True Account of Baillie's Disaster at Pullalur in 1780, the Worst British Defeat in India - Part 2
Welcome to the second installment of the Battle of Pollilur series. You can find the first part Here. Continue Reading.
Upon learning of Fletcher's junction with Baillie, Hyder became greatly agitated. Monsieur de Lalee (Lally), who commanded Hyder's European contingent, suggested a retreat to avoid being attacked from both sides by the two British armies. Hyder was unsure how to proceed, when two of his spies from Kanchipuram arrived and assured him that Munro's army was still encamped and showed no signs of movement.
Colonel Baillie, now reinforced, commenced his march for Kanchipuram at 8 pm. Tipu's continuous harassments with rockets and musketry hindered the progress of Baillie's force and made the march more challenging.
However, Baillie pressed on for a while. The road to Kanchipuram lay through an avenue of banyan trees, with a jungle on both sides. Upon Baillie's entrance into the avenue, they were attacked on the flank by Tipu's guns.
Meanwhile in Hyder's camp, "The near approach of Colonel Baillie being known, it was resolved to await his detachment in ambuscade, and to place the artillery to as to enfilade his route, while a body of irregular cavalry was sent to amuse the English army at Kanchipuram." (A European envoy in Hyder's camp)
Baillie halted and detached Captain Rumley with the sepoy grenadiers to attack Tipu's guns, but they were hindered by a watercourse that blocked their path. This same obstacle also prevented Tipu from organizing his troops for battle.
"We were preparing to proceed on our march, when a body of Tipu's horse came dashing by the rear guard; at which the sepoys (who were half asleep, resting so long upon their arms,) were so alarmed, that they instantly, without waiting for the word of command, discharged their pieces; and the panic seizing those next to them in the line, it gradually ran through the whole detachment; so that nothing was to be seen but a continued sheet of fire, from the rear to the front of the line." (Captain Alex Read)
It seems that the sepoys were shooting their own officers and each other. After realizing that he had suffered considerably, Baillie decided to halt his march, against Munro's orders. Due to the darkness of the night which had caused the disorder among the sepoys and the risks involved, such as losing the road or falling into an ambuscade, it was decided to halt until daybreak.
Probably Baillie believed that by morning, Munro would come to his help. It was just past midnight and his halting place was 9 miles from Kanchipuram.
"During this situation of the British forces, Hyder Ali was, with much diligence and cunning, concerting measures with his son for an awful attack upon the unfortunate Baillie." (An officer)
Tipu, learning that Baillie had halted, wrote to Hyder of Baillie's whereabouts and urged him to support the attack with the main army. He placed his artillery and infantry at the next strategic position along Baillie's route. He anticipated that Baillie would have to advance into the large plain ahead, as it was the direct road to Kanchipuram.
Hyder, meanwhile, dispatched the majority of his infantry and artillery towards Pollilur (present-day Pullalur) to aid Tipu, while he remained behind with the cavalry and a few light guns. He hoped thus to harass or impede Munro if he advanced to join Baillie.
"Hyder's means of intelligence were so multiplied and superior to ours, that nothing went on in either of our camps which he was not immediately informed of; and, finding that both our armies were in this perilous situation, he suddenly decamped about midnight, before it was possible for us to obtain the least knowledge of his intentions, and formed a junction with his son Tipu.
The fires of his camp were left blazing; and two or three thousand horse and rocket men kept hovering round our main army, in order to conceal his enterprise from us; and early that morning (of September 10) he laid his whole force; in ambush behind the woods and village of Pullalur, a place that greatly favoured his design, being a commanding spot of ground, interfered by deep ravines and water-courses, and upon the only road for guns leading to Kanchipuram." (An officer)
Around 6 am, Hyder mounted the howdah of his elephant and, accompanied by his cavalry and the remaining troops, proceeded towards Pullalur, leaving his tents standing.
Upon reaching the plain, they were met with heavy cannonade from Tipu's forces stationed at Pullalur. Baillie responded with their own artillery. The sound of cannons and muskets filled the air.
As Tipu's firing continued relentlessly, Baillie halted and directed Captains Rumley and Gowdie, along with the sepoy grenadiers to capture the enemy's guns.
About this time, Baillie was wounded in the leg by a cannonball, but he continued to give orders from a palanquin.
Captain Rumley managed to capture a number of guns, after routing the Mysore gunners, but due to his physical fatigue, Captain Gowdie took command and led the grenadiers to take some more guns.
Baillie formed his forces into a square with the wounded, baggage, and the ammunition wagons in the center on the bank of a nullah and resolved to remain there, every instant expecting the arrival of Munro, Kanchipuram being at a distance of only seven miles.
