HINDOOSTAN, 77 



less than an hour, in open day, without the loss of a man, only one pri- 

 vate soldier having been wounded. 



Outredroog, and other forts, fell successively after this brilliant suc- 

 cess. The forces of the allies were not equally fortunate during the 

 same interval. Tne army of the Nizam, after a long siege of Gur* 

 ramcondah drew off to join our forces, and only left the place block- 

 aded. To make amends tor this failure, the Mahratta army, under 

 Purseran Bhow, assisted by our engineers, took Hooly Onore, Bank> 

 apoor, Simoga, and other places. By the latter end of January 1792,, 

 the whole allied force excepting the Bombay army, was assembled in 

 the vicinity of Hooleadroog. 



We come now to the operations against Seringapatam. On the 

 first of February, 1792, the allies began their march, and at two 

 o'clock on the 5th encamped across the valley of Milgotah, only six 

 miles from the position of Tippoo before Seringapatam. It could 

 not well be expected by the sultan that he should receive so early an 

 attack as lord Cornwallis destined for him. His camp was strongly 

 situated and fortified by a bound hedge, and several redoubts. Never- 

 theless, after causing his position to be reconnoitred in the morning 

 of the 6th, the commander in chief issued orders for the attack that 

 very evening. The army was to march at night in three divisions, 

 and without cannon. " The plan of attack," says major Dirom, " was 

 indeed bold beyond the expectation of our army : but, like a dis« 

 covery in science, which excites admiration when disclosed, it had 

 only to be known, to meet with general applause." The outlines of 

 this great enterprise are generally known ; the particulars cannot be 

 detailed in this place, but are related with great clearness by the 

 historian, and so illustrated by the attendant plans, that the circum< 

 stances cannot be mistaken. 



The result of this operation was, that Tippoo was driven from his 

 camp into Seringapatam, all his redoubts taken, and a lodgement esta) 

 blished on the island, in a strong position, where lieutenant Sttiart re> 

 mained posted. All possible preparations were made, from this tim^p 

 for taking the capital by assault ; and they were such as probablr 

 would have been crowned with full success. On the 16th of Febri/» 

 ary, the Bombay army, under general Abercromby, after overcoming 1 

 various obstacles, joined the main army, and remained posted to tje 

 north-west of the city. / 



On the 19th it was stationed on the south side of the Caveri, in 1 a 

 situation that seemed to give the sultan much uneasiness. Howevir, 

 after attacking the advanced posts of this army on the night of tl|e 

 21st, Tippoo made no farther effort ; and on the 24th, when the pre- 

 parations for the general assault were in great forwardness, it was 

 announced that preliminaries of peace were settled. The confer- 

 ences for this purpose had begun on the 15th ; but the operations On 

 both sides continued till the 24th. After the cessation of arms, whicl 

 then took place, the conduct of Tippoo Sultan was so equivocal and 

 suspicious, as to make it necessary on our part to renew the prepara- 

 tions for the siege. Overawed, at length, by the firmness and deci- 

 sion of lord Cornwallis, and probably alarmed by the discontent of 

 his own people, the reluctant sultan submitted to all the term? pro- 

 posed ; and on the 19th of March, the copies of the definitive treaty 

 were delivered in form, by his sons, to lord Cornwallis, and the agents 

 of the allied princes, 



