24}; ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
paign. About the beginning: of 
July, Tippoo sent a large body of 
troops to recover the provinces ra- 
vished from him on the south. 
They first laid siege to Coimba- 
tore. The place was resolutely de- 
fended with very unequal means, 
by Lieutenant Chalmers; and tho’ 
after a three weeks siege, a breach: 
‘was stormed, the assailants were re- 
pulsed with prodigious slaughter. 
A detachment from Major Cup- 
page, whowas stationed in the neigh- 
bourhood at Palicaudchery, com- 
pleted their route ; and the shatter- 
ed remains of the army, without 
accomplishing any thing, were 
obliged to reascend the Ghauts. 
Perseverance or obstinacy, as it 
is spoken of by his friends or his 
enemies, is a striking feature in the 
character of Tippoo. Determined: 
not:to be baffled in his intentions 
on Coimbatore, he sent Cummer 
Wd Deen Cawn, hissecond in:com- 
mand, with a numerous army to re- 
trieve the disgrace which his arms 
had sustained. The Cawn arrived. 
before this wretched but gallantly. 
defended fort, about the end of Oc- 
tober. Lieutenant Chalmers, with 
his: handful: of men, remained un- 
daunted at the view of this mighty 
host. For three weeks they baffled 
every effort of the Cawn to make an 
impression on the place. At length, 
being reduced to extremities, their 
ammunition being exhausted, every 
thing that was eatable being con- 
sumed, and Major Cuppage having 
failed in an attempt to relieve them, 
they agreed to capitulate, upon con- 
dition that they should be allowed: 
to march out with military honours; 
that their property should besecure, 
and that they should be sent to the 
€arnatic, upon their parole not to 
serve against Tippoo during the war. 
Ail these conditions were violated ; 
and they were led prisoners to Se 
ringapatam. : ee 
The Sultan had other objects ini 
view, in this expedition to’ the: 
countries below the Ghauts. A 
party of horse, having: separated 
from Cumer Ud Deen, at Demia= 
cottah, crossed the Cavery, came 
through the Tapoor pass, and, with 
great secresy and rapidity, con= 
ducted a killidar, in whom he had 
perfect confidence, with a re= 
inforcement to Kistnagheri, the: 
only place of consequence he now’ 
possessed betwixt’ Bangalore and) 
the Carnatic. 
Having performed. this: service, 
one half of them returned:to Tip- 
poo, with some tribute which had: 
been collected in that quarter; 
while the other began to ravage the: 
Baramaul, and: to threaten inter 
ruption to our convoys. 
It was a rumour of the depreda+ 
tions of this detachment. which: 
reached Lord Cornwallis while en-- 
camped before Nundydrvog, and: 
which was greatly exaggerated, 
that made him hasten towards: Aus»: 
soor. The whole army could not: 
have acted to advantage amidst: 
high mountains and narrow defiles ;. 
he, therefore, detached Lieutenant. 
Colonel Maxwell, with the 74th 
regiment and three battalions: of 
sepoys, to scour the Baramaul of 
these marauders. As Colonel Max~. 
well advanced, he learnt that their’ 
number was inconsiderable, and! 
that they harboured chiefly about’ 
Benagra, a strong mud fort, about: 
the south end of tbe valley. He 
therefore hastened thither by forced: 
marches, and arrived before it on 
the 31st of October. The gover- 
nor fired upon the flag of truce,. 
which was sent to summon him tov 
surrender. The fort was imme~ 
diately assaulted, the walls: were: 
“ie mounted 
‘Pal 
” 
