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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 230

Army of India 1799-1826, 2 clasps, Kirkee and Poona, Corygaum (Private. Mahadoo Sawant, 2nd. Bn. 1st. Rt. N.I.), long-hyphen reverse, locally impressed naming, official correction to name, very fine and very rare

Provenance:
Dr A. B. King Collection, Morton & Eden, October 2003.

Approximately 75 'Corygaum' clasps were to Indian recipients and four to Europeans.

Whilst marching with a 900-strong detachment from Sirur to strengthen the garrison of Poona on New Year's Day 1818, Captain F. F. Staunton, 2nd Battalion, 1st Bombay Native Infantry, encountered the Peshwa of Poona's Army that numbered 28,000.

What followed would become an epic in the annals of British India. Staunton gave his account:

'Having proceeded on my way towards Poonah, as far as Corygaum by 10 A.M. on the 1st January my further progress was arrested by the appearance (according to information then obtained) of the Peishwah, with a very large Army, supposed to be about 20,000 Horse and 8,000 Infantry, with two heavy Guns; the whole formed on the opposite side of the River Beemah ready to attack us. I continued my march till I reached the Village of Corygaum, in which I determined to make a stand, and according took post, selecting commanding situations for our two Guns. The enemy perceiving my intention sent 3 different bodies of Arabs, consisting of about 1,000 each, under cover of their Guns, and supported by large bodies of Horse for the same purpose; and I am sorry to say from their superior information of the nature of the Village succeeded in getting hold of its strongest post, and from which I was unable to dislodge them during the day; we continued incessantly engaged till 9 P.M. when we finally repulsed them.

At day break on the morning of the 2d we took possession of the post the enemy had occupied the day before, but they did not attempt to molest us. On the evening of the 2d despairing of being able to make my way good to Poonah, and my men having been 48 hours without food, and no prospect of procuring any in the deserted Village we had taken post in, I determined upon the attempt to retreat; and having collected the whole of the wounded, secured the two Guns and one Tumbril for moving, I commenced my retreat at 7p.m. being under the necessity of destroying one empty Tumbril, and leaving the Camp Equipage; under this explanation I trust I shall be deemed justified in the steps, I have taken; Our loss has been heavy indeed, but not more so than might naturally be Expected in a struggle like this...In concluding this report, I beg to assure you, that it is utterly impossible for me to do justice to the merits and exertions of the European Officers, Native Commissioned, Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, that I had the honour and good fortune to command on this trying occasion.’

For their gallantry in the action, the unit were constituted Grenadiers, Captain Staunton was made A.D.C. to the Governor-General, and presented by the H.E.I.C. with a sword of honour and 500 guineas. A monument was erected at the site in 1821 to commemorate the action, inscribed with the names of all who lost their lives in it. The London Gazette which covered the action closed with the lines:

'Every Individual displayed the most romantic bravery under the pressure of thirst and hunger almost beyond human endurance.’

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Sold for
£5,800

Starting price
£950