210) 
eult and ‘fatiguing march ‘over ‘a 
ody mountainous country ; had 
now reached Periapatam, ‘and had, 
with infinite labour, brought along 
with him Jarge stores of provision, 
and a numerous battering train. 
His force was not ‘sufficiently con- 
siderable to enable him to march 
boldly ‘down the open ‘country to 
Seringapatam; and Lord ‘Corn- 
Wallis, as:'the only ‘way to save his 
own ‘army, or to do any thing 
against Tippoo, left his present 
advantageousposition, and marched 
up the Cavery, with ‘an intention 
to join him. When ‘he had reached 
‘Canniambaddy, most unfortunately, 
the river suddenly swelled to an 
aancommon ‘size, ‘and ‘rendered ‘a 
junction ‘impossible. It was here 
that the hardships and distresses of 
‘the ‘army began. -An ‘epidemic 
‘disorder prevailed among the cat- 
‘tle, which carried ‘off the ‘most of 
them, ‘and rendered ‘those ‘which 
wemained ‘of little service. The 
‘scarcity ‘of grain was such, ‘that 
ice was worth nearly its weight in 
gold; and the lower class of fol- 
Yowers was obliged ‘to ‘subsist upon 
the putrid flesh of the deceased 
‘bullocks;—and, to crown this scene 
“of ‘distress, the small-pox malig- 
mantly raged in the camp. 
“It was thus found absolutely 
*mecessary to give up all ideaof mak- 
‘ing an attempt upon Seringapatam 
this season. -A messenger was 
dispatched to Periapatam, desiring 
‘General Abercrombie to return 
‘to'the Malabar coast; who reluct- 
-aitly began his retreat. Part of 
shis battering train was destroyed ; 
‘and his army, ‘who thought they 
thad surmounted all their difficul- 
ities, ‘had’ the mortification to find 
‘their ‘exertions of no ‘utility, and 
‘had “to ‘return, worn ‘down with 
-sicknessand fatigue, and ex posed'to 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
the incessant rains which iat that 
season deluge the western coast of 
the peninsula. 
Lord Cornwallis ‘rersained some 
days at Canniambaddy, to cover 
the retreat of the Bombay army. 
Having then burst the greatest 
number of his battering guns, he 
began his mortifying retreat to- 
wards Bangalore. The army had 
not completed the first day’s short, 
but dreary and tedious ‘march »of 
six miles, when the greatest alarm 
was given by a party of horse sud- 
denly riding in on the ‘baggage- 
flank. But though their appear- 
ance was hostile, they turned ‘out 
to be friends; they constituted the 
advanced guard 'of the long expect- 
ed Mahratta army. Joy now'spar- 
kled in every eye. Themain body 
of the Mahrattas was at no great 
distance. The unremitting dili- 
gence of Tippoo, in intercepting 
intelligence, was the cause that they 
were thus themselves the first:mes- 
sengers of their approach. 
All. fear of want being now're- 
moved, the army again encamped 
before Seringapatam on the French 
rocks; ‘the station which Tip 
had occupied before the battle of 
the 15th of May, Bat as the'mon- 
soon might be expected to set ‘in 
in ‘a few weeks, Lord ‘Cornwallis 
thought that it would be more ad- 
viseable to return northwards, and 
to leave the siege of the enemy’s 
capital as the object of another 
campaign. The Sultan, who had 
imade great rejoicings on ‘the first 
retreat of the English, now'became ~ 
‘extremely uneasy, and made offers 
of peace; but as this seemed only 
a plan to sow jealousy betwixt us 
and our allies, ‘his offers were ‘re- 
jected. 
At Milgottah Lord Cornwallis 
-was joined bythe Mahratta army, 
consisting 
