William Baillie (East India Company officer) facts for kids

William Baillie was a British army officer who served the East India Company. He became a Lieutenant-Colonel and fought in India. In 1780, he was captured by Hyder Ali, a powerful Indian ruler, during the Battle of Pollilur. Baillie sadly died while he was a prisoner in Seringapatam in 1782.

Joining the Army

William Baillie started his military career with the East India Company on October 18, 1759. He began as a lieutenant in the infantry, which means he led foot soldiers, in Madras. Over the years, he was promoted several times, eventually becoming a lieutenant-colonel in 1775.

Early Missions

Baillie was known for his good service. He commanded one of the British battalions working with Colonel Joseph Smith. They were involved in battles against Hyder Ali between 1767 and 1768. Later, in 1779, Baillie was in charge at Pondicherry when French forts there were destroyed.

The Battle of Pollilur

In 1780, Hyder Ali attacked the Carnatic area with a huge army of 100,000 soldiers. Baillie was leading a smaller group of soldiers in the Northern Circars. He was ordered to join forces with another British army near Madras, led by Sir Hector Munro.

Marching to Meet Munro

Baillie began moving his troops towards Madras. He had a large group of camp followers, which were people who helped the army but weren't soldiers. Some people said he moved too slowly. On his way, he was attacked by Hyder Ali's son, Tipu Sultan, near Perambaukum village. Baillie's forces managed to defeat Tipu Sultan's division.

A Difficult Situation

After this fight, Baillie sent a message to Munro, who was camped about 14 miles away at Conjeveram. Baillie explained that his troops had suffered losses and couldn't move forward easily. Munro, instead of bringing his main army to help, only sent a small group of soldiers. This decision by both commanders led to problems.

The Main Fight

On the morning of September 10, 1780, Baillie's troops were moving from Pollilur towards Conjeveram. Suddenly, they were attacked by Hyder Ali's entire army. During the battle, two ammunition carts, called tumbrils, exploded inside Baillie's troop formation. This caused huge confusion and panic among the camp followers, who ran through the ranks of soldiers.

Bravery in Defeat

Even though the Indian soldiers, called sepoys, were scared and couldn't be brought back into order, about 500 European soldiers gathered together. Led by Colonel Baillie, who was fighting on foot, they formed a square on a small hill of sand. They fought incredibly bravely, facing repeated attacks from Hyder's cavalry and infantry. They kept fighting until almost all their officers were killed or wounded. Only sixteen soldiers out of 500 were left unharmed.

Life as a Prisoner

The surviving soldiers, including the wounded ones, were captured and taken to Seringapatam. Colonel Baillie was badly wounded, but his courage during the fight and his time in prison was admired by everyone, even his enemies.

Years in Chains

The prisoners were kept in dungeons in Seringapatam, often in chains. They remained there until 1784, when the survivors were finally sent back to Madras. Some of them, like Captain David Baird, later saw the British army capture Seringapatam in 1799. However, Colonel Baillie was not among them. He died in captivity on November 13, 1782, after suffering greatly.

Remembering Colonel Baillie

Thirty-five years after Colonel Baillie's death, his nephew, Lieutenant Colonel John Baillie, decided to build a memorial for him. John Baillie was a British official in Lucknow. The memorial is a simple but touching structure. It is located next to the Gumbaz, which is where Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali's son, is buried.

Images for kids

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  Baillie Dungeon, Seringapatam (2004)

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  Narrow Passage to Colonel Baillie's Dungeon, Seringapatam (2004)

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  Memorial Plaque at Baillie Dungeon, Seringapatam

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  Signboard at Baillie Dungeon, Seringapatam

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  Old Signboard at Baillie Dungeon, Seringapatam

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  Stones to which prisoners were tied to, Baillie Dungeon, Seringapatam

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  William Baillie Memorial, Seringapatam

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  Plaque of the William Baillie Memorial, Seringapatam