A long Campaign Autograph Letter signed ‘John Briggs’ [to Colonel Doyle, military secretary to the Marquis of Hastings], reporting on the military positions in the opening stages of the campaign against the Pindaris, the weather, the difficulties crossing rivers, “a flying bridge”, the arrival of the army of the Nabob Sullabut Khan, the good morale of the British troops, etc by INDIA. Third Anglo-Maratha War. BRIGGS, Major John

Camp 12 miles between Mooltye & Britool [India], 13 October 1817. 5 pp. 9 x 7 inches, fine, disbound, about 800 words. With a complete typed transcript. Major-General John Briggs (1785-1875) entered the Madras Army in 1801, served in the Mahratta Wars, accompanied Sir John Malcolm on his mission to Persia (1810). “As far as military spirit goes I imagine there never was a time when it was more fervent than at present in our troops who look to actual service as some claim to the distressing listlessness and disappointment of the late defensive system. The troops are well commanded in detail and the Artillery is excellent. The Engineers are all that science can make them alltho’ the long period since the war with the Murhilttas and Seringapatam have afforded them little opportunity of practical knowledge, our Chief Captain Davies was however with the blockading squadron and taken with Captain Willoughby at the Isle of France, has been in the field for the last six years and is an excellent officer.”