| GENERAL CHARLES DOUGLAS |
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Bengal Artillery and Royal Artillery
Charles Douglas was born on the 21st of March 1814, in Westminster, London. He received a
mainly mathematical education at Thomas Murray's Military Academy in Edinburgh 1829-31.
Nominated for the 1831/2 season as a Cadet for the East India Company's Military Seminary
at Addiscombe by East India Company Director Robert Cutlar Fergusson MP, at the
recommendation of Sir James Shaw Bart. Charles passed the Military Committee at East India
House, London, 1 February 1832, and entered Addiscombe on 3 February 1832.
Having passed his public examination at Addiscombe on 13 December 1833, Charles was
allocated to the Bengal Artillery. He embarked for India on the 'Dungevan Castle' on 11
February 1834 having been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 13 December 1833. (India
Office Records; L/MIL/9/178 ff.98-103 Cadet Papers No.18 of 1831/2)
Charles arrived at Calcutta on 7 July 1834. Appointed to do duty with a detachment of
Artillery drafts proceeding by water from Dum Dum to Cawnpore. (General Order 13 June
1836) Directed to do duty with the 4th Company 4th Battalion Bengal Artillery at Agra. (GO
8 November 1836)
Granted leave to visit the hills north of Dehra Dun on private affairs 29 July to 30
September 1838. Ordered to take charge of a detachment of invalids and time-expired men
proceeding to Chunar and Calcutta. (GO 21 Nov 1838)
Order to do duty at Dum Dum. Reported to "require considerable more exprience for charge
of Companies" (Inspection Report of 3 & 4/4 Artillery, dated 28 January 1839)
During his progress to Joudpore he had occasion to enter a village on the line of march, when
he was assaulted by the zumeendar [or zamindar, i.e., a headman or landowner], sword in hand,
and wounded. He returned the attack “by passing his sword thro' the body of his outrageous
assailant and killing him on the spot" - Asiatic Journal vol.30 p.291 and vol.31 p.110
Commanding 4th Company, 4th Battalion Bengal Artillery per Inspection Report dated 29
January 1840.
Placed at the disposal of the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces and
appointed to clear certain obstructions in the river Jumma. (GO 2 April 1840) Promoted
Lieutenant 12 January 1841. Transferred to 2nd Company 3rd Battalion Bengal Artillery (GO
23 October 1841) Appointed to command the 2nd Battalion Bengal Artillery. (GO 28 March
1842)
Served in the Afghanistan Campaign 1842 under Major-General Pollock, and was in all actions
in the advance and capture of Cabul. Engaged with the enemy at the Tezeen Pass in September
1842. The defeat of Akbar Khan in this battle opened the way to Cabul, which was reached
by the Force on the 15 September 1842. For his part in the Battle of Tezeen, Charles Douglas
was Mentioned in Despatches:
“As the enemy showed no disposition to molest us further, and the whole of the baggage having
entered the pass, the horse artillery and Dragoons were permitted to commence their march.
But before the latter had filed off the enemy brought two guns to bear upon our position,
which obliged me to place the remainder of the Cavalry under cover of the rough ground in the
vicinity. These guns, fortunately, did no harm and were soon after either withdrawn by the
enemy or silenced by a fire of round shot from Lieutenant Douglas's 9-pounder, ably directed
by that officer and by Captain Laurence.” (Lt-Col Richmond's despatch dated 11 September
1842, in GO 30 September 1842, Calcutta Gazette 13 October 1842 and London Gazette 24
November 1842)
Appointed Adjutant and Quarter-Master to the Foot Artillery detachment with Major-
General Pollock's force. (Artillery Divisional Order 8 November 1842) Received the First
Afghan War medal with Cabul reverse for his services during this campaign.
Subsequent to the First Afghan War Lieutenant Douglas appointed to the charge of the Agra
Magazine in April of 1843. (GO 3 April 1843) Appointed Deputy Commissary of Ordnance
and posted to Sukkur Magazine in 1844. (GO 26 November 1844) Appointed officiating
Deputy Commissary of Ordnance at Fort William Arsenal, Calcutta in December of 1844. (GO
6 December 1844) Appointed officiating Superintendent of the Cossipore Foundry, Calcutta
(GO 15 May 1846) and appointed Acting Superintendent of the Iron Bridge Manufactory,
Calcutta in 1847. (GO 2 Jul 1847) Appointed Commissary of Ordnance at Ajmer Magazine
(GO 5 Aug 1848)
Promoted Captain on 20 May 1851 and Commissary of Ordnance 1st Class on 22 April 1853.
