ARTILLERY SERVICE UNDER “JOHN COMPANY .” 
15 
Siege of 
Etar. 
warfare, and though marked by no features of great importance, they 
involved much exertion on the part of the troops engaged, and more 
especially on the Artillery. There are few records extant of this cam¬ 
paign, it is impossible therefore to give full details of it. 
The raids of the Pindaris were becoming more and more frequent, 
even within the bounds of British territory, and Sarned Singh, the 
chief of a small but strong fort at Etar, had to be reduced to submis¬ 
sion. Accordingly a mixed force, marched against him 
under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Adams. When the 
force arrived, it was found that Sarned Singh had burnt 
down the village and retired inside the fort. At noon on the 4th Dec¬ 
ember, the guns (covered by previously erected screens) opened fire 
at a range of 350 yards. At 5 p.m. the breach having been reported 
practicable, a party was told off for the assault. For an hour and ten 
minutes the garrison defended themselves with desperate bravery, and 
only surrendered themselves when none but wounded men were left. 
Sarned Singh preferring death to surrender, blew himself up. The 
assailants* loss was six killed and sixty-four wounded. 
Captain Stark (who was in command of the Artillery) and the officers 
under him, were thanked for their services by Colonel Adams in his 
despatch of the 5th, and in the detachment orders of the following day. 
An important change in the locale of the regiment took place in 
1813, when the head-quarters which had previously been at Fort 
William, were moved to Dum Dum. The move was a very popular 
one, and for many years the station was a great favourite, its mess, 
its excellent band, its amateur theatre, and at one time its pack of 
foxhounds, rendering it a place of resort to many from Calcutta and 
the neighbouring stations. 
1814. Towards the end of the year the Nepaul war commenced. 
In 1815, a detachment of Bengal Artillery was sent to join 
Colonel Mcholls*s force in the province ofKamaon. On the 
5th April the force entered the hills, and on the 25th the 
stockades on the Seetoli heights were successfully carried, 
the enemy being driven into Fort Almora and the post of Hari Dungri 
overlooking the fort occupied. After great difficulty two'4i inch mor¬ 
tars were placed in battery and opened fire at 6 o’clock the same 
evening, an 8-inch mortar was also got into action about midnight. 
The next morning, the advanced posts were pushed up to within 
seventy yards of the fort, and a few large shells thrown into it by 
Lieut. C. H. Bell drove a portion of the garrison out. At 9 p.m. a flag 
of truce arrived, and the next day a convention was signed, by which 
the whole province of Kamaon was ceded to the British. 
In Colonel Moolis*s report he says :—“ I feel much indebted to 
“ Lieutenants Bell and Wilson for their activity in laying and bringing 
“ these mortars into action so soon/* and in G.O*s the Governor-General 
states that these officers “ are mentioned in terms of strong commend¬ 
ation **. 
1816 1816, the Commandant Sir John Horsford closed 
his long and honourable career with the regiment. His 
1815. Op¬ 
erations in 
Kamaon. 
