thousand effective men. They marched from Tritchinopoly Plain, toward the Coimbettore country, with forty days' provisions on bullocks, and five more in the knapsacks. The Bombay army, under General Abercromby, was a compact and a well-appointed body, and a squadron, under Commodore Cornwallis, was ready to facilitate communication and convey reinforcements and supplies to parties near the coast.

Before any military movement was made, Tippoo sent to General Medows a letter, full of friendly professions, and proposing an embassy of a dignified person, and some others, to offer explanations. In his answer, the English general professed the resolution of his nation neither to offer nor submit to an insult: he allowed to Tippoo, except for his cruelty to his prisoners, the character of a great prince; but informed him that, by making an attack on the Rajah of Travancore, the ally of Great Britain, war was considered

to be declared.

On receipt of this announcement, Tippoo departed for Seringapatam, directing all his regular troops to assemble in that quarter, and leaving the adjacent countries with the stores he had collected, to the guard of looties and peonst.

The British troops immediately took possession of Carrore, a strong undefended fort, which served as a military station. Little impeded by the fierce, though desultory, attacks of the looties, the English, in rapid succession, and with inconsiderable loss, captured several forts with ample stores, and advanced to Coimbatore, which yielded without a struggle; and, as it was a post of considerable importance, they strengthened it with a garrison.

Hitherto the British troops had seen no military opponents but the looties; but they were now apprized that Sahed Sahib, a natural son of the Sultan, was approaching with three thousand regular horse,

From Major Rennell's Marches of the British Armies in India, p. 15, et seqq.

Looties are predatory and irregular cavalry; peons, irregular and undisciplined infantry. See Mackenzie, vol. i. p. 67.

CHAP.

LXXI.

1790.

August.

and, in the neighbourhood of Damicotta, some unimportant skirmishes left the English free to establish a line of forts from the Coromandel coast to the foot of the Guzzlehatty pass. Intelligence was also received that the Sultan had collected a powerful army to the eastward of Seringapatam; and a force was prepared, and confided to Colonel Stuart, for the capture of Palligautcherry; but his movement was prevented by an July. inundation, proceeding from the monsoon, which set in at a period unusually early. Erroad, however, was captured by a detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Other forts Oldham, aided by Lieutenant Colonel Deare. Dindi- taken. gul was summoned by Captain Oram; but a stern refusal, accompanied with menaces in case of any other summons, was returned by Hyder Albas, the Sultan's killedar. Works were opened, and, after a cannonade 20th. of two days, a storm was attempted under the immediate command of Colonel Stuart, but repelled. The works, although of great strength, being much injured, and the garrison, through alarm, threatening desertion, the brave killedar found it necessary to display a flag of truce; and, after a short negotiation, surrendered on moderate and honourable terms. Provisions were obtained, although not without difficulty, from the neighbouring country, and many forts of inferior importance were taken. The season now Sep. 21st. permitting, Palligautcherry was invested. In one day, practicable breach was effected, and operations being vigorously and judiciously continued during the night, the garrison surrendered, yielding to the captors an ample and seasonable supply of necessaries. In this period, the troops under Sahed Sahib were employed in ravaging the country, to prevent the English from obtaining supplies: several gallant skirmishes took place, and Captain Stewart captured the fort of Sattemangulum by surprise.

At this period, the progress of the British troops Masterly was impeded, and their safety put into considerable movement of hazard, by a movement of the Sultan, equally brave in Tippoo. its conception and prudent in its execution. Captain Sep. 10th. Child, having been ordered to reconnoitre the country

as far as Poongar, was supported by Major Darley, at the head of a native regiment. They found themselves unexpectedly in presence of a large body of the enemy's infantry, who had crossed the Bevannee, and were speedily supported by a considerable force of cavalry. A judicious and determined attack on this body secured the retreat of the pickets; and other vigorous conflicts, during the day, gave victory to the British troops; but it soon became apparent that rumours which for some days had been circulated of the Sultan's intention to descend into the Coimbatore country, with a very large force, through the Guzzlehatty pass, were wellfounded, that he had executed that project, that a large portion of his infantry had already crossed the Bevannee river, and, consequently, that no chance of safety remained for the advanced troops, but in falling back and rejoining the main army. This point was effected with steadiness and order, and without loss; but the passage of Tippoo, with an army of forty thousand infantry and cavalry, twice that number of followers, and a powerful train of artillery, with so much secrecy, expedition, and in such perfect military order, remained a theme of astonishment, and a lesson of wholesome caution and apprehension.

