1800–1802 Floyd leaves 19th—Dhoondia Wao—Force formed under Colonel Wellesley to capture him—Advance on Ranee Bednore—Capture of Koondgul, Dummul, Gudduck—Division of Dhoondia’s force destroyed at Manoli—Dhoondia doubles back—Again hemmed in—Dhoondia crosses Malpurba river—Pursuit drawing to a close—Dhoondia caught at Conaghul—Dhoondia killed, and his force destroyed—19th return to Mysore—The Rajah of Bullum—Regiment ordered to Arcot.
For nearly nineteen years, ever since the regiment had existed, the 19th Light Dragoons had served under Major General Floyd in quarters and in the field, and now the time had come for separation. In January 1800, Floyd sailed for England, the last of the officers originally appointed to the regiment. Soon after his arrival in England, he was appointed Colonel of the 26th Light Dragoons, and his connection with his old regiment was permanently severed. He afterwards become Colonel of the 8th Light Dragoons, and was appointed Governor of Gravesend and Tilbury. He maintained his interest in everything calculated to improve our cavalry system to the end of his life. A General Order from the Adjutant General’s office in Dublin, dated 7th October 1811, contains a Riding Lesson, “suggested by Lieut. General Floyd,” which Officers Commanding cavalry regiments are directed to practise. It is the foundation of our present riding school system. In 1816, he was created a Baronet for his services, and died at the age of 70, two years later.
The regiment did not remain long at Trichinopoly. It[115] was soon called on to take part in a short but remarkable campaign. When Seringapatam fell, there was a prisoner in Tippoo’s power, named Dhoondia Wao, a noted freebooter, who had at one time been in the service of Hyder Ali. During Lord Cornwallis’ campaign in 1791–92, he had deserted from the Mysore service. After the conclusion of peace, he collected a party of desperate men, and committed depredations in the country round Dharwar. Being hard pressed on one occasion by the Peishwa’s troops, he took refuge in Mysore territory, thinking to make his peace with Tippoo. On falling into Tippoo’s hands, he was forcibly converted to Mohammedanism, and thrown into prison, where he remained till Seringapatam fell. In the confusion consequent on the capture of the place, he was set at liberty by an officer who did not know his character. He at once collected a number of Tippoo’s disbanded soldiers, and made for the Bednore district. In the confusion consequent on the overthrow of Tippoo’s power, he gained possession of many of the principal forts in the province. His adherents rapidly increased in number, and he ravaged the surrounding country, his exactions being accompanied by acts of the most atrocious cruelty. Being provided with artillery, ammunition and money, he asserted his right to the Bednore province, and assumed the title of King of the Two Worlds. It was the golden age of adventurers. Forty years earlier, Hyder Ali had founded a kingdom on the ruins of the ancient principality of Mysore. In the far north Runjeet Singh was founding a Sikh State in the Punjab. Between the Ganges and the Jumna, Perron was aiming at forming a province under French protection. On the borders of the Indian desert, Thomas, the Irish sailor, had established an independent principality in Hurrianah, while other adventurers like Ameer Khan and Ghuffoor Khan, the future founders of the States of Tonk and Jowrah, traversed the[116] centre of India at the head of plundering hordes. Outside British territory was universal confusion and anarchy, in which any man possessed of a bold heart and a discerning brain might hope to carve out a Kingdom for himself, whatever his faith or nationality. Any Chief whose service promised plenty of plunder could command a following, which in a few months of successful enterprize might swell to the dimensions of an army. But Dhoondia had neither the talents nor the opportunity to become more than a brigand on an unusually large scale.
 
Walker & Boutall sc.
SKETCH MAP
to illustrate
the march of the Army in pursuit of Dhoondia Wao in July, August, and September 1800.
