Under A Tropical Sun: James Welsh 1796 1796

James Welsh: 1796

TRINCOMALLEE
The harbour of Trincomallee, situated near the north-eastern extremity of the island of Ceylon, is one of the best in India; it was defended by numerous works, and might have given us much trouble to take it, but fortunately the garrison were mostly quiet merchants and mechanics, who, by a protracted defence, would have hazarded their all for the bubble reputation, and therefore very speedily surrendered. The troops destined for the conquest of the Dutch possessions on the western shore of the island, then assembled at Ramiseram, in January 1796, consisting of three European, and five native corps, under the command of Colonel Stewart *, [sic] of his Majesty's 72d regiment...

* Colonel Stewart was a very old and experienced officer, well known, and at that time much liked by the Madras army; he went by the familiar appellation of Old Row. Relieved from the government of Ceylon, he afterwards became Commander in chief at Madras, and returned to Europe in 1808.

Here, [ie. Ramiseram] on very good ground, the troops were encamped as they arrived; and about the 10th of January we took our final departure, in large open boats; crossing under the bridge, [ie. Adam's Bridge in the Straits of Manaar] as it is called, we coasted along, by Arepoo, Calpenteen &c., running on shore every evening, to cook and eat our diurnal meal, and sleep on the beach; but without any shelter from the weather, which being particularly inclement, we generally had our clothes wet through all night, and dried during the day upon our bodies: experiencing both extremes, in the course of the twenty-four hours. Our first rendezvous was Negumbo, about thirty miles north of Columbo, then in the enemy's possession. Our flotilla being drawn up in order, a landing was effected, and we found the works abandoned without resistance. Here, then, we landed our stores, camp-equipage, &c., as also the fascines and gabions we had made, under the erroneous impression that we were not likely to find materials in Ceylon, the best wooded country in the world; and I may as well anticipate the catastrophe, by remarking, that they were afterwards all served out to the Bombay Grenadier battalion, at Columbo, for firewood! the useless cost and labour being carried to the account of experience and geographical knowledge. Leaving our boats to carry on the heavy articles, for which cattle could not be procured, the army marched by land, and arrived within four miles of Columbo, without meeting the slightest resistance, as it was not until after we had crossed a broad and rapid river, that the enemy attempted to impede our approach.

COLUMBO
Advancing at daylight, we crossed the great ferry, called Grand Pass, and forming on the other side, moved on, uncertain what reception we were likely to experience, when all of a sudden a peal of musketry, and a shower of balls, arrested our attention. A body of eight hundred or one thousand Malays, followed by Dutch troops, gave us this salutation, which being returned with interest, they immediately took to flight, leaving, amongst others, a Colonel mortally wounded on the ground. His remains were interred with military honours, and we took up our almost peaceable abode in the pettah and environs, about two o'clock the next day: having, however, had a most ridiculous alarm during the night, which terminated fatally for one of our comrades. Being with the advance, I was posted in a thick grove, with one of our picquet's for the night; the next party to us was furnished by the Bombay grenadier battalion, in similar ground. All the sentries were loaded, and told to challenge distinctly any who approached them; and, if not satisfactorily answered, to fire at the object. The night was dark, and all had remained still, till towards morning, when suddenly, "Who comes there?" was bellowed out from the Bombay post, and immediately after the report of two musquets, followed by others, resounded through the grove. "Fall in ! fall in ! prime and load !" followed on our part, to which a dead silence ensued; and then one of those uncertain pauses, the most trying to the nerves and patience of a soldier. Matters remaining in this state for some time, we ventured to enquire what had occurred to our comrades on the right, and found that a buffalo had suddenly advanced on two drowsy Ducks, * and, not having the countersign, was immediately fired at; the remainder of the picquet turning out, loaded their pieces, and also commenced firing, when a shot from a better marksman than the rest killed one of our own sentries, and was even fired so close to him, as actually to blow away a part of the poor fellow's mouth. The fact was, that drowsiness had obtained such complete possession of the guard, that on their being thus suddenly wakened, they were quite unable to recognise each other in the dark.

* The Bombay army are generally designated "Ducks," perhaps from their Presidency being situated on a small island. The Bengalis are denominated "Qui hies," from a habit of exclaiming "koey hye?" "who is there?" to their domestics, when requiring their attendance; and the Madrases are designated by the appellation of "Mulls," from the circumstance of always using a kind of hot soup, ycleped Mulligatawny, literally pepper water, at their meals, particularly supper.

Negotiations having commenced between Colonel Stewart [sic] and the Dutch Governor-general, Van Angleback, [sic] we remained inactive for a few days; when, on the 16th of February, the whole of their possessions on the island were ceded to us by capitulation, in trust for the Prince of Orange, and the fort was instantly taken possession of by our troops in his name; our corps, the 9th battalion of Native infantry, being detached to Point de Galle, sixty miles south, to receive charge of, and garrison that fortress.

