90 CONQUEST OF MYSORE. 



posed to attack, and could not resist the temptation. He 

 pushed on, and though soon entangled in broken and irreg- 

 ular ground, drove successive detachments before him, when 

 suddenly a musket-ball entered his cheek, passed through 

 both jaws, and he fell down apparently dead. The second 

 in command being in the extreme left, there was no one to 

 give orders or encourage the troops at this critical moment. 

 They oegan a retreat, which, as the different corps of the 

 enemy rallied and a cross-fire was opened from the fort, 

 was soon changed into a confused flight. The overthrow 

 might have been very serious, had not Colonel Gowdie come 

 up with a body of infantry, and checked the advance of 

 the sultan's horsemen. The loss of the British in men 

 was only 71, but the destruction of nearly 300 horses was 

 very severely felt. 



Another enterprise, which proved somewhat hazardous, 

 was the carrying of the town, or pettah, as it was called, 

 of Bangalore, a place of very considerable extent and im- 

 portance. It was surrounded with an indifferent wall, but 

 the ditch was good, and the gate was covered by a very 

 close thicket of Indian thorns. The attack was made, too, 

 without any due knowledge of the ground ; and the sol- 

 diers, Doth in advancing and in endeavouring to force open 

 the gates, were exposed to a destructive "fire from tur- 

 rets lined with musketry. Colonel Moorhouse, one of the 

 most accomplished characters in the service, received four 

 wounds, which proved fatal. At length, when the gate 

 was almost torn in pieces, Lieutenant Avre, a man of very 

 small stature, forced his way through it, "and Medows, who 

 preserved an inspiring gayety in the midst of battle, called 

 out, "Well done ! now, whiskers, try if von can follow and 

 support the little gentleman." On this animating call, the 

 troops dashed into the town ; though its great extent ren- 

 dered the occupation difficult. Tippoo likewise threw in a 

 strong corps, which renewed the contest, opening a heavy 

 fire of musketry ; but, when the English betook themselves 

 to the bayonet, they drove the enemy with irresistible fury 

 through the streets and lanes, and soon compelled them to 

 evacuate the pettah. Our loss, however, amounted to 131. 

 Notwithstanding every obstacle, the besiegers by the 21st 

 had effected a breach, and though it was not in a condition 

 for being stormed, yet. on considering the nc'ive movements 