"At this period, a cloud of dust in our front convinced us that the long-looked-for aid of Munro was at length approaching, and from a village in our front we observed several columns of infantry, clothed in scarlet, advancing rapidly, beating the British grenadiers' march. A shout of joy was spread throughout the line, but a moment afterwards a very different sensation pervaded the breast of every one, on discovering that it was the advance of Hyder's army." (Lieutenant John Lindsay)
It was the advance guard of Hyder's army, masking his infantry and guns.
Shortly after Captain Gowdie assumed command, a sudden cry of "horse, horse!" was heard among the sepoys. The grenadiers, overwhelmed by the cavalry charge, retreated in disorder to the line, abandoning the captured guns without disabling them. Many of the grenadiers fell before they could reach the line.
Hyder's entire army was now clearly visible on the horizon. "And this barbarian chief, who, as was observed by Pyrrhus, of the Roman General, had nothing barbarous in his discipline, after dividing his guns agreeably to a pre-concerted plan, opened from sixty to seventy pieces of cannon, with an innumerable quantity of rockets," and, together with Tipu, who had regained control of his guns, formed an entire circle around Baillie's troops, effectively preventing their advance or retreat.
Baillie, likely hoped to hold their ground with artillery until Munro could come to their aid.
At this time, Monsieur Lally, noticing that the British had placed their ammunition behind a small ravine, ordered his artillerymen to target it. They succeeded in blowing up three tumbrils. "Lalli, the Frenchman, discovering with the telescope of his intellect and science, the position of the enemy's ammunition, fired a shot from a heavy gun at the Colonel's tumbrils, all of which had been collected in one place." (Kirmani)
The 'London Mercury,' states that Colonel Fletcher pointed out to Colonel Baillie the Frenchman in a bush, who was pointing the gun at the tumbril, and that the moment he had spoken it, it blew up.
Many died in the explosion and the British square was broken up.
"Tippoo Saheb, with that celerity which distinguishes every operation of this gallant Prince, saw the moment of advantage, and, without waiting for orders, made a rapid charge with the Mogul and Carnatic horse, penetrated the broken square." (A European envoy in Hyder's camp)
September 9
On September 9, Fletcher joined Baillie 6 am in the morning.Upon learning of Fletcher's junction with Baillie, Hyder became greatly agitated. Monsieur de Lalee (Lally), who commanded Hyder's European contingent, suggested a retreat to avoid being attacked from both sides by the two British armies. Hyder was unsure how to proceed, when two of his spies from Kanchipuram arrived and assured him that Munro's army was still encamped and showed no signs of movement.
Colonel Baillie, now reinforced, commenced his march for Kanchipuram at 8 pm. Tipu's continuous harassments with rockets and musketry hindered the progress of Baillie's force and made the march more challenging.
However, Baillie pressed on for a while. The road to Kanchipuram lay through an avenue of banyan trees, with a jungle on both sides. Upon Baillie's entrance into the avenue, they were attacked on the flank by Tipu's guns.
Meanwhile in Hyder's camp, "The near approach of Colonel Baillie being known, it was resolved to await his detachment in ambuscade, and to place the artillery to as to enfilade his route, while a body of irregular cavalry was sent to amuse the English army at Kanchipuram." (A European envoy in Hyder's camp)
Baillie halted and detached Captain Rumley with the sepoy grenadiers to attack Tipu's guns, but they were hindered by a watercourse that blocked their path. This same obstacle also prevented Tipu from organizing his troops for battle.
"We were preparing to proceed on our march, when a body of Tipu's horse came dashing by the rear guard; at which the sepoys (who were half asleep, resting so long upon their arms,) were so alarmed, that they instantly, without waiting for the word of command, discharged their pieces; and the panic seizing those next to them in the line, it gradually ran through the whole detachment; so that nothing was to be seen but a continued sheet of fire, from the rear to the front of the line." (Captain Alex Read)
It seems that the sepoys were shooting their own officers and each other. After realizing that he had suffered considerably, Baillie decided to halt his march, against Munro's orders. Due to the darkness of the night which had caused the disorder among the sepoys and the risks involved, such as losing the road or falling into an ambuscade, it was decided to halt until daybreak.
Probably Baillie believed that by morning, Munro would come to his help. It was just past midnight and his halting place was 9 miles from Kanchipuram.
"During this situation of the British forces, Hyder Ali was, with much diligence and cunning, concerting measures with his son for an awful attack upon the unfortunate Baillie." (An officer)
Tipu, learning that Baillie had halted, wrote to Hyder of Baillie's whereabouts and urged him to support the attack with the main army. He placed his artillery and infantry at the next strategic position along Baillie's route. He anticipated that Baillie would have to advance into the large plain ahead, as it was the direct road to Kanchipuram.
