Under a Tropical Sun: Documents

1796

Lachlan Macquarie's Journal, 1796
Personal description by Captain Lachlan Macquarie [77th Regiment of Foot] of events in India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in the period from 1 January - 15 April 1796.

Letter, 23 February 1796
Captain Lachlan Macquarie to Colonel James Stuart, commanding officer of the British military expedition to Ceylon in 1796 [in Colombo].
Description of the surrender of the Dutch forces at Galle to the force of 800 British troops under the command of Lachlan Macquarie.

Letter, 24 February 1796
Captain Lachlan Macquarie to Major Patrick Alexander Agnew, Adjutant-General of the British military expedition [in Colombo].
Description of the order of events at Galle following the occupation of the fortress and the financial arrangements made by Macquarie with the former Dutch commandeur, Dietrich Fretz, regarding currency and local exchange rates.

Letter, 26 February 1796
Captain Lachlan Macquarie to Colonel James Stuart [in Colombo].
Brief description of the fortifications at Galle and a listing of the ordnance stored inside the fortress. This letter was forwarded with two other enclosures: a listing of the number and names of Dutch prisoners of war at Galle; and a list of public buildings at Galle that belonged to the Dutch East India Company (VOC).

Letter, 18 March 1796
Captain Lachlan Macquarie to Colonel James Stuart.
Description of the arrangements made by Macquarie for the transfer of his command at Galle to Captain Bannerman.

Letter, 29 March 1796
Captain Lachlan Macquarie to Dietrich Thomas Fretz, former commandant of the Dutch fortress at Galle.
Personal letter of thanks to Fretz for the hospitality and co-operation he extended to Macquarie following the surrender of the fortress. Discussion of personal matters.

James Welsh - Military Reminiscences
Description by Lieutenant James Welsh, [later Colonel], 9th Battalion Madras Native Infantry, of the 1796 campaign.

Army List 1796: 73rd Regiment
List of the Officers of the 73rd Regiment.

Army List 1796: 77th Regiment
List of the Officers of the 77th Regiment.