"Innumerable are the individual acts of intrepidity which took place between our soldiers and their opponents, too numerous for detail in this despatch, yet well meriting a record."
In the NOTIFICATION of the Right Honorable Lord Ellenborough, the Governor-General of India, it was directed,
"That the unserviceable guns, taken at Hyderabad, shall be sent to Bombay, and there cast into a triumphal column, whereon shall be inscribed in the English, and two native languages, the names of Major-General Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B., and of the several officers mentioned by His Excellency in his despatch, and likewise the names of the several officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates mentioned in the reports, that thus the names may be for ever recorded of those who, at MEEANEE, obtained for themselves that glory in the field, which is the reward dearest to a true soldier."
Major Poole, commanding the TWENTY-SECOND regiment, in consequence of Lieutenant-Colonel Pennefather having been severely wounded, stated in his report, respecting the soldiers of the regiment under his command, who had distinguished themselves in the battle of Meeanee, "that the officers generally assert that they feel difficulty in making selections, where the conduct of every man of their companies was so satisfactory. In so general a field of action and persevering exertion, I equally feel at a loss where to draw a distinction; but it may be proper to mention the names of Private James O'Neill, of the light company, who took a standard whilst we were actively engaged with the enemy, and drummer Martin Delaney, who shot, bayoneted, and captured the arms of Meer Whullee Mahomed Khan, who was mounted, and directing the enemy in the hottest part of the engagement."
The loss of the TWENTY-SECOND regiment at the battle of Meeanee was, Captain J. McLeod Tew,[9] one serjeant, and twenty-two rank and file killed; Lieut.-Colonel J. L. Pennefather, Captain T. S. Conway, Lieutenants W. M. G. McMurdo and F. P. Harding, Ensigns R. Pennefather and H. Bowden, one serjeant, one corporal, and fifty privates wounded.
The whole of the Ameers did not submit, and the Chiefs who continued to resist assembled an army, which was commanded by Meer Shere Mahomed. The British advanced from _Hyderabad_ at daybreak on the morning of the 24th of March, and about half-past eight o'clock twenty thousand Scindian troops were discovered in order of battle behind a nullah. Arrangements were immediately made for commencing the action, and the TWENTY-SECOND regiment led the attack in gallant style. Major John Poole commanded the brigade, and Captain F. D. George the regiment, and, stimulated by the heroic example of these officers, the TWENTY-SECOND advanced steadily against the enemy's left, exposed to a heavy fire of matchlocks, without returning a shot, until they arrived within forty paces of the entrenchment, when they stormed the position occupied by the Beloochees with that determined bravery which has ever distinguished British soldiers. Lieutenant Henry J. Coote first mounted the rampart, seized one of the enemy's standards, and was severely wounded while in the act of waving it, and cheering on his men; Lieutenant C. T. Powell seized another standard; and the soldiers, being encouraged by the gallant example of their officers, displayed that heroism which adorns the British military character. Privates J. Doherty, C. Lynar, E. Jobin, J. McCartin, J. Walmsley, G. Roberts, E. Watson and J. Oakley, shot the defenders, and then captured fourteen standards, and made five prisoners. Privates S. Cowen, S. Alder, and G. Banbury also captured standards; and Corporal Tim. Kelly shot one of the Scindians, and took from him a silver-knobbed standard. The Beloochee infantry and artillery fought well, but were unable, although greatly superior in numbers, to resist the determined attack of disciplined soldiers.
