Footnotes

A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF THE YOUNG WELLINGTON'S INDIA CAMPAIGN, by Lieutenant, subsequently Captain, John George Bellingham: "On the 15th June Col: Wellesley joined us and took the Command of the Army... we then marched 3 Miles to the Attack of a Fort called Rana Bedanore [Ranee Bednore] which Doondiah took Possession of a fortnight ago... it is surrounded by a tolerable good dug Ditch and large Topes with thick Bound Hedges but they did not take any care to defend them, but posted themselves, (to the Number we afterwards learnt of 400) on the Ramparts under cover of the Breastworks & kept up an ill directed and tardy Fire on our People as they advanced to reconnoitre, three Regts of Cavalry were posted round the Fort in different Positions to prevent the Escape of any that might make such an Attempt, there were two old Iron Guns in the Fort from which they fired three Shots their gunpowder very bad the Grains as large as Peas, and their Shot was Stones cut round, with such Materials for carrying on the War it surprises me that they attempted resistance at all... Col: Wellesley had reconnoitred the Place sufficiently well, two six Pounders were order'd to open a Fire which they did very briskly upon the Gateway, in the mean time the advanced Pickets with 1st Battn 1st Regt Native Infantry with a Party of Pioneers with scaling Ladders, got Possession of the entire Wall and in twenty Minutes the Place was completely ours".

In his despatch of 11 April 1804 to the Governor General, Wellesley was to commend Bellingham and two other officers who 'had distinguished themselves during the war, and whose talents ere most likely to be useful'; adding: 'Lieut Bellingham was employed confidentially by me in the care and arrangement of my papers, in which situation he had given me entire satisfaction, and is deserving of a public reward for his services'.