Following the start of the Indian Mutiny, he was transferred to the Delhi Magazine on 21
September 1857. Later ordered to assume charge of the Ordnance Department at Mhow until
the state of the country admits his joining his appointment at Delhi. (GO 13 Oct 1857)
Subsequently served with the Central India Field Force under General Sir Hugh Rose KCB. He
was present at the siege and assault on Jhansi in March - April 1858 and mentioned in
dispatches.(despatch of Sir Hugh Rose 30 April 1858, Forrest IV p.50); commanded the
artillery of the Hyderabad Contingent in various affairs including the capture of Koonch on 7
May 1858 and the operations before and at the capture of Calpee later in May of1858; action
at Koonch 7 May 1858 (despatch of Major Orr 14 May 1858, Forrest IV pp.74-75 "Captain
Douglas BA was present with the Central Indian Field Force, then besieging Jhansi. He was
present at the assault, having taken a gun down to the gate near which the right assaulting
party attempted an escalade." ); action at Muttra 17 May 1858 (despatch of Major Gall 25
May 1858, included in despatch of Sir Hugh Rose 22 Jun 1858, Forrest IV pp.87 & 120:
"Captain Douglas, SA, Gallantly and Skillfully placing his guns at Muttra, under a heavy
musketry fire, and clearing the ravines of rebels, on the 17 May".
For his service during the Mutiny, including being mentioned four times in dispatches, Captain
Charles Douglas received a no bar Indian Mutiny medal on roll of 4th Company 1st Battalion
Bengal Artillery [IOR: L/MIL/5,79 f.172] and a made a Brevet Major on 20 July 1858.
Major Douglas served in the Royal Artillery after the East India Company's European units
were transferred to the Crown following the suppression of the Indian Mutiny in 1860.
Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel 11 February 1861, Colonel 20 September 1865, Major-General
26 March 1870, Lieutenant-General 1 October 1877 and General 1 July 1881
General Douglas died on 28 July 1885 at Calcutta, India. He left an estate of 4,578 pounds.
mainly mathematical education at Thomas Murray's Military Academy in Edinburgh 1829-31.
Nominated for the 1831/2 season as a Cadet for the East India Company's Military Seminary
at Addiscombe by East India Company Director Robert Cutlar Fergusson MP, at the
recommendation of Sir James Shaw Bart. Charles passed the Military Committee at East India
House, London, 1 February 1832, and entered Addiscombe on 3 February 1832.
Having passed his public examination at Addiscombe on 13 December 1833, Charles was
allocated to the Bengal Artillery. He embarked for India on the 'Dungevan Castle' on 11
February 1834 having been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 13 December 1833. (India
Office Records; L/MIL/9/178 ff.98-103 Cadet Papers No.18 of 1831/2)
Charles arrived at Calcutta on 7 July 1834. Appointed to do duty with a detachment of
Artillery drafts proceeding by water from Dum Dum to Cawnpore. (General Order 13 June
1836) Directed to do duty with the 4th Company 4th Battalion Bengal Artillery at Agra. (GO
8 November 1836)
Granted leave to visit the hills north of Dehra Dun on private affairs 29 July to 30
September 1838. Ordered to take charge of a detachment of invalids and time-expired men
proceeding to Chunar and Calcutta. (GO 21 Nov 1838)
Order to do duty at Dum Dum. Reported to "require considerable more exprience for charge
of Companies" (Inspection Report of 3 & 4/4 Artillery, dated 28 January 1839)
During his progress to Joudpore he had occasion to enter a village on the line of march, when
he was assaulted by the zumeendar [or zamindar, i.e., a headman or landowner], sword in hand,
and wounded. He returned the attack “by passing his sword thro' the body of his outrageous
assailant and killing him on the spot" - Asiatic Journal vol.30 p.291 and vol.31 p.110
Commanding 4th Company, 4th Battalion Bengal Artillery per Inspection Report dated 29
January 1840.
