62 WAR WITH MYSORE. 



the mosques, and the solemn ceremony called jebbum 

 performed by the Hindoos, for the success of the pro- 

 posed expedition, Hyder quitted Seringapatam, and found 

 mustered at the frontier perhaps the finest army that 

 had ever taken the field in Southern India. It consisted ot 

 28,000 cavalry, 15,000 regular infantry, and 40,000 irregular 

 troops called peons, many of whom, however, were veterans, 

 —in all 83,000, besides 2000 rocket-men, 5000 pioneers, 

 and about 400 Europeans. In the middle of July he 

 marched through the pass of Changama, and began an un- 

 resisted career in the Carnatic, which he covered with the 

 most dreadful devastation. A few days after, while the 

 ruling party in the council would scarcely admit the exist- 

 ence °of danger, black columns of smoke, mingled with 

 flame, were seen approaching within a few miles of Madras. 

 Colonel Wilks, however, controverts the general idea that 

 the entire Carnatic was absolutely reduced to ashes. 1 his 

 would have been contrary to Hydcr's object in pursuing a 

 plan of conquest; he merely drew round Madras a wide 

 circle of desolation, calculating that a tedious blockade would 

 be necessary to reduce so strong a city. 



As soon as the first alarm of the government had sub- 

 sided, they began to consider the means of resistance, which, 

 with an empty treasury, disunited councils, and the im- 

 possibility of placing any confidence in Mohammed AH, 

 appeared extremely deficient. The first object was to se- 

 cure different strong places now held by the troops of the 

 nabob, who, it was not doubted, would surrender them on 

 the first serious attack. Several fell ; but two were saved 

 by the exertions of very young British officers. Lieutenant 

 Flint, with a corps of 100 men, having proceeded to Wan- 

 dewash, was refused admittance by the killedar or governor, 

 who had already arranged the terms on which the fortress 

 was to be surrendered. Flint, however, having with four 

 of his men procured access, seized the commandant, and, 

 aided by the bettefrdispoaed part of the garrison, made him- 

 self master of the stronghold. 



The next object was to unite in one army the different 

 detachments spread over the country ; the most numerous 

 and best equipped being under Colonel Bailhe, who had ad- 

 vanced considerably into the interior with a view to offen- 

 sive operations, this corps amounted to 2800, the main 

 body not exceeding 5200. Lord Macleod, who had recently 



