Part 7: Army Lists 1787-1799
These lists are designed to be used with any rules but are tailored towards my own preference of a figure scale of around 1:30, so unit sizes in figures are rounded off to reflect that and provide equal sized companies within them. For players using other figure scales, take the unit strength and divide by whatever figure you need. I have not based these lists on the Futtal al Mujahaddin, as it forms its' own lists in a way and it is doubtful whether its' organisation was ever fully achieved.
These "lists" represent the army available at the time stated rather than those allowed under any "points systems." The first entry in each section is for the actual army and that following the unit sizes at 30/33:1
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| Illustration 89: Tipu on the march |
Haider Ali's field army in 1771
I have included this brief description of Haider's army despite its' being outside the area of interest. “Having completed the equipments of his army, Haider resolved to make trial of his good fortune and military skill against Trimbuc Mama, with a force of:- 12,000 good horse, 15,000 regular infantry, 10,000 peons, or irregular infantry armed with match-locks or pikes, 40 field guns.” On the eve of the 3rd Anglo-Mysore War, (1789) the army's strength was:- 3,000 irregular horse 5,000 regular horse 3,000 looties (Pindarries?) 48,000 regular infantry 10,000 Ahmadi (POW) or asad-ilahi infantry 60,000 peons armed with matchlocks and swords 3,000 pikemen AHQ:- Haider Ali or Tipu Sultan mounted on elephant 4x regular infantry cushoons of 12x 800 risala with musket and bayonet, (26 figs) each with 1 to 5x 18 pdr ox drawn guns plus 1 elephant attached to artillery and Sipahdar (commandant) mounted on elephant. 14x 700 Ahmadi (POW) or asad-ilahi infantry, (24 figs) low class musket and bayonet regulars (good quality if asad ilahi.) 4x regular infantry cushoons of 12x 700 risala (24 figs) irregular peons with matchlock and sword, each with 2x 18 pdr ox drawn guns plus 1 elephant attached to artillery and Sipahdar (commandant) mounted on elephant. These units fire slowly but are good shots. 2x cavalry cushoons of 5 mokums of 500 (16 figs) regular horse with carbine, sword and shield. Each cushoon has 2x 3pdr mule drawn galloper guns attached. Sipahdars (commandant) may be mounted on horse or elephant. |
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| Illustration 90: Loading Tufghengis (matchlock rifles.) That one of these men is loading kneeling implies some sort of skirmish capability. |
2x cavalry cushoons of 5 mokums of 300 (10 figs) irregular horse with
matchlock, sword and shield. Each cushoon has 2x 3 pdr mule drawn
galloper guns attached. Sipahdars (commandant) mounted on horse
10x cavalry mokums of 300 (10 figs) irregular looties (Pindarries?)with
lance, bow sword and shield. Each cushoon has 2x 6 pdr mule drawn
horse artillery guns attached. Sipahdars (commandant) mounted on
horse
10x batteries of 3-6 ox drawn 9-24pdr field guns plus 1x elephant
attached to each battery.
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| Illustration 91: The battle of Pollilur |
During the 3rd Anglo-Mysore War.
The army's strength was:-
18,000 horse
50,000 regular infantry
100,000 irregular infantry employed in garrisons and collecting revenue.
AHQ:- Tipu Sultan mounted on elephant
2x 720 elite sepoys (24 figs) with musket and bayonet, sword shield.
Zumrah Gumrah (Tiger Grenadiers)
4x regular infantry cushoons of 12x 800 risala with musket and bayonet,
(26 figs) each with 1 to 5x 18 pdr ox drawn guns plus 1 elephant
attached to artillery and Sipahdar (commandant) mounted on elephant.
4x irregular infantry cushoons of 12x 800 risala with musket or
matchlock and sword, (26 figs) each with 2x 18pdr ox drawn guns plus
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| Illustration 92: Seringapatam 1 elephant attached to artillery and Sipahdar (commandant) mounted on elephant (these units are mostly on garrison or revenue collection duty) 4x cavalry cushoons of 5 mokums of 450 regular horse with carbine, sword and shield. Each cushoon has 2x 3pdr mule drawn galloper guns attached. Sipahdars (commandant) may be mounted on horse or elephant. 4x cavalry cushoons of 5 mokums of 450 irregular horse with matchlock/bow, spear and shield. Each cushoon has 2x 6pdr limbered and mule drawn horse artillery attached. Sipahdars (commandant) may be mounted on horse or elephant. 10x batteries of 3-6 ox drawn 9-24pdr field guns plus 1x elephant attached to each battery After the Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792 The army's strength was:- 7,000 regular horse 6,000 irregular horse 30,000 regular infantry 5,300 revenue peons 36,000 cundachars (tax collectors?) 2,000 artillery |
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| Illustration 93: The storming of Seringapatam AHQ:- Tipu Sultan mounted on elephant 4x Cushoons of regular infantry with musket and bayonet, each of:- 12 risalas (battalions) cushoons at 625 men per risala (20 figs.) each cushoon has 400 rocketeers (12 figs) attached. Each cushoon has 1 to 5 x18 pdr ox drawn guns plus 1 elephant attached to artillery and Sipahdar (commandant) mounted on elephant. 16x risalas 300 revenue peons spear and shield some bows 6x cushoons each of 12 risalas x 600 cundachars (tax collectors?) spear, shield some bows |
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| Illustration 94: The North entrance to Mangalore fort |
4x cavalry cushoons of 5 mokums of 360 (12 figs) regular horse with
carbine, sword and shield. Each cushoon has 2x 3pdr mule drawn
galloper guns attached. Sipahdars (commandant) may be mounted on
horse or elephant.
