206 | 
Mysore. Our troops had been 
successful in every engagement 
with the Sultan’s, however inferior 
their numbers; and there was rea- 
son to hope that in another cam- 
paign all his cunning, finesse, and 
subtlety would not avail to save 
him from destruction. 
After the reverse of fortune 
which the British arms experi- 
enced, Lord Cornwallis determin- 
ed, contrarily to his first intentions, 
to leave Calcutta, and to take the 
command of the army in person. 
Accordingly he embarked in the 
Vestal frigate, at Diamond-Har- 
bour ; and, after a prosperous 
voyage, reached Fort St. George 
on the 13th of December. 
His attention was for some time 
directed to the inspection of the 
army, the examination of the state 
of the magazines, and to acquiring 
information of theenemy’s country. 
He then settled the plan of the 
ensuing campaign, He gave up 
all idea of penetrating into Mysore 
in a southern direction; but deter- 
mined to make directly across from 
Madras, and to attempt some of the 
passes about the middle of the 
Carnatic. Having thus gained the 
heart of the enemy’s country, he 
resolved to proceed at once to 
Bangalore, the second place of 
consequence in the empire; and, 
having taken it, to turn to the north, 
and lay siege to Seringapatam, He 
ordered General Abercrombie to 
conduct his army to Trincomalé, 
and there to form it into two divi- 
sions; tosend one of them,as lightly 
equipped as possible, to his imme- 
diate assistance ; to penetrate him- 
self with the other into the Mysore, 
and to join him in the neighbour- 
hood of the capital. 
No sooner was this plan formed 
than he began its execution. About 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1792. 
the end of January, 1790, having 
completed his stores of provisions, 
ammunition, and battering-guns, 
he marched towards the Baramaul 
Valley, with a seeming intention of 
passing through it: but this proved 
ouly to be a feint; for, having 
reached Vellore, he turned sudden- 
ly to the right, and directed his 
march to the Mugglee Pass. This 
manceuvre proved successful: no 
enemy appeared to the English till 
they had made good their passage; 
but incredible were the obstacles 
opposed to them by nature. Moun- 
tain rose above mountain, steep 
and rugged; deep ravines and val- 
leys were sunk between, Having 
halted a few days to refresh his ar- 
my, he pushed on to Bangalore, 
distant about 110 miles, which he 
reached in five days, without hav- 
ing encountered in his march any 
opposition, save from flying squad- 
rons of horse, who were employed 
in carrying off, or burning the fo- 
rage, and laying waste the country 
before him. The forts of Molwa- 
gle, Colar, and Ouscottah, sur- 
rendered at his approach. The 
Sultan, alarmed at this daring in- 
vasion into the very heart of his 
country, and apprehensive for the 
fate of Bangalore, left his position 
on the frontier, hurried thither 
with all his forces, and arrived in 
the neighbourhood the very same 
day with Lord Cornwallis. The 
following morning witnessed an 
action of considerable importance 
between the two armies, The ca- 
valry of the English army had been 
employed in reconnoitring the fort; 
they fell in with the rear of the 
‘enemy, considerably detached from 
the main body, attacked it, put it 
to flight, imprudently pursued it, 
were met by a far superior force, 
and put to flight in their turn. 
How- 
