HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
mounted. by. scaling ladders, and. 
the. gates burst open. The garrison: 
now,-hung out a white flag—it was 
too late ; they had violated therules 
of war ; and out of 300, the whole. 
number, 150 were put to the sword, 
Colonel Maxwell then returned to- 
wards Caveripatam, and encamped 
on. the 7th of November in. the, 
neighbourhood of Kistnagheri, hay- 
ing received orders to attack the 
lower fort, and to, destroy the pet- 
tah, in order to leave.as.littie cover 
and encouragement as. possible for 
predatory parties of the enemy to 
remain in, that quarter. To give 
the enemy no time for preparation, 
he marched from his camp on this. 
hazardousexpedition, at ten o’clock. 
the same night. The pettah was 
carried, after a feeble resistance,and 
eyen some works which form a kiad 
of intermediate fort. betwixt: the 
other two; and all would have been 
well, had not the. British, troops, 
flushed with their success, followed 
the flying garrison, and made an 
attack upon the upper fort itself. 
During the course of the. war, 
greater gallantry was not displayed 
than.in this unfortunate enterprize. 
The only possible way of getting at 
the wall, was by a narrow passage 
commanded by several guns. For- 
ward into.this, a party rushed with 
scaling ladders; but a clear moon- 
light discovering their motions,they. 
were mowed, down by a discharge 
of grape-shot. Another and ano- 
ther marched up, who shared their 
fate. After repeated attempts, the 
sealing ladders being all demolished, 
Colonel. Maxwell. was obliged. to 
desist; and having burntthe pettah, 
ie his camp. Upon mus- 
gthe troops next morning, it 
was found that our loss in this un- 
auceessful tho’ brilliant enterprize, 
had’ been, very, considerable. Colo» 
[2am 
nel. Maxwell having, according: to 
his orders, reduced several. small, 
forts in the neighbourhood of Aus- 
soor, and delivered them to friend+ 
ly polygars, rejoined the grand, 
army. on the. 30th of November, 
then stationed at a small «listance 
from Bangalore, 
The. plan, was now nearly, accom- 
plished which Lord Cornwallis had, 
laid down, for the employment. of 
his troops during the monsoon; the, 
battering train had arrived from the 
Carnatic, and the preparations. were, 
nearly completed for the, ensuing, 
campaign. One formidable obstacle: 
was, yet to.be removed betore, the 
army. could again. move against the . 
enemy’s capital, About 18. miles 
west of Bangalore, on the road to 
Seringapatam, stands Savendroogs 
or.the, Rock of Death. It is.a place 
of immense: natural strength, being 
a vast. mountain of rock, which rises 
above half a mile in perpendicular 
height from a base of eight or ten 
miles in.circumference. It was em- 
bracediby walls on every side, and 
defended by cross walls and barriers 
wherever it, was deemed aceessibles 
It had likewise the advantage of 
being divided above by a chasm in- 
to twohills; which having each their 
defences, formed citadels, which 
might. be maintained independent 
of the lower works, and indepen- 
dent of each other. It is not Jess 
famed for its noxious atmosphere 
than, for its. stupendous size and 
wonderful strength. From its fatal 
climate it is said.to have derived its 
formidable name. This fortress, in 
the hands.of Tippoo, presented a 
most serious obstacle-to the reduc- 
tion.of,Seringapatam. From. its si- 
tuation and from its extent, it pre- 
vented all communication with Ban- 
galore, exceptwitha powerfularmys 
so) that, no, conveys of. provisions 
{P] 4 - could 