4x cavalry cushoons of 5 mokums of 290 (10 figs) irregular horse with
matchlock/bow, lance, sword and shield. Each cushoon has 2x 3pdr
mule drawn galloper guns attached. Sipahdar (commandant) mounted
on horse
Each cushoon has 2x 6pdr limbered and mule drawn horse artillery
attached Sipahdars (commandant) mounted on horse.
10x batteries of 3-6 ox drawn 9-24pdr field guns plus1x elephant
attached to each battery.
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| Illustration 95: Tipu says goodbye to his sons as they are sent to Cornwallis By 1794 The army's strength was:- 6,450 regular horse 7,500 irregular horse 360 independent horse 23,800 infantry 12,000 infantry garrisoning Seringapatam, Bednur, Chitaldrug and other places 3,500 artillery including rockets AHQ:- Tipu Sultan mounted on Elephant 4x regular infantry cushoons of 12x 495 risala with musket and bayonet, (16 figs) each with a juq of 200 rocketeers attached (6 figs) and 1 to 5x 18 pdr ox drawn guns plus 1 elephant attached to artillery and Sipahdar (commandant) mounted on elephant. |
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| Illustration 96: The British army encamped outside Sholingar |
2x risalas 500 rocketeers (16 figs)
24x risalas 500 irregulars in garrison with matchlocks, bows,
sword/spears (16 figs)
1x mokum 360 bargir armoured heavy cavalry.spear matchlock shield and
sword. (12 figs)
4x cushoons of 5 mokums of 300 regular cavalry, sword, lance carbine
(10 figs). Each cushoon has 2x 3pdr mule drawn galloper guns attached.
Sipahdars (commanders) mounted on horses.
1x mokum of 300 regular cavalry, carbine, sword. (10 figs)
5x cushoons of 5 mokums 300 irregular cavalry, spear, matchlock/ bow,
sword and shield (10 figs) Each cushoon has 3x 6pdr limbered and mule
drawn horse artillery attached. Sipahdars (commanders) mounted on
horses
17x batteries of 3-6 ox drawn 9-24pdr field guns plus1x elephant
attached to each battery
On the eve of the 4th Anglo-Mysore War,
The army's strength was:-
3,502 regular horse
9,392 irregular horse
23,483 regular infantry
6,209 regular militia
4,747 matchlock-men and peons
NOTE. The "Peons" were regarded as light infantry with skirmish capabilities. They were used to hunting in the forests and were said to be excellent marksmen. The range and accuracy of the matchlocks were much feared.
