Coorg War
The Coorg War was fought between the British East India Company and the State of Coorg in 1834. Defiance of the Raja of Coorg (Chikka Virarajendra), a small state in South India, led to a short but bloody campaign in 1834. In February 1834, a force of 7000 was assembled under the command of Brigadier General Lindsay to commence operations against the Raja, who had begun hostilities against the British. Due to the poor state of roads, the force was divided into four columns, which were to enter Coorg from different directions and converge on the capital of Mercara. On 11 March, the Northern Division under the command of Colonel Gilbert Waugh entered the territory of Coorg and on 3 April, the leading troops made contact with the enemy. At noon, the advanced guard arrived in front of the fortified position of Soamwar Pettah (now called Somwarpet). The force launched an attack on the position but was forced to retreat after a severe mauling. The leader of the Coorg resistance at was 'Madanta' (Mathanda) Appachu.[1] Similar fate was suffered by another column.
| Part of a series on the |
| Culture of Karnataka |
|---|
 |
Two divisions entered Mercara on 6 April, bringing an end to the hostilities. Colonel Lindsay had that morning (6 April) hoisted the British ensign on the ramparts of Madikeri (Mercara) Fort. Some of the British officers who served in the Coorg campaign against the Coorgs and survived were Colin Mackenzie and William Anson McCleverty.[2] The British losses during the campaign were 93 killed and 200 wounded.[3][4]
References
- Richter, G (1870). Manual of Coorg. Stolz. p. 337. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
appachu.
- Archer, Jeremy. "Sir G. C. Whitlock (During the 1834 Coorg Campaign)". www.archerfamily.org.uk. Archer Family. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- Phythian-Adams, Lt Col EG. (1943). Madras Infantry 1748-1943. Madras: The Government Press. p. 64-5.
- Ahmad, Maj RN, and Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin. (2006). Unfaded Glory: The 8th Punjab Regiment 1798-1956. Abbottabad: The Baloch Regimental Centre. pp. 47-8.