HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
which he was met by Colonel 
Floyd, their numbers had increased 
to an alarming degree, and he was 
obliged to halt, and draw up his 
troops in order of battle. Upon 
the appearance of Colonel Flovd 
they withdrew ; and on the 16th he 
joined Lord Cornwallis without 
further loss or interruption. 
Two thousand gabions, 10,000 
fascines, and 20,000 pickets had 
mow been prepared, and every 
thing was ready for commencing 
the attack of the place. 
Seringapatam, of a triangular 
form, is invested on two sides by 
the Cavery. Lord Cornwallis had 
‘determined to attack it on the third 
side, as being most accessible ; but 
as that too was the most strongly 
fortified, he altered his mind, and 
‘resolved to attack the north face of 
the fort, across the river. The 
trenches were ordered to be opened 
‘on the night of the 18th; but, as 
‘this would have been nearly im- 
‘possible, had the enemy had no- 
tice of the design, a detachment 
was sent to beat up their camp on 
the south, and thus draw off their 
attention. ‘This commission was 
successfully executed by Captain 
‘Robertson, who crossed the river 
‘from the south side of the island, 
made a long detour through rice- 
“grounds and swamps, fell upon the 
enemy at midnight, killed upwards 
of an hundred troopers, created 
-ap alarm through the whole fort, 
and returnea without the loss of a 
‘man. Meanwhile the trenches 
had been opened, and batteries 
erected within 800 yards of the 
fort; aud so well protected were 
‘the men, that they were but little 
“annoyed by the dreadful fire open- 
‘ed upon them in the morning. 
~The Sultan fearing that a breach 
o™ 
[223 
would’ soon be effected, which 
would be followed up by an assault, 
thought of an expedient by which 
he proposed to retard the former, 
and to render the Jast impossible. 
He sent a detachment, who cut off 
a stream of water which run through 
the English camp, and turned it 
into the Cavery. But the stream 
was soon reconveyed to its accus- 
tomed channel, by a detachment 
sent by Lord Cornwallis, to inves- 
tigate the cause of the failure of 
the waters; who drove the Myso- 
reans from its banks, and took up 
a station to guard it, during the 
remainder of the siege. 
It was now judged proper, that 
the third side of the fort should 
likewise be invested; and General 
Abercombie marched a little way 
up the river, crossed it without 
opposition, and, having repulsed a 
body of cavalry who then attacked 
him, encamped on sonte heights to 
the south-west of the town. -He 
immediately prepared to attack the 
fort on that quarter; and, on the 
Qist, sent a party to occupy a re- 
doubt, and a tope, or grove, which 
were within gun-shot of it. They 
took possession of them during the 
night; but Tippoo, alarmed at this 
near approach to the weakest side 
of the fort, ordered out a large 
detachment of his troops, who vi- 
gorously attacked the English, and 
made them retire in confusion : 
however, they soon rallied, and 
again got possession of the tope. 
The Mysoreans, being reinforced, 
a second time returned to the 
charge; and the ammunition of our 
men being expended, were again 
successful. At this time a bat- 
talion of sepoys came up with a 
supply of cartridges. ‘The engage- 
ment was renewed, and maintained 
with 
