HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
along the front of our lines, so that 
when day broke, Lord Cornwallis 
had the mortification to find that 
his troops had made but small pro- 
gress in their journey. However, 
he persevered in his intention 
to attack, although darkness no 
longer concealed his motions: and 
he had the good fortune to arrive 
within a small distance of the ene- 
my before they had any notice of 
his approach. A hill, which was 
unoccupied, seemed to command 
‘Tippoo’s left flank. The first bri- 
gade, which headed our column, 
pushed on to gain this important 
station; but upon descending a 
height, which had for some time 
concealed it from their view, they 
Saw it taken possession of by a de- 
tachment which the Sultan had sent 
for that purpose, the moment he 
discovered the English army. Our 
_ troops were some time dreadfully 
annoyed by some guns which were 
Opened upon them from the hill ; 
and had it not been for theshelter af- 
forded themby a ledge of recks, they 
would have been completely enfilad- 
ed. The whole army having at last 
come up, and being properly arrang- 
ed, Colonel Maxwell was dispatched 
with the 52d and7 Ist regiments, and 
Major Langley’s brigade, to storm 
the height. The troops ascended 
with rapidity and steadiness, under 
a dreadful fire of cannon and mus- 
quetry. Not a Mysorean offered 
to turn his back till he was within 
‘a few yards of the British bayonets. 
‘The charge was made with such 
oa that they were, at length, 
obliged to fly, and to abandon 
their guns, The whole army then 
advanced to the attack, and the 
battle became general. Greater 
bravery, or more steady discipline, 
‘could not have been displayed by 
the troops of any European poten- 
» Vou. XXXIV. 
[209 
tate than by the Indians, under 
Tippoo, on the 15th of May. How- 
ever, nothing could resist the ef- 
forts of British valour; they were 
obliged to yield on every side; 
they were driven from rock to 
rock, and from mountain to moun- 
tain: at each they made a fresh 
stand. while their cannon were 
drawing off, but. were constantly 
beat back, and were at length 
obliged to seek shelter under the 
guns of the capital. Glorious was 
the view which the setting sun dis- 
played to the victorious English; 
the proud capital of Mysore rising 
upon an island in all the grandeur 
of eastern magnificence, adorned 
with splendid buildings, defended 
by immense fortifications, and 
skirted with the most superb gar- 
dens ;—the rapid Cavery winding 
round its walls, every where lined 
with forts, and filled with crowds 
of the flying enemy. The noble 
prize seemed now within their 
reach: but in the hour of victory 
they found it necessary to retreat, 
and a course of disasters which 
followed, threatened to snatch it 
from them for ever. 
Scarcity began to appear in the 
camp; and a covering army was 
necessary while carrying on the 
operations of the siege. Lord 
Cornwallis, when he set out on 
this expedition, had trusted to the 
co-operation of the Mahrattas. 
He had for some time daily ex- 
pected their arrival, in vain, and 
now gave up all hopes of their 
assistance. One resource still re- 
mained. General Abercrombie, 
agreeably to his instructions, had 
proceeded early in the spring from 
the neighbourhood of Cananore; 
had occupied a strong position at 
the entry of the Poodicheram pass 
by the Ist of March, after a diffi- 
[PJ cult 
