Autograph manuscript and journal-letters signed by Captain John George Bellingham, written to his father while serving under Colonel Wellesley [later Duke of Wellington] in India
1799-1800
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| Summary: | This is a first-hand account of Wellington's India campaign, by Captain John George Bellingham: "On the 15th June Col: Wellesley joined us and took the Command of the Army... we then marched 3 Miles to the Attack of a Fort called Rana Bedanore [Ranee Bednore] which Doondiah took Possession of a fortnight ago... it is surrounded by a tolerable good dug Ditch and large Topes with thick Bound Hedges but they did not take any care to defend them, but posted themselves, (to the Number we afterwards learnt of 400) on the Ramparts under cover of the Breastworks & kept up an ill directed and tardy Fire on our People as they advanced to reconnoitre, three Regts of Cavalry were posted round the Fort in different Positions to prevent the Escape of any that might make such an Attempt, there were two old Iron Guns in the Fort from which they fired three Shots their gunpowder very bad the Grains as large as Peas, and their Shot was Stones cut round, with such Materials for carrying on the War it surprises me that they attempted resistance at all... Col: Wellesley had reconnoitred the Place sufficiently well, two six Pounders were order'd to open a Fire which they did very briskly upon the Gateway, in the mean time the advanced Pickets with 1st Battn 1st Regt Native Infantry with a Party of Pioneers with scaling Ladders, got Possession of the entire Wall and in twenty Minutes the Place was completely ours". In his despatch of 11 April 1804 to the Governor General, Wellesley was to commend Bellingham and two other officers who 'had distinguished themselves during the war, and whose talents ere most likely to be useful'; adding: 'Lieut Bellingham was employed confidentially by me in the care and arrangement of my papers, in which situation he had given me entire satisfaction, and is deserving of a public reward for his services'. |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Citation: | National Library of Ireland. Department of Manuscripts. |
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| Notes: | 4to letters written by Lieutenant, subsequently Captain, John George Bellingham on his voyage out to India; the first dated Portsmouth 17th June 1799 with two journal-letters of 6 and 23 pages respectively sent from Calcutta and Madras. Some wear and tears at folds. The first letter from India is from Madras on 21 January 1800, the second "10th August 1800 – Camp at Kittoor near the Field of Battle where Goclerh [Goklah] and his Son were killed and their Army dispersed by Doondier [Waugh Dhoondiah]", describing the death of Tipu Sultan ("...Tippoo was killed by a soldier of the 12th Regiment..."), victories over their European enemies ("...The tables are now completely turned against the French... which I hope will tend to make those democratical scoundrels in Ireland alter their tone..."). He writes of the taking of Lucknow, the bitter fighting ("...such carnage took place as exceeded anything I ever saw during the Rebellion at home and the carnage there was not trifling...") and Wellesley's progress ("...the astonishment of the Mahrattas cannot be well told, They could scarce believe their eyes when they saw the Europeans mount the walls...")and says "...with such a Friend as Col. Wellesley my future Prospects are not unpromising..." . Physical description: 4; letters more |
| Arrangement: | Fonds |
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MS 49,386 |
Manuscripts Reading Room |
Manuscripts |
Copyright owned by the National Library of Ireland.