202 | 
in a few miles of the British en-- 
campment before his approach was 
known. 
On the night of September the 
12th, Colonel Floyd had sent a re- 
connoitring party up the south side 
of the river, and in a short time 
heard that it was completely sur- 
rounded by a hostile force. He im- 
mediately marched out with all his 
cavairy to its assistance, routed the 
enemy, killed 400 of them, and re- 
turnedtothecamp. Still he thought 
it was only Sahid Saheb who had 
been reinforced; but early on the 
13th the camp was attacked by an 
immense body of cavalry and foot, 
with a numerous train of artillery. 
A heavy cannonading was kept up 
through the whole day, and towards 
evening the engagement became 
general and close. The English 
gallantly kept their ground against 
such superior force, and obligedthe 
Mysoreans to withdraw ; yet they 
suffered severely in officers and 
men; and the bullocks, which are 
as necessary to an Indian army as_ 
guns and ammunition, were com- 
pletely destroyed. 
The greatest consternation now 
prevailed in the British camp. It 
was now apparent that the Sultan 
was present in person with a mighty 
army; and the probability was, that 
they would be all cut to pieces, or 
taken prisoners of war; and to be 
a prisoner of war to Tippoo was 
considered as worse than death. A 
council of war was called during the 
night, when it was resolved, as the 
only hope of escape, to abandon 
Sattimungulum, to hurry south- 
wards, and to attempt a junction 
with General Meadows. Accord- 
ingly the garrison was withdrawn 
from the fort, and the whole army 
began to march before day on the 
14th, having abandoned several 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
guns for want of conveyance. As 
soon as their movement was observed 
by Tippoo, he crossed the Bouanni, 
and closely pursued them. The 
English had gained upon him so 
much, that he was not able to over- 
take them before mid-day. His 
cavalry then pressed upon them so 
close, that they were obliged to 
abandon a great part of their bag- 
gage, and the rest of their artillery 
but still they kept their ranks un- 
broken, in spite of the utmost ef- 
forts-of the enemy. About five 
o’clock, the British army had reach- 
ed Shoroor; when Colonel Floyd, 
seeing the main body of Tippoo’s 
army approach, and finding that to 
proceed was impossible, ordered his 
troops to halt, and drew them up in 
order of battle. The Indians now 
considered the English as ruined, 
and, setting up a dreadful shout, 
rushed forwards to victory. They 
met with an unexpected reception. 
The British: troops had retained 
their fire till this instant, and each 
officer had occupied a most advan- 
tageous station, The cavalry flew 
from place to place at the nod of 
their General: the infantry remain- 
ed unbroken, and yielded nota foot 
of ground. After an obstinate en- 
gagement, which lasted tilldusk, the 
Mysoreans were obliged to retire 
with immense loss. Among the 
killed was Burha Ud Deen Cawn, 
brother-in-law to the Sultan, in the 
battle of Shoroor the British suf- 
fered severely; but by it they se- 
cured their retreat. They recom- 
menced their journey soon after 
midnight, and reached Velladi the 
following evening, without farther. 
molestation. No success, however 
great, could be more brilliant, or 
reflect greater glory on the victors, 
General Meadows, on hearing © 
of Tippoo’s passage through the 
Ghauts, 
