130 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1813. 



the grenadiers of his majesty's 

 S9th regiment, and the flank com- 

 panies and rifle company of his 

 majesty's 78th. This reinforce- 

 ment determined me upon my plan 

 of operations. Tlie palace or Krat- 

 tan of the Sultan is surrounded by 

 regular works about three miles in 

 circumference ; at each corner 

 there is a formidable bastion, enfi- 

 lading the curtain, and the princi- 

 pal entrance in front is strongly 

 defended by cannon. The whole 

 of . the fortification is surrounded 

 by a wet ditch, and the gate-ways 

 are all provided with drawbridges, 

 to prevent the passage across. With 

 all these obstacles to our success, 

 I relied upon the gallantry of my 

 troops, and determined upon the 

 assault on the morning of the 20th 

 inst. Tn all the preparation ne- 

 cessary, 1 experienced much as- 

 sistance from lieut.-col. Macken- 

 zie, of the engineers, and major 

 Thorne, deputy quarter-master- 

 general, who procured every in- 

 formation that could possibly be 

 obtained, and with whom, in con- 

 cert, I arranged the plan of attack. 

 The principal part of the force was 

 divided into two columns ; the 

 leading one commanded by lieut - 

 col. Watson, of his majesty's 14th 

 foot, and the other by lieut.-col. 

 Mac Leod, of his majesty's 59th 

 regiment ; lieut.-col. Dewar, of 

 the 3rd Bengal Native Infantry, 

 commanded a smaller party, and 

 made a detour towards the rear of 

 the Krattan. Major Grant con- 

 ducted a central attack in front. 

 At half an hour before day, the 

 columns under the command of 

 lieut.-col. Watson, and lieut.- 

 col. Mac Leod, moved forward to 

 the east curtain, under cover of the 

 f^re from our fort. They were, 



however, discovered by the ene-* 

 my, before the scaling-ladders were 

 planted. Tiie alarm was inces- 

 santly given along the works, which 

 only increased the activity and 

 emulation of our troops. Lieut.- 

 col. Watson advanced in the most 

 gallant style, and soon obtained 

 possession of the rampart. Part of 

 major Dalton's battalion crossed 

 the ditch at the N.E. bastion, under 

 capt. Leys, and running along the 

 berm, admitted lieut.-col. Mac- 

 Leod with the second column, 

 who blew open the Prince's gate 

 and entered. The action then be- 

 came general. Major Dalton, with 

 part of the light-infantry battalion, 

 led in a spirited style to the south- 

 gale, where they admitted lieut, 

 col. Dewar, and saved the life of 

 the Prince Regent. The gallant 

 14th proceeded to scour the ram- 

 parts, and the capture of the Sul- 

 tan rendered the victory complete. 

 I have the honour to report to you, 

 that during this arduous conflict, 

 the Toomogong SemoodDeningrat 

 was killed. Lieut.-col. Dewar had 

 the good fortune to encounter his 

 party, and as he was known to be 

 the . most powerful chieftain in 

 the interest of the Sultan, and 

 his instigator in every hostile pro- 

 ceeding against tlie British govern- 

 ment, I consider this event as of 

 the greatest political importance. 

 About the conclusion of the as- 

 sault I was myself severely wound- 

 ed in the arm. Thus, with less 

 than 1,000 firelocks actually en- 

 gaged, we have defeated upwards 

 of 17,000 men, and afforded a 

 lasting proof of our superiority and 

 power. I shall refrain from enter- 

 ing into farther particulars, as you 

 were present upon the spot, and 

 our cordial communications with. 