Columbo, the capital of the Dutch on Ceylon, is a place of considerable consequence and strength, from its natural position, as well as from its works, which were numerous and in good condition. The fort, which is extensive, contained many capital dwelling houses, including the Governor's palace, which is a most superb building. The petal had also several good houses, churches, &c., in it; and in the place, altogether, were many respectable inhabitants. Without a chance of relief, it would have been madness to have held out; and by an early capitulation, private property was not only preserved, but all the different public servants obtained pensions from our government. Columbo is also a place of great traffic by sea; the roadstead being extremely safe and commodious, particularly during the north-eastern monsoons...

CALTURA
Our first march was to Caltura, twenty-eight miles from Columbo; the road, which is generally close to the seashore, being broad and well shaded by cocoa-nut and cashew trees; and, having crossed a broad deep and rapid river in boats, we relieved the garrison of this romantic and interesting spot. The fort, built upon a small hill on the southern bank, which commands the ferry and all the adjacent country, is a beautiful little post, and in excellent repair. The town itself, having the Government-house at the extremity next to the fort, is about half a mile from it, and contains many neat and comfortable dwellings, with a few respectable resident Dutch families; whilst, further up the river, are some of the most lovely plantations to be met with in any part of the world. Our next march was to Bentott; thence to Billitott; and on the 22nd we reached Point de Galle.

My first Journals, containing the details of this march, were unfortunately lost in after-times; and I have, therefore, now nothing but my recollection to depend upon, for memoranda of Ceylon. After returning to Madura, and bringing my family a distance of five hundred miles over land, I was at first appointed to command Caltura, but Major Agnew, then Adjutant-general in Ceylon, most kindly and strongly recommending me to Colonel Stewart, I was speedily made Fort-adjutant and Paymaster of Point de Galle, to which place I consequently returned early in October.

POINT DE GALLE
The fort of Galle, sixty miles south of Columbo, built on a rocky point of land, forming the northern boundary of a good harbour, about five miles in circumference, which it completely commands, is a place of considerable extent, and the fortifications were then in a state of complete repair. Like Columbo, it was crowded with capital and substantial buildings, and had a Governor's palace, and Commandant's quarters, into the bargain. Being surrounded on three sides by the sea, the strongest works were, of course, on the land side, which is unluckily commanded by an extensive woody hill, within breaching distance. It contained many very respectable families, and a garrison, the native part of which was disbanded, and the Europeans pensioned. The Governor, Mr. Fretz, a man of rank and education, delivered up the place immediately, and was permitted, pro tempore, to retain the government-house, in which he gave all the English officers a grand dinner the first day. The utmost cordiality subsisted between us from the very first, and the English and Dutch speedily became one community. The harbour is large and commodious, and ships of from six to eight hundred tons* may enter and lie there in perfect safety, for about eight months in the year: though the south-western monsoon driving in a long swell renders it extremely dangerous at that season, when the waves rapidly rise and fall from ten to twelve feet; and though a vessel might be generally in deep enough water there, yet from the sudden rising, and consequently, falling of the sea, the situation of any ship then at anchor, must be particularly perilous.

As the road for the whole way from Columbo is excellent, so is the one nearly all round this harbour on the sea-beach, which is peculiarly firm at low water; and there are some pleasant garden-houses close to the road in the circle. The climate is delightful, and here my remarks on the temperature of Calcutta are particularly verified; since though within six degrees of the line, Point de Galle, excepting in the months of December and January, is considerably cooler the whole year round, than Calcutta in twenty-one. The country in the neighbourhood is beautifully diversified by hill and dale, and wood and water; and there are several small posts in the interior, to which we resorted on parties of pleasure, generally in boats, by means of a lake and rivulet flowing through it.

On the opposite side of the harbour also was a watering place, to which we used to sail across, on shooting and fishing excursions; it was not accessible by land, having high woody mountains in the background; and in this low spot, a fine clear spring in the sand furnishes water for all the ships which require it...

Background Notes
A close comparison of this narrative from James Welsh's Military Reminiscences [publ. 1830] with the chronology of events recorded in Lachlan Macquarie's 1796 Journal indicates that Welsh must have been one of the junior officers who served as part of the British contingent of 800 soldiers (30 men of the Madras Artillery and 7 companies of the 9th Battalion Madras Native Infantry) that was ordered to march south and secure the surrender of the Dutch fortress at Point de Galle in February 1796.

As commanding officer of the force Macquarie indicates that the men of the Madras Native Infantry were under the command Lieut. McCully, but he does not identify any of the other officers accompanying the contingent. However, the evidence (specific dates) is compelling that Lieut. James Welsh must have been one of the junior officers on the march.

James Welsh (1775-1861) was appointed Deputy Paymaster and Fort Adjutant at Galle for the period 1796-1798, and in January 1799 he transferred to Masulipatam where he served as Fort Adjutant and Deputy Post Master until December 1799. He had a long and distinguished military career in India of almost forty years and reached the rank of lieutenant-general in November 1846. He died at his home in Bath on 24 January 1861.

Sources:
Welsh, James. Military Reminiscences: extracted from a journal of nearly forty years' active service in the East Indies. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1830 pp.26-36.

The Royal Military Calendar or Army Service and Commission Book containing the services and progress of promotion of the Generals, Lieutenant-Generals, Major-Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, and Majors of the Army, according to seniority: with details of the principal military events of the last century. London: A.J. Valpy, 1820 Vol. 5 pp.428-432.