The New Hampshire Gazette

EAST-INDIES.

Extract of a Letter from Capt. Richard Maitland of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Bombay, May 8, 1759.

Nothing material happened to the detachment until February, when I was ordered by the Governor and Council to take the command of an expedition against the city and castle of Surat, my command consisting of 820 artillery and infantry, and 1500 seapoys.

I embarked my troops on board the company's armed vessels, and in eight days landed them all safe at a place called Dentilowry, distance from Surat about nine miles, where we encamped for the refreshment of the troops three or four days. In our first days march from the above encampment, Capt. John Northall died of an apoplectick fit, and was succeeded in company by Capt. Joseph Winter. The first attack that I made was against the French Garden, where the enemies (Scydees) had lodged a number of men; them I drove out; after a very smart firing on both sides for about 4 hours; our number lost consisting of about twenty killed and as many wounded. After we had got possession of the French Garden, I thought it necessary to order the engineer to pitch upon a proper place to erect a battery, which he did, and completed it in two days.

On this battery were mounted two 24 pounders, and a thirteen inch mortar, which I ordered to fire against the wall, &c. as brisk as possible; this I continued to do for three days. Having thought of a more expedient method of getting into the outer town than by the breach of the wall, I called a council of war, composed of military and marine; formed a plan of general attack, which I laid before them, and they as readily agreed to, and this to be put into execution at half past four the next morning.

The plan was, that the company's grabs and bomb-ketches should warp up the river in the night, and anchor in a line of battle opposite the Scydees Bunder, one of the strongest fortified places they got; this they did, and a general attack begun from the vessels and battery at the appointed time. My intentions in this, were to drive the enemy from their batteries, and to facilitate the landing of the infantry at the Bunder, whom I had embarked on board of boats for their transportation. We made a continual fire until half past eight, when a signal was made for the boats to put off, and go under the cover of the vessels. This proved very successful, for the men were landed with the loss of one man only; getting possession of the Scydees Bunder, and putting the men to flight, with the loss of Capt. Robert English mortally wounded, and Lieut. Pepperell wounded in the shoulder; our loss of men not very considerable.

Having gained this point, and getting possession of the outer town with it's fortifications, the next thing to be done was to attack the inner town and castle.

I ordered the thirteen and 2 ten inch mortars to be planted on the Scydees Bunder, and to begin firing first into the castle and town as soon as possible; distance from the castle about 700 yards, inner town 500.

About six in the evening the mortars began to play very briskly, and continued to do so until half past two the next morning. This continual firing of our mortars put the castle and town into such a consternation, that they never returned one gun. The enemy finding it impossible to support themselves, sent to acquaint me they would open the gates for my troops to march into the town; which I did, with drums beating and colours flying. After I was in the town the Governor sent to acquaint me that he would give me up the castle, on proviso that I would allow him and his people to march out of the castle with their effects, which I agreed to, taking possession without any farther molestation.

Royal Artillery. Killed 2. Wounded 4.
In the company's infantry. Captains killed 2. Subaltern 1. Killed in all 150. Wounded about 60.

Our expedition commenced the 9th of February, and we arrived at Bombay April 15.