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== History =={{Template:Origin|text=The following brief history of H.M. 22nd Light Dragoons is derived from 'The Cavalry Journal', volume 31, Jan-Nov 1941. It was transcribed by Cathy Day.}} == A Brief History ==Overview ====

== Battles == The following history of H.M. 22nd Light Dragoons' exploits of 1817-1819 is extracted from the 'The Mahratta and Pindari Wars' compiled by the General Staff, India and published in Simla in 1910. It was transcribed by Cathy Day. The archaic language and values of the document reflect the times in which they were written. For the most part Cathy has extracted the history verbatim, and added some clarifying comments and explanations where appropriate.  Brigadier-General Thomas Munro, the Commander of the Reserve of the Deccan Army, exercised both civil and military jurisdiction in the country between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra where his forces were disposed, his headquarters being at Dharwar. In October 1817, prior to the outbreak at [[Poona]], the Peshwa had asked the assistance of the British Government in the reduction of the valley of Sundur, which was in a state of insubordination, and contained a temple of great sanctity which he occasionally visited. For this purpose the force then at Dharwar was most conveniently situated, and preparations were made early in October for its movement. On the 11th October all the artillery marched from Dharwar for Hampsagar on the Tungabhadra, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Dalrymple; followed on the 13th by Colonel Munro with the remainder of the force. On the 20th October Colonel Munro divided his force into two parts, of which one, consisting of all the cavalry except half a squadron of Dragoons, and half a Squadron of Native cavalry, was placed on the left bank of the river in charge of the sick and heavy baggage, and the other crossed over by basket boats to Hampsagar, which took 3 days. These boats were wicker boats made by the troops in the jungle, and covered with skins. The material used in their construction was probably sambalu, a plant resembling willow, which grows in profusion on river banks in Southern. India. The force was there joined by the headquarters and three companies, 2nd Battalion of Pioneers, from [[Bellary]]. On the 27th October Colonel Munro entered the valley of Sundur, when the fort was surrendered, and the same day was occupied by a British garrison. On the 16th November the greater part of Colonel Munro's force was formed into the reserve of the Army of the Deccan under Brigadier-General Pritzler; the former officer having returned to his headquarters at [[Dharwar]].

In December Colonel Munro was reappointed to the command of the Reserve with the rank of Brigadier-General, but he had only one battalion at headquarters, the remainder having taken the field under Brigadier-General Pritzler. Munro found himself at [[Dharwar ]] opposed in the first instance by the influence of Kashi Rao Gokla, lately appointed by Baji Rao civil and military Governor of the Southern Mahratta country. The country was studded with forts, and probably no territory of similar extent in any part of the world possessed so many of these strongholds as that belonging to the Peshwa before the war. They had most of them been constructed as secure retreats in the time of Sivaji, whom Aurangzeb called "the Mountain Rat."

When Brigadier-General Munro took the field, he procured from [[Bellary ]] a small battering train and the detachment of the 2-12 Native Infantry, which had been left at Sundur since the beginning of November. He also occupied himself in raising an irregular force of infantry (called Peons) as auxiliaries to relieve his few regulars from unimportant duties and to garrison places he might reduce. A party of these Peons at Nalgund were harassed by a body of Kashi Rao Gokla's horse, and were relieved by Lieutenant-Colonel Newall with five companies 2-4th Native Infantry, two guns, and a 5-inch howitzer on the 24th December.

On the 5th January, Brigadier-General Munro, having collected a sufficient force, began active operations. He opened the campaign with the siege of [[Gadag]], which surrendered on the 6th; Kashi Rao's horse appeared, but made no stand. The garrison of Damal, after four hours' firing from two batteries, surrendered on the 8th, to the number of 450 men; Hubli fell on the 14th and Misri Kotah on the 16th, both these places being then occupied by Peons.

The Brigadier-General then returned to [[Dharwar]], and halted there to reorganise until the 4th February, drawing supplies and treasure in the meantime from the Ceded Districts. In the middle of December a body of Pindaris (roving mercenaries and plunderers) had ascended the Berar Ghats and gone southward. They plundered Harponhalli and other places on the way to [[Chitaldrug]], and then, being pursued by the 5th Madras Cavalry, broke up into smaller detachments. They were attacked by a detachment on horseback and on foot, and suffered considerably in men, horses, and booty; and on their return journey, they were attacked again , when they lost twenty men and forty horses.

Badami was a walled town at the foot of fortified hills, containing an inner fort, and it was at first considered necessary to attack the lower defences. By the evening of the 17th a practicable breach was made, and at daybreak next morning the storming party surmounted the breach, killed the men in the neighbouring works, and drove those to the upper works, to which they quickly pursued them. The enemy then surrendered at discretion, and by 10 a.m. the Brigadier-General was in possession of all the forts, and 14 guns and 17 jinjals. The British losses amounted to 4 Europeans and 5 natives killed and wounded. This was one of the strongest hill forts in India. Other places surrendered in quick succession and Brigadier-General Munro then advanced against [[Belgaum]], before which he arrived on the 20th February 1818, and immediately occupied the town. The fort was found to be in perfect repair, surrounded by a deep and broad wet ditch, and garrisoned by 1,600 men. A battery was prepared at a mosque 800 yards from the north face, and opened fire on the 21st, being answered by five guns of the enemy, which were nearly silenced the following day. On the 24th the approach by trench was begun, and carried 140 yards, advancing 120 yards the following day. The approach was carried forward daily. On the 31st the magazine at the mosque blow up, and the enemy garrison made a sally to take advantage of the expected confusion but they were met by the battery guard and driven back, under a heavy fire of guns and small arms from the walls.