162 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1817. 



(lopted on this important occasion 

 has no parallel in Indian warfare, 

 and indeed is the first instance of 

 bringing forward means adequate 

 to reduce a fortress of great mag- 

 nitude and strength, in the short- 

 est period of time. In such cases 

 the bravery and resolution of the 

 enemy are of no avail, and the 

 lofty and massy walls cease to be 

 impregnable to a species of ord- 

 nance which involves the interior 

 of the building in conflagration 

 and ruin, and makes it too dread- 

 ful for the garrison to endure. 

 The tactics vvliich substitute sci- 

 ence for personal coui'agc aie thiis 

 certain to abridge our military 

 operations in occurrences of a si- 

 milar nature. 'Jhere can be no 

 glory to the a«gailed in prolonging 

 resistance, when the incessant fir- 

 ing and explosion of shells and 

 rockets burn and destroy the very 

 citadel, and from which there is 

 no refqge. At Hatrnss the .stoutest 

 heart was struck with horror and 

 dismay. The garrison sunk under 

 the dreadful operaiions which ex- 

 posed them to certain death, with- 

 out having any means of repelling 

 or defeating t; e object of the be- 

 siegers. Their cannon were of no 

 use, although they kept up a con- 

 atant but ill-directed fire. Vet the 

 infatuation ofDyaram was such, 

 that he would give no signs of 

 submission. By his resistance lie 

 had already forfeited all claim to 

 pardon, and thwefore he unavail- 

 ingly sacrificed every thing to his 

 stubbornness, urd the proud but 

 empty boast of unconcjuerable va- 

 lour, as if under such circum- 

 stance? valour could have be*n 

 exercised to any advantage. The 

 delusion which led him to imagine 



that the fort was too strong and 

 inaccessible to be taken was, how- 

 ever, soon over ; and his fate will 

 answer a useful purpose in show- 

 ing others, should there be any of 

 similar views and characters, how 

 idle are the notions which induce 

 them to believe their fastnesses 

 impregnable to European science. 

 It is a great consolation that no 

 assault was made ; for, judging 

 from the manner in which Dya- 

 ram's horsemen effected tlieir es- 

 cape, and the bravery and devotion 

 to their chief which they display- 

 ed, great loss would have been 

 inevitable in the breach. But, 

 setting aside the political import- 

 ance of the conquest, we consider 

 that the manner by which it was 

 effected forms a memorable era in 

 the military history of India. Toe 

 Rohilla cavalry which ^^ent in 

 pursuit of the fugitives had re- 

 turned on the 3d, without having 

 been able to come up with Dya- 

 ram. It appears that all the fe- 

 male part of his family had es- 

 caped in disguise. There are ac- 

 counts of (me of his women hav- 

 ing taken refuge with a neigh- 

 bouring Zemindar, who had re- 

 ported the circumstance to the 

 magistrate, and who had been di- 

 rected to treat her vith respect 

 and consideration. 



Pre\iouH to the commencement 

 of operations before Hatrass, the 

 inhabitants of the gunge had been 

 M'avned by the Bi'itisli authority 

 against resistance, and the greater 

 pai't of them had in consequence 

 abandoned their jiroperty, arid re- 

 tired to a distant village. Since 

 the fall of the fort, we understand 

 they have returned to resume their 

 property and occupatit)ns. 



REMARK- 



