[Illustration: 17th Lancers, 1824. [To face page 64. ]
The following account of an affair between a detachment of the SEVENTEENTH and a party of _Pindarees_, was published in division orders, dated the 13th of March, 1818:--"The Major-General is happy to publish to the division the following particulars of an action between a detachment of His Majesty's SEVENTEENTH Light Dragoons, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel the Honourable Lincoln Stanhope, and a body of _Pindarees_, commanded by Settoo in person, which has added much to the deserved reputation of that gallant corps, and reflects the highest credit on the officers and men employed on this occasion.
"Information having been communicated to Lieut.-Colonel Stanhope that a considerable party of Pindarees had appeared within a forced march of his camp, a detachment was immediately put in motion, and arrived in sight of the enemy after a march of thirty miles. The dragoons immediately formed and attacked the Pindarees, who, after a show of resistance, betook themselves to flight, closely pursued by the detachment, which cut down upwards of two hundred horsemen. Settoo, conspicuous by his dress and black charger, narrowly escaped falling into our hands; he was saved by the extraordinary speed of his horse. The Major-General begs to express his thanks to Lieut.-Colonel the Honourable Lincoln Stanhope, for the promptitude and vigour with which the arrangements were made for the attack, and the spirit with which it was conducted; and he returns his acknowledgments to the whole of the detachment for the intrepidity and activity which it displayed during the attack and pursuit of the enemy. The conduct of Captain Adams and Cornet Marriott having been represented to the Major-General in the most favourable terms, he is happy to express his unqualified approbation of the gallantry of both these officers."
On the 14th of March the following statement appeared in division orders:--"Having made arrangements for the return of the force into cantonments, the Major-General cannot deny himself the satisfaction of expressing his sentiments on the exemplary conduct of the troops he has had the honour to command during the late service. Their cheerfulness in the performance of their duty, though unavoidably harassing and severe; the spirit and activity with which they have always encountered fatigues; and, above all, their strict adherence to discipline and subordination, reflects the highest credit on both officers and men, and merits the Major-General's warmest approbation. He only regrets that circumstances have not afforded the whole of the troops such an opportunity of displaying their most brilliant talents, as their companions in arms have so gallantly availed themselves of. To conclude, he can only say, that he has never been, in any part of the world, with troops whom he should be so happy to have the honour to command again, or with whom he would so willingly undertake the most arduous services. Where almost every officer has so much distinguished himself by zeal, alacrity, and good conduct, it is difficult to particularize any individual; but Sir William Grant Keir feels himself bound, both in gratitude and duty, to say, that he is, in an uncommon degree, indebted to Lieut.-Colonel the Honourable Lincoln Stanhope, of the SEVENTEENTH Light Dragoons, and to Captain Thompson, of the same corps, who has also done more than his duty in taking charge of the advanced-posts during the whole of the service: the Major-General requests the above officers will accept of his warmest thanks."