Early in July 1799, the Commander in Chief sent two flying columns into the field against him, and the Head Quarters of the Army were also moved northwards for the same purpose. Several forts in the hands of Dhoondia’s men were taken by storm, a number of the freebooters were killed in various encounters, and, on the 17th August, Dhoondia himself was defeated and forced to take refuge in the Peishwa’s territory. There he was attacked by one of the Peishwa’s officers named Dhoondia Punt Gokla, his elephants, bullocks, and guns captured, and his remaining followers dispersed. It was thought that the last had been heard of Dhoondia Wao, but in a few months he was in the field again with a larger force than ever. Having been joined by the whole of Tippoo’s disbanded cavalry and a number of disaffected men from the Hyderabad country, he obtained possession of several places in the Southern Mahratta country, and threatened to re-enter Mysore. Dhoondia’s head quarters were in what is now the Dharwar district, from whence he ravaged impartially the Peishwa’s and Nizam’s territories adjoining, as well as the newly conquered Mysore country under British administration. His belief, no doubt, was that the three powers concerned would never act in unison, and that, if at any time he was hard pressed on one side, he would always be able to secure a retreat by crossing into[117] the adjoining territory, where mutual jealousies would afford him a temporary asylum. A force of 5000 horse and a large body of infantry, sent against him by the Peishwa, was defeated. His adherents increased in numbers, till it was found that he was at the head of 40,000 men, and beyond the control of the feeble government of the Peishwa, in whose territory he had established himself. Owing to these circumstances, in the beginning of May 1800, orders were sent to Colonel the Honble. A. Wellesley, who was in full civil and military charge of Mysore, directing him to assemble a field force, as speedily as possible, and pursue and destroy Dhoondia Wao’s forces wherever he should find them. To prevent Dhoondia from again securing himself by taking refuge in the Peishwa’s country, the consent of the Peishwa was obtained for the British troops to follow Dhoondia into Mahratta territory, if necessary. The campaign was one of unusual character. The task was not the subjugation and occupation of a particular tract of country, nor the coercion of an enemy with whom terms were eventually to be made. The object in view was the extirpation of a band of freebooters, whose numbers had swelled to those of a formidable army, provided with artillery and ample resources, and who had possessed themselves of a province belonging to a power with whom we were in alliance. “You are to pursue Dhoondia Wao wherever you may find him, and to hang him on the first tree.” So ran Wellesley’s instructions. By the 24th June, Wellesley’s force, which assembled at Chitteldroog, had crossed the Toombadra river near Hurryhur, and on the 27th, it marched on Ranee Bednore. The force consisted of H.M.’s 19th and 25th Light Dragoons, three regiments of Native Cavalry, two regiments of European Infantry, and five regiments of Native Infantry. A detachment of the Hyderabad Subsidiary Force, between three and four thousand strong, co-operated under Lieut.[118] Colonel Bowser: the Peishwa also sent a force to assist, acting independently. A body of the Nizam’s horse also joined Wellesley’s force. On reaching Ranee Bednore, the advanced guard was fired on: the fort was at once attacked and carried by escalade, and Dhoondia’s garrison, about 500 in number, put to the sword. So atrocious had been the cruelties committed by Dhoondia’s men, that quarter was seldom given to any of them found in arms. The next few days were spent in clearing the neighbourhood of Dhoondia’s partisans, and in obtaining supplies, Wellesley then moved to Deogheri, where four days were spent in making a bridge across the Werdah river, and constructing a small redoubt to protect it. Meanwhile, a disaster had occurred to the northward. Dhoondia Punt Gokla, the Mahratta Chief who had inflicted a defeat on Dhoondia Wao the previous year, was at Kittoor, with 10,000 horse, 5000 foot and eight guns, for the purpose of co-operating with the British. He was suddenly attacked by Dhoondia Wao on 30th June, his guns taken, his force routed, and himself killed.
Wellesley, having crossed the Werdah river, marched to Savanoor on the 12th July, leaving a small detachment to protect the bridge. The plan Wellesley had in his mind, and which he eventually carried out, begins to appear. It was to seize all fortified places in Dhoondia’s hands, and, if he still remained in arms, gradually drive him eastwards into one of the narrow angles formed by the Kistna, Toombadra and other rivers, and destroy him. It was the time of full monsoon, and the rivers could only be crossed by the aid of boats, which were difficult to procure. If Dhoondia was kept constantly on the move, he would be unable to make them. At Savanoor, Wellesley received news that Dhoondia was advancing to attack him. He accordingly took up a position in front of the town. Dhoondia reconnoitred the position, and retreated, without[119] attacking, to Koondgul. Wellesley followed him, and, reaching that place after a twenty-two mile march, and after the troops had been above twelve hours under arms, carried it by escalade on the same day. But Dhoondia had gone on, leaving only a garrison of 600 men behind him. On the 16th, Wellesley relieved Sirhetty which was being besieged by one of Dhoondia’s adherents, and then returned to Savanoor for the baggage and stores he had left behind there in his rapid advance.
On the 19th, Wellesley was joined at Savanoor by the Mahratta Cavalry that had been so roughly handled on the 30th June, when Dhoondia Punt Gokla was killed, and on the 22nd, he moved in the direction of Dummul, where the King of the Two Worlds was said to be. Dhoondia had however moved off, leaving a garriso............