Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/393

Rh CHAPTER XXI.

Dispute with the Government of Nepaul – Aggressions of the Nepaulese – Preparations for War – Commencement of Military Operations – Invasion of the Deyra Dhoon – Storming of Kalunga – Death of General Gillespie – Fall of Kalunga and several other Forts – Failure at Jyetuck – Reduction of Ramgurh and other Forts by Colonel Ochterlony – Total Failure of General Wood's Division – Unsuccessful Operations of General Marley's Division – Brilliant Affair by Lieutenant Pickersgill – Inactivity of General Martindell – Alarm at Calcutta – The Army reinforced, and the sole Command conferred on General Ochterlony – His successful Operations – The Nepaulese sue for Peace – Negotiations broken off – Advance of Ochterlony – Battle of Muckwanpoor – Submission of the Nepaulese – Transactions in Ceylon, and complete Subjugation of that Island.

The tenure by which we hold our Eastern empire is frequently of so delicate and precarious a nature that Governors-General sometimes go out with strict injunctions to preserve peace, and every inclination to obey those injunctions, but find themselves, on arriving in the country, unavoidably compelled to plunge into sanguinary and expensive wars to maintain British supremacy against our ever jealous and encroaching neighbours. Nay, it has sometimes happened that English statesmen have inveighed strongly in their places in Parliament against the warlike proceedings of actual Governors-General, but, on attaining that high position themselves, have far exceeded the martial doings of their predecessors. This was particularly the case with the Earl of Moira, who had, in his inexperience, strongly censured the Marquis Wellesley for his war with Tippoo; but had scarcely put his foot on the soil of India when he found himself involved in several "very pretty quarrels," bequeathed to him by his predecessors.

The first of these that required immediate attention a long-pending dispute with the State of Nepaul,