HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
433 
At length, however, he succeeded, in consequence of a victory over the united 
army, on which occasion Haider and the Soubah lost twelve thousand men, besides 
those which were wounded; and the latter was compelled to leave behind him 
thirty-seven brass cannon, fifteen and twenty pounders, which were said to have 
come from the foundries of France; but when the Soubah afterwards made peace 
with the English, they were all restored to him. 
Some time previous to the battle which has just been mentioned, Haider Aly had 
sent his son Tippoo Saib, with a large detachment of cavalry, to the environs of 
Madras, with orders to carry pillage and destruction along with him. He was, 
however, prevented from obeying his father’s orders, by the activity of Colonel 
Call, the principal engineer, who collected all the force that was to be found, and 
completely protected the Black Town from the menaced inroads of Tippoo. In 
the mean time, the Governor of Madras received an express from General Smith, 
to inform him that he had gained a complete victory over the armies of Haider 
Aly and the Soubah. A general discharge of the cannon at Madras announced this 
important event; and no sooner did it reach Tippoo Saib, than he retreated in 
great haste to rejoin his father and the Soubah, who had fallen back to Caveripat- 
nam. As the rainy season approached, their armies went into cantonments, while 
the English forces took.up their quarters at Vellore, Wandewash, Conjeveram, See. 
The rains having ceased, in the latter part of November, Haider Aly assembled 
his troops, and having entered the valley of Burmal, invested the two mud forts of 
Tripotore and Vaniambady, and as they did not contain more than five hundred 
Sepoys, they soon capitulated. Haider then proceeded to besiege the citadel of 
Ambour, a place of considerable importance, and situated on a rock, at the foot 
of which is the town, defended by a mud wall. The English commandant, per¬ 
ceiving that any effectual defence was impossible, retired with his troops into the 
fort, and dispatched an express to the Governor of Madras to inform him of his 
situation. The English army, therefore, received immediate orders to assemble, 
with all possible expedition, at Vellore, and it was soon enabled to march to the suc¬ 
cour of Amboor. On their approach, Haider Aly raised the siege, and re-entered 
the valley. The Soubah followed him with his army, and proceeded to Caveripat- 
nam, where he encamped; but Haider stopped at Vaniambady, where he chose a 
very advantageous post, being resolved to try the strength of his army alone against 
the English, 
