INDIA. 



who inrde 

 Mrwrr. 

 A. a 1791. 



of the roads, and the swelling of the rivers, they were 

 compelled to retrace their steps over those mountains 

 which form an almost impassable barrier between My- 

 sore . ilabar coast. In this march and retreat, 

 the troops suffered dreadfully ; but the sufferings were 

 compared to those which the Madras army un- 

 derwent while obliged to remain inactive in the heart 

 of Tippoo's dominions on account of the rains. They 

 were infected with an epidemic disorder, the ravage*) 

 of which were greatly increased by a scarcity of y 

 ion* ; and, to add to these calamities the small-pox 

 raged in the camp. Fortunately, they were soon join- 

 ed by the allied force of the MahraUas. amounting to 

 32,000 cavalry ; and soon afterwards, the troops , 

 Nizam joined them : but from neither of these allies 

 could Lord Cornwallis expect much efficient assistance, 

 especially in the moment of danger, as their equip- 

 ment and discipline were excessively detective. In 

 the month of June 1791, hi* Lordship set out towards 

 Bangalore. His first object was to secure an easy and 

 regular communication between the Mysore and 

 natic, as from the latter the supplies of the arm 

 chiefly to be drawn but thi* communication would be 

 Impracticable, so long a* the various hill 

 commanded the paasn were in the possession of Tip- 

 poo .re uncommonly strong, both by nature 

 -e, Savendroog, ( hittledroog, and 

 .aghury, were the mo>t remarkable for natural 

 strength. The first i* surrounded by a forest of natu- 

 ral wood, or i 



IDS of planted bamboo* t< < as impene. 



trable as possible. It is impossible to invest or bloc- 

 kade it closely, the rock forming a base of 8 or 10 



li the jungle and les- 

 ser ! A circle of mile*. 

 From this base, it is reckoned to rise above half a mile 

 in pei pendkular he huge mountain is further 

 rendered strong by being uiviuVd alx>ve by a chasm 

 that separate the upper part into two hills, eac!> 

 their defence*, forming two citadels, and capable of 

 being maintained i.iWpeodent of the lower work*. 

 This stupendous foruess, so difficult of approach, is no 

 leas remarkable for its noxion* atmosphere, occasioned 

 by the surrounding hills and woods, than for it* won- 

 derful size and strength. 

 LThs Csnsf Toe right wing of the main army, under the com- 



: .. . : .>:..!,:. <.,I..|,.] >-. M, Mi or,!- r. ! ;., 

 Moinmi. - - . 



the siege of this tr*m*ndoys fortress. In three days, 

 a practicable breach wa* effected, and the troop* ad- 

 vanced to the storm, Lord Cornwallis in person super, 

 intending the attack. On the appearance of the Eu- 

 ropean* advancing, the garrison were siezed with a pa- 

 id fled, and the breach was carried without meet- 

 ing or even overtaking the enemy. The main body 

 endeavoured to gain the western hill, and if they had 

 done so, the siege mart have recommenced ; but they 

 were clo-ely panned by a .mail party of the I'.ri- 

 t'-h w ho entered the different barrier* along with them, 

 and gained posaaision of the top of the mountain. 



in less than an hour, in open day, this fortress, 

 hitherto deemed impregnable, wa* stormed witho 

 lot* of a man, only one private soldier having been 

 wounded in the asuult. Other fortresses were also 

 taken, so that the convoys reached the army without 

 the least delay or oppotii 



the SSd of January I7W, the Bombay army, ha- 

 naased the Ghauts, joined Lord Cornwallis. 

 ted of MOO men, and as soon a* the armies of the 



M.ihrattas and of the Nizam had also joined, Lord History. 

 Cornwallis made preparations for besieging Seringapa- 

 tam. On the . r .th of February, the city was seen by ^ 

 the whole army from the heights which they had jj" 

 mounted, lying six miles to the north-east of it. The 

 sultan's army was encamped under the walls of his 

 capital. Seringapatam is placed at the upper end of an 

 island surrounded by the Cavery. which is here a large 

 and rapid river, having a very extensive channel, im- 

 peded by rocks and fragments of granite. The fort 

 occupies about a mile at the west end of the Maud. 

 and is an immense and unfinished building. In tbrti- 

 fy ing the town, Tippoo retained the lon^ strait walls 

 and square bastions of the Hindoos, and hi- d.u-is wa* 

 in many place* so high and steep as to shelter the as- 

 sailants. 



The camp of the allies was pitched on the north side 

 of the island. The British formed the front line, tht 

 reserve was placed a mile in the rear, and the Nizam 

 fahrattas were stationed still farther in the rear. 

 Tippoo's fortified camp was under the walls ot'Seringa- 

 patam, within abound hedge strengthened by redoubts 

 In this line thrre were 1' f artillery ; and in 



the fort and island, which formed his second line, there 

 were npwards.of 300 pieces. The whole, of his army 

 amounted to 40,000 infantry, besides a large bo 

 cavalry. 



.he night of the 6th of February \li\-2. Lord 

 Cornwallis resolved to attack Tippoo's camp. l'i>r tins 

 service he selected 2800 Europeans, and 5900 native in- 

 fantry, but without artillery. The attack was i 

 pletely successful. It was made in three . n.l taken. 



The centre column under I-ord Cornwallis, attacked Feb. 

 the Sultan'* redoubts, and having carried it, ! 

 their way into the town ; and, by the other columns, 

 the enemy's positions on the north side of the river, mid 

 almost the whole of the island, were carried 

 gnni were taken, and the loss ol'tlic Sultan in the bat- 

 tle is said to have been 40OO ; but the desertion was 

 so great after the overthrow, that his army was redu- 

 ced in number at least 20,000. The loss of the liri- 

 lish was a 



The British army having thus obtained possession of 

 the island and town of Senngapatam, were immediate- 

 ly employed in making preparations for the siege of 

 the fortress. But Tippoo, after several unsuccessful 

 efforts to retrieve liis fortune, at length on the Jltli 

 of February agreed to term* of peace, by which he Tjppo,, 

 agreed to pay .i crorc* and 30 lacks of rupees, about nukes 

 .iions sterling to relinquish half his dominions pe. 

 and to give up three of his eldest sons fur the due 

 performance of the treaty. Lord Cornwallis gave up 

 to the troop* his whole share of the prize mom -y, 

 amounting to i' 47,2-44; and General Meadows, the 

 next in command, his, amounting to 14,997. 



this occasion, the force brought against Tippoo 

 wa* one of the most formidable ever seen in HindonUn. 

 On tlu ' British army above the 



Chants amounted in all to 11,000 Europeans, S1,6OO 

 . PS of canon. The Mahrattas, the 

 Nizam'*, the Rajah of Travancore, and the other auxi- 

 liary forces, amounted to about 40,000 men, of whom 

 30,000 were cavalry. Toward* the conclusion of the 

 siege, allowing four camp followers to every soldier, 

 the total number of persons attached t<> the camp of 

 rate* exceeded 400,000. 



After the termination of this war, the alliance be- 

 tween the British and the Nizam became more inti- 



