Lot Essay
INDENT Colonel Charles Fitzgerald C.B. (1784-1859), born at Dublin, was appointed Cadet in the East India Company's Service 1800, and arrived in India September the following year; posted as Cornet to 6th Bengal Light Cavalry, 1802, and served in the Second Mahratta War; took part in operations against Dhundia Khan, 1807, and in various minor operations including Komona and Ganauri, 1812-15
The Charge at Seetabuldee
In November 1817 the position of the East Company's Resident at Nagpur was threatened by the hostile attitude of the Raja who had been created Commander-in-Chief of the Mahratta armies by the Peishwa, Bajee Rao, with whom the British Government was at that time at war. A small force under Lt. Col. Scott took possession of the hills of Seetabuldee, overlooking Nagpur and in sight of the greatly superior Mahratta army; during the 27th November the enemy made several attacks on the lowest of the Seetabuldee hills, and by the next day were succeeding in driving the Company's infantry from their defensive positions. Colonel Scott in his Report on the Battle states, 'At this moment Capt. Fitzgerald, reinforced by a native officer and 25 troopers of the Madras body-guard, charged an immense body of the enemy's best horse, and having captured their guns, which were immediately turned upon them, he remained in possession of the plain, covered in every direction with the flying enemy.' In Lt. Gen. Sir Thomas Hislop's Despatch of 19th December this action is reported as having occurred 'at a moment the most critical to the result of the day.' (London Gazette 14 July 1818), a judgement reinforced by the letter from R. Jenkins, Resident at Nagpur, to Lt. Col. Scott, of 30th November 1817, 'I cannot also help adding my unfeigned admiration of the conduct of the three troops of the 6th Bengal cavalry, under Capt. Fitzgerald, in a charge which they made on so superior a body of cavalry supported by infantry and guns, the success of which, at the critical moment in which it happened, may be said to have decided the fate of the battle.' (Also Mentioned in Despatches London Gazette 6.5.1818 and 9.6.1818).
Appointed Persian Interpreter and extra A.D.C. to C-in-C 1818; Deputy Paymaster, Narbada Field Force, December 1818; Hon. A.D.C. to Governor General 1818, 1824 and 1828; raised and commanded 6th Local Horse at Bareilly November 1824; Lt. Col. Light Cavalry, May 1830 (C.B. 1831); granted a special allowance of ¨200 p.a. in addition to retired pay for his gallantry at Nagpur
The Charge at Seetabuldee
In November 1817 the position of the East Company's Resident at Nagpur was threatened by the hostile attitude of the Raja who had been created Commander-in-Chief of the Mahratta armies by the Peishwa, Bajee Rao, with whom the British Government was at that time at war. A small force under Lt. Col. Scott took possession of the hills of Seetabuldee, overlooking Nagpur and in sight of the greatly superior Mahratta army; during the 27th November the enemy made several attacks on the lowest of the Seetabuldee hills, and by the next day were succeeding in driving the Company's infantry from their defensive positions. Colonel Scott in his Report on the Battle states, 'At this moment Capt. Fitzgerald, reinforced by a native officer and 25 troopers of the Madras body-guard, charged an immense body of the enemy's best horse, and having captured their guns, which were immediately turned upon them, he remained in possession of the plain, covered in every direction with the flying enemy.' In Lt. Gen. Sir Thomas Hislop's Despatch of 19th December this action is reported as having occurred 'at a moment the most critical to the result of the day.' (London Gazette 14 July 1818), a judgement reinforced by the letter from R. Jenkins, Resident at Nagpur, to Lt. Col. Scott, of 30th November 1817, 'I cannot also help adding my unfeigned admiration of the conduct of the three troops of the 6th Bengal cavalry, under Capt. Fitzgerald, in a charge which they made on so superior a body of cavalry supported by infantry and guns, the success of which, at the critical moment in which it happened, may be said to have decided the fate of the battle.' (Also Mentioned in Despatches London Gazette 6.5.1818 and 9.6.1818).
Appointed Persian Interpreter and extra A.D.C. to C-in-C 1818; Deputy Paymaster, Narbada Field Force, December 1818; Hon. A.D.C. to Governor General 1818, 1824 and 1828; raised and commanded 6th Local Horse at Bareilly November 1824; Lt. Col. Light Cavalry, May 1830 (C.B. 1831); granted a special allowance of ¨200 p.a. in addition to retired pay for his gallantry at Nagpur