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Early in 1833, after an influenza epidemic, the Regiment received orders to march from [[Bangalore]] to relieve the 45th Foot at [[Masulipatam]]. This lay 400 miles to the North-east on the coast, and was the most unhealthy station in the Madras Command, if not in the whole of India. Lieutenant-Colonel John Reed made strenuous efforts for the Regiment to be allowed to make the second half of the journey by sea from [[Madras]]. His reasons were that to go by land would entail a two months' march through districts infested with cholera and famine. All entreaties were in vain, and the 62nd set out on the 18th February about 500 strong, at the start of a most disastrous period lasting for two years. The route lay due east through Kolar towards [[Madras]], and on 1st March a halt was made at Chittoor, where cholera was raging and claimed its first victim. This was the wife of a Private Soldier, Mrs. Steven Shipway, who died at Kolcherry, nine miles on, when the march was resumed Northwards two days later. Some of the men fell sick at Kolcherry, and five were buried there that morning. together with a child belonging to the Regimental Surgeon, Doctor Radford. Twelve days later the Regiment reached Nellore, cholera casualties having occurred all the way, both among the soldiers and the inhabitants living along the route. Large numbers of half-starved natives had been procured to carry the sick in blankets slung on sticks. Daily this had become more difficult, and the cattle drawing the baggage carts died from fatigue and want of forage, the countryside being scorched and bare from the long drought. Nellore lay to the North-east near the sea, and here the 62nd camped for five days in a large Tamarind plantation on the bank of the Pennair River. Additional medical aid was received from Madras, the cholera abated, and was thought to have ceased when the march Northwards was resumed. It soon returned. Five days later the Regiment reached the sea at Ramapatam, camping almost on the beach for a night before marching on along the shore to Cavador. On 9th April they reached Vellasor on the estuary of the Kistna. The cholera epidemic had lessened, and, crossing the river next day, they arrived at [[Masulipatam]]. The Regiment camped on a salt water marsh until the 45th Foot marched out on 16th April en route for [[Secunderabad]], when they occupied Masulipatam Fort. The 62nd had buried nearly a quarter of their number on the journey, and of those remaining, only 100 were fit for duty. On 21st May the usual hot and violent winds set in, and fifty men a day for three days were admitted to hospital, principally with apoplexy and sunstroke. Many more deaths occurred, only forty-four men being fit for duty, Garrison Guards were discontinued and Regimental Guards decreased. Shortly afterwards, when the Regiment had to parade for the reading of a Government Proclamation, only four weak Divisions could be mustered. The three Officers on parade were the Commanding Officer, his acting Adjutant, and a Subaltern who carried one of the Colours, the other being borne by a Sergeant. An immediate report was made, and the General Commanding in Madras ordered the Regiment to move to Vizagapatam, 200 miles North-east along the coast. This was countermanded by the Commander-in-Chief in India, who ordered a Medical Committee of Investigation. Besides cholera, the 62nd were then afflicted with dysentery in a malignant form which killed within twelve hours. In August, when the Medical Committee assembled, the only men fit for duty in the whole Regiment were two Subalterns. The Committee recommended a sea trip for over 200 of the 62nd, and all those sufficiently recovered embarked in the Abberton, a chartered transport of 600 tons. The Commanding Officer and 154 others sailed on 27th August for a six weeks' cruise in the Bay of Bengal, visiting the Nicobar and Andaman islands. A large number of men convalescing from cholera and dysentery, and crowded on board a small ship with rudimentary sanitation, were not likely to regain their health by sailing through tropical seas in light marching order. Eleven men died at sea, and most of the remainder were readmitted to hospital on their return with dropsy and scurvy, from which many more died.