Placed at the disposal of the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces and
appointed to clear certain obstructions in the river Jumma. (GO 2 April 1840) Promoted
Lieutenant 12 January 1841. Transferred to 2nd Company 3rd Battalion Bengal Artillery (GO
23 October 1841) Appointed to command the 2nd Battalion Bengal Artillery. (GO 28 March
1842)
Served in the Afghanistan Campaign 1842 under Major-General Pollock, and was in all actions
in the advance and capture of Cabul. Engaged with the enemy at the Tezeen Pass in September
1842. The defeat of Akbar Khan in this battle opened the way to Cabul, which was reached
by the Force on the 15 September 1842. For his part in the Battle of Tezeen, Charles Douglas
was Mentioned in Despatches:
“As the enemy showed no disposition to molest us further, and the whole of the baggage having
entered the pass, the horse artillery and Dragoons were permitted to commence their march.
But before the latter had filed off the enemy brought two guns to bear upon our position,
which obliged me to place the remainder of the Cavalry under cover of the rough ground in the
vicinity. These guns, fortunately, did no harm and were soon after either withdrawn by the
enemy or silenced by a fire of round shot from Lieutenant Douglas's 9-pounder, ably directed
by that officer and by Captain Laurence.” (Lt-Col Richmond's despatch dated 11 September
1842, in GO 30 September 1842, Calcutta Gazette 13 October 1842 and London Gazette 24
November 1842)
Appointed Adjutant and Quarter-Master to the Foot Artillery detachment with Major-
General Pollock's force. (Artillery Divisional Order 8 November 1842) Received the First
Afghan War medal with Cabul reverse for his services during this campaign.
Subsequent to the First Afghan War Lieutenant Douglas appointed to the charge of the Agra
Magazine in April of 1843. (GO 3 April 1843) Appointed Deputy Commissary of Ordnance
and posted to Sukkur Magazine in 1844. (GO 26 November 1844) Appointed officiating
Deputy Commissary of Ordnance at Fort William Arsenal, Calcutta in December of 1844. (GO
6 December 1844) Appointed officiating Superintendent of the Cossipore Foundry, Calcutta
(GO 15 May 1846) and appointed Acting Superintendent of the Iron Bridge Manufactory,
Calcutta in 1847. (GO 2 Jul 1847) Appointed Commissary of Ordnance at Ajmer Magazine
(GO 5 Aug 1848)
Promoted Captain on 20 May 1851 and Commissary of Ordnance 1st Class on 22 April 1853.
Following the start of the Indian Mutiny, he was transferred to the Delhi Magazine on 21
September 1857. Later ordered to assume charge of the Ordnance Department at Mhow until
the state of the country admits his joining his appointment at Delhi. (GO 13 Oct 1857)
Subsequently served with the Central India Field Force under General Sir Hugh Rose KCB. He
was present at the siege and assault on Jhansi in March - April 1858 and mentioned in
dispatches.(despatch of Sir Hugh Rose 30 April 1858, Forrest IV p.50); commanded the
artillery of the Hyderabad Contingent in various affairs including the capture of Koonch on 7
May 1858 and the operations before and at the capture of Calpee later in May of1858; action
at Koonch 7 May 1858 (despatch of Major Orr 14 May 1858, Forrest IV pp.74-75 "Captain
Douglas BA was present with the Central Indian Field Force, then besieging Jhansi. He was
present at the assault, having taken a gun down to the gate near which the right assaulting
party attempted an escalade." ); action at Muttra 17 May 1858 (despatch of Major Gall 25
May 1858, included in despatch of Sir Hugh Rose 22 Jun 1858, Forrest IV pp.87 & 120:
"Captain Douglas, SA, Gallantly and Skillfully placing his guns at Muttra, under a heavy
musketry fire, and clearing the ravines of rebels, on the 17 May".
For his service during the Mutiny, including being mentioned four times in dispatches, Captain
Charles Douglas received a no bar Indian Mutiny medal on roll of 4th Company 1st Battalion
Bengal Artillery [IOR: L/MIL/5,79 f.172] and a made a Brevet Major on 20 July 1858.
Major Douglas served in the Royal Artillery after the East India Company's European units
were transferred to the Crown following the suppression of the Indian Mutiny in 1860.
Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel 11 February 1861, Colonel 20 September 1865, Major-General
26 March 1870, Lieutenant-General 1 October 1877 and General 1 July 1881
General Douglas died on 28 July 1885 at Calcutta, India. He left an estate of 4,578 pounds.
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