. Capt. Montresor returned from Madras perfectly recovered of his illness. —

Novr. 22.
Accounts arrived at Tellicherry of a smart Action having been fought a few days ago off Mangalore between His Majesty's Ship Phoenix Sir Richd. Strachan commander, and a French Frigate, which was convoying some Ships ladened with Military Stores, sent from Europe for the use of Tippoo Saib; the French Frigate and Store Ships were taken; and may very probably prove to be the cause of a War with France. —

The 7th. & 12th. Battalions, arrived at Tellicherry with the Bullocks.

Novr. 23.
Agreeable to General Orders, the Regiment (77th.) marched at day-break this morning from their Cantonments at Durmapatam to the Heights of Cananore where they encamped; and where, also, the rest of the Army are to encamp and assemble immediately; — the Regt. marched off under the command of Capt. Dunlop, Capt. Whitelocke being a Member of a Genl. Court-Martial now Sitting at Cananore. — Having some little business to settle, I got leave to remain behind the Regiment for two or three days at Durmapatam along with Doctr. Anderson and some other Officers of the Regiment. —

Novr. 25.
I went into Tellicherry and Settled and Paid off all my Accounts there. —

Novr. 26.
Saturday. I Sent off my Baggage by water to Cananore early in the morning, and after Breakfast I set out along with Capt. Gray (77th.) now appointed a Depy. Commissary, for Camp, where we arrived about Two OClock in the afternoon; after waiting on the Commanding Officer, I proceeded to the 75th Regiment's Cantonments, where I dined with a large jolly Party of Capt. Geo. Mackenzie's; in whose House, I slept all night, my Tent not being pitched. —

Novr. 27.
I got up all my Baggage from Cananore to Camp, Pitched my Tent and made myself as comfortable as I could be in a Canvass House. — I dined this day, by invitation, with Capt. Crauford Commanding H. M. 75th. Regiment. — We are encamped very near the same Ground we occupied last year immediately after the taking of Cananore, only a little more to the left and Front. —

Novr. 28.
The 73d. & 75th. Regiments; the Grenadier Battalion, & 14th. Madras Battalion marched out from their Cantonments at Cananore, and took up their Ground of Encampment in the Line. —

Novr. 30.
The Army, in this day's General Orders, are informed, that they must be ready to move on the shortest notice. —

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 - 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.324-332. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #168-172].