Without loss of time, Tippoo brought his troops into action. The British line was formed at Sattimangulum, in a position not easily assailable; and, during a whole day, the enemy poured on one portion of it a constant discharge of artillery, which, from the fear of wanting ammunition, was not adequately replied to. Darkness put an end to the attacks, in which the English sustained a considerable loss. In a tempestuous night, a council of war was held, and the evacuation of the fort of Sattimangulum, and a general retreat, were determined on, although not without great differences of opinion. The secrecy necessary to complete success was not strictly observed, and, at four o'clock in the morning, the retreat was effected, amid great difficulty and confusion, and some artillery was inevitably abandoned.

At eleven o'clock, the retreating army, having pro

CHAP.

LXXI.

1790. Action near Occaro.

Other actions.

ceeded twelve miles, as far as Occaro, saw that they
"were pursued by an overwhelming force. Judicious.
measures of resistance were adopted; and, after ex-
hausting the day in an obstinate and sanguinary con-
test, the British troops had the satisfaction to perceive
the enemy in full retreat. No further pursuit being
attempted, the English established themselves at Vel-
ladi, awaiting a junction with the main body under
General Medows. This officer had been apprized of
the passage of Tippoo into the Coimbatore country,
but did not know of the evacuation of Sattimungulum.
His great endeavour now became to bring on a general
action in the field, which his cautious and judicious.
adversary was no less solicitous to avoid. Many days
were expended in manœuvres productive of no im-
portant result; rather than risque an engagement,
Tippoo quitted a camp he had formed at Gopelchitty- 29th.
palem with precipitation, leaving to his opponents two
elephants, besides bullocks and warlike stores to a
great amount. The Mysorean next attempted to cut
off a detachment with supplies, under Major Young,
but failed. He then endeavoured to retake some
garrisons which had fallen into British hands, and
commenced the siege of Daraporan, in which several
important days were wasted, affording time for re-
inforcements to arrive at Coimbatore, which secured
the British force from the numbers of the enemy, and 15th.
they encamped at Singanalore within six miles of
Coimbatore.

October 2nd.

Oct. and Nov. Manoeuvres of the opposed armies.

Much time was spent, and great exertions made on both sides; the English endeavouring to effect a junction of their armies under General Medows and Colonel Kelly, whose death, during these operations, left the command to Colonel Maxwell. The enemy was verging toward the Carnatic, with designs not exactly known, but with an evident determination to avoid a conflict in open field. Tippoo's apparent intention was, by threatening the Carnatic, to divert the designs of the English from an invasion of his territories to a defence of their own. The junction took place at 21st. Oomaloor, giving an united force of about twenty-three Colonel

Junction of

CHAP.

LXXI.

1790.

thousand effective men. Both parties pursued their plans with vigour, but without meeting in general conflict, although several sanguinary and well-contested Maxwell with skirmishes took place. Colonel Maxwell resolved on invading the upper countries by the pass of Coverporum, while Tippoo returned toward the Carnatic, followed by General Medows.

General

Medows.

Dec. 5th.

to treat.

Whether sincerely, or in the hope of gaining adTippoo offers vantage by delay, the Sultan's agents sent letters offering a reference of disputes and terms of accommodation. In answer, Captain Macauley, aid-de-camp to General Medows, professed the readiness of the British government to treat; but, as a preliminary, and a proof of sincerity in the Sultan, required that some person or place of importance should be given as a surety, and that every British captive, detained contrary to the letter of treaties, should be released. In reply, Tippoo evaded these demands, still proposing to send an ambassador of rank to confer; but Captain Macauley, while he noticed the omission of any answer to his demands, stated that, as Earl Cornwallis was now expected to assume the command in person, General Medows would not exercise his authority to treat.

14th.

Tippoo's at

tempts in the Carnatic.

He takes
Trincomale.

And other forts.

Pursuing his attempts on the Carnatic, Tippoo made ineffectual demonstrations against Tiagar and Trichinopoly, where he was resisted by British valour and discipline. He attacked Trincomale with better fortune; it was defended only by Hindoos, over whom he gained an easy victory, which he disgraced by an excess of savage cruelty. With equal success, and in fact without resistance, he possessed himself of Chittapet, Wandewash, and the Gingel hills. At Penmawil, a post near Pondicherry, a corps of sepoys under Captain Brunton was stationed to oppose him; but they were basely betrayed by the natives, their allies, who went over to the enemy, and enabled him to capture the whole body. Having now taken his post on the Red Pondicherry. Hills near Pondicherry, Tippoo received visits and professions which led him to hope for the assistance of France and the renewal of their ancient alliance. Probably his expectation of effective aid from the ancient

His intercourse with