Hyder, meanwhile, dispatched the majority of his infantry and artillery towards Pollilur (present-day Pullalur) to aid Tipu, while he remained behind with the cavalry and a few light guns. He hoped thus to harass or impede Munro if he advanced to join Baillie.
"Hyder's means of intelligence were so multiplied and superior to ours, that nothing went on in either of our camps which he was not immediately informed of; and, finding that both our armies were in this perilous situation, he suddenly decamped about midnight, before it was possible for us to obtain the least knowledge of his intentions, and formed a junction with his son Tipu.
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| Mysore Rockets By Charles Hubbell |
The fires of his camp were left blazing; and two or three thousand horse and rocket men kept hovering round our main army, in order to conceal his enterprise from us; and early that morning (of September 10) he laid his whole force; in ambush behind the woods and village of Pullalur, a place that greatly favoured his design, being a commanding spot of ground, interfered by deep ravines and water-courses, and upon the only road for guns leading to Kanchipuram." (An officer)
September 10
At around 5.30 am, Baillie resumed his march. Tipu's troops marched on the left in a parallel line. The two armies continued their advance for approximately 2 miles.Around 6 am, Hyder mounted the howdah of his elephant and, accompanied by his cavalry and the remaining troops, proceeded towards Pullalur, leaving his tents standing.
The Battle
As Baillie's advanced guard moved out of the avenue and entered the large open plain on the left, the small village of Pullalur, with a Pagoda, came into view.Upon reaching the plain, they were met with heavy cannonade from Tipu's forces stationed at Pullalur. Baillie responded with their own artillery. The sound of cannons and muskets filled the air.
As Tipu's firing continued relentlessly, Baillie halted and directed Captains Rumley and Gowdie, along with the sepoy grenadiers to capture the enemy's guns.
About this time, Baillie was wounded in the leg by a cannonball, but he continued to give orders from a palanquin.
Captain Rumley managed to capture a number of guns, after routing the Mysore gunners, but due to his physical fatigue, Captain Gowdie took command and led the grenadiers to take some more guns.
Baillie formed his forces into a square with the wounded, baggage, and the ammunition wagons in the center on the bank of a nullah and resolved to remain there, every instant expecting the arrival of Munro, Kanchipuram being at a distance of only seven miles.
"At this period, a cloud of dust in our front convinced us that the long-looked-for aid of Munro was at length approaching, and from a village in our front we observed several columns of infantry, clothed in scarlet, advancing rapidly, beating the British grenadiers' march. A shout of joy was spread throughout the line, but a moment afterwards a very different sensation pervaded the breast of every one, on discovering that it was the advance of Hyder's army." (Lieutenant John Lindsay)
It was the advance guard of Hyder's army, masking his infantry and guns.
Shortly after Captain Gowdie assumed command, a sudden cry of "horse, horse!" was heard among the sepoys. The grenadiers, overwhelmed by the cavalry charge, retreated in disorder to the line, abandoning the captured guns without disabling them. Many of the grenadiers fell before they could reach the line.
Hyder's entire army was now clearly visible on the horizon. "And this barbarian chief, who, as was observed by Pyrrhus, of the Roman General, had nothing barbarous in his discipline, after dividing his guns agreeably to a pre-concerted plan, opened from sixty to seventy pieces of cannon, with an innumerable quantity of rockets," and, together with Tipu, who had regained control of his guns, formed an entire circle around Baillie's troops, effectively preventing their advance or retreat.
Baillie, likely hoped to hold their ground with artillery until Munro could come to their aid.
At this time, Monsieur Lally, noticing that the British had placed their ammunition behind a small ravine, ordered his artillerymen to target it. They succeeded in blowing up three tumbrils. "Lalli, the Frenchman, discovering with the telescope of his intellect and science, the position of the enemy's ammunition, fired a shot from a heavy gun at the Colonel's tumbrils, all of which had been collected in one place." (Kirmani)
The 'London Mercury,' states that Colonel Fletcher pointed out to Colonel Baillie the Frenchman in a bush, who was pointing the gun at the tumbril, and that the moment he had spoken it, it blew up.
Many died in the explosion and the British square was broken up.
"Tippoo Saheb, with that celerity which distinguishes every operation of this gallant Prince, saw the moment of advantage, and, without waiting for orders, made a rapid charge with the Mogul and Carnatic horse, penetrated the broken square." (A European envoy in Hyder's camp)
(to be continued)
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