AHQ:- Tipu Sultan mounted on elephant
2x 625 risala elite sepoy Tiger Grenadiers, (20 figs) Musket, bayonet and
melee weapons with 1x juq 200 rocketeers (6 figs) attached
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| Illustration 97: Tipu's sons being welcomed by Cornwallis 1x 625 risala elite Zumrah Gumrah, sword, shield and melee weapons 4x regular infantry cushoons of 12x 500 risala with musket and bayonet, (16 figs) + 1x juq 200 rocketeers each with 1 to 5x 18 pdr ox drawn guns plus 1 elephant attached to artillery and Bakhshi (commandant) mounted on elephant 10x 600 regular militia risalas, matchlock, sword. Half may have bows instead (20 figs) 4x 500 man risalas, matchlock and sword (16 figs) 5x 500 man risalas, spear, shield (16 figs) 4x cushoons of 5 x risalas 200 regular horse, sword, shield, carbine (6 figs) Each cushoon has 2x 3pdr mule drawn galloper guns attached. silhadar (commandant) may be mounted on horse or elephant. 20x 360 silhadar irregular cavalry with sword, lance, bow/matchlock (12 figs) Every 5 mokums have 2x 6pdr limbered and mule drawn horse artillery attached. If grouped mokums have Bakhshi (commandant) mounted on horse 4x 360 irregular heavy cavalry, armour, sword, lance, shield, matchlock/bow (12 figs) Every 5 mokums have 3x 6pdr limbered and mule drawn horse artillery attached. If grouped mokums have Bakhshi (commandant) mounted on horse 10x batteries of 3-6 ox drawn 9-24pdr field guns plus1x elephant attached to each battery |
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| Illustration 98: Mysorean troops |
July 1798
The army in 1798 consisted of:-
30,000 regular infantry
4,000 Ahmadi (POW) or asad-ilahi infantry
15,000 pikemen
8,000 peons armed with matchlocks and swords
6,000 pioneers
6,000 regular horse
7,000 irregular horse
AHQ:- Tipu Sultan mounted on elephant
1x 625 risala elite sepoy Tiger Grenadiers, Musket, bayonet and melee
weapons with 1x juq 200 rocketeers (6 figs) attached
1x 625 risala elite Zumrah Gumrah, sword, shield and melee weapons
4x Cutcheries of regular infantry with musket and bayonet, each of
6x 2 risala (battalion) cushoons (regiments) at 625 men per risala (20
figs.) each cushoon has 200 rocketeers (6 figs) attached. Each cutchery
has 1 to 5 x18 pdr ox drawn guns plus 1 elephant attached to artillery
and Bakhshi (commandant) mounted on elephant
3x cushoons of 2 risalas of 625 men Ahmadi (POW) or asad-ilahi infantry
(20 figs)
24x risalas of 625 pikemen (20 figs.)
10x risalas of 800 peons (matchlock and sword) (26 figs)
10x risalas of 600 pioneers (20 figs)
4x cavalry cutcheries of 5 mokums of 300 regular horse with carbine,
sword and shield.
Each cutchery has 2x 3pdr mule drawn galloper guns attached. Bakhshi
(commandant) may be mounted on horse or elephant.
20x mokums of 300 irregular horse with lance shield and sword. Every 5
mokums have 2x 6pdr limbered and mule drawn horse artillery
attached. Grouped mokums have Bakhshi (commandant) mounted on
horse
2x mokums heavy cavalry of 500 bargir (16 figs) armour, lance, sword,
shield
15x batteries of 3-6 ox drawn 9-24pdr field guns plus 1x elephant
attached to each battery
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| Illustration 99: Haider Ali |
In “Wellingon's Campaigns in India” RG Burton gives the following
information on the army during the 4th Anglo-Mysore War:-
To-oppose the British Army he (Tipu) had a force of some 76,000 men,
well armed and equipped, and composed as follows:—
Regular Cavalry 6,000
Irregular Cavalry 7,000
Guards (Slaves) 4,000
Regular Infantry 30,000
Pikemen 16,000
Carnatic Peons 8,000
Pioneers 6,000
These numbers include the lascars and gunners. Each regiment
of regular horse had two three-pounder galloper guns, and each body
of irregular horse had three six-pounders ; these were drawn by mules.
Each infantry brigade had two eighteen-pounders. Each brigade
had an elephant attached to it, to assist the guns through difficulties.
AHQ:- Tipu Sultan mounted on elephant
4x Cutcheries of regular infantry with musket and bayonet, each of
6x 2 risala (battalion) cushoons (regiments) at 625 men per risala (20
figs.) each cushoon has 200 rocketeers (6 figs) attached. Each cutchery
has 1 to 5x 18 pdr ox drawn guns plus 1 elephant attached to artillery
and Bakhshi (commandant) mounted on elephant
3x cushoons of 2 risalas of 625 regular Gardi infantry (20 figs) consisting
of 1 cushoon Tiger Grenadiers musket, bayonet, sword and shield, 1 of
Zumrah-Gumrah with sword shield, matchlock and 1 of sepoy with
musket and bayonet.
20x risalas of 720 irregular pikemen (24figs.)
10x risalas of 720 irregular Carnatic peons with matchlock sword and
shield (24figs.)
10x risalas of 600 peasant levy pioneers (20 figs)
4x cavalry cutcheries of 5 mokums of 300 regular horse with carbine,
sword and shield. Each cutchery has 2x 3pdr mule drawn galloper guns
attached. Bakhshi (commandant) may be mounted on horse or elephant.
20x mokums of 300 irregular horse with lance shield and sword. Every 5
mokums have 3x 6pdr limbered and mule drawn horse artillery
attached. Grouped mokums have Bakhshi (commandant) mounted on
horse
2x mokums heavy cavalry of 500 bargir (16 figs) armour, lance, sword,
shield
15 x batteries of 3-6 ox drawn 9-24pdr field guns plus1x elephant
attached to each battery.
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| Illustration 100: Defenders of Seringapatam |
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| Illustration 101: Mysorean troops |
