Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/17

Rh CHAPTER VIII.

Affairs of the Carnatic – Birth and Character of Hyder Ali – He enters the Service of Mysore – His great Courage and rapid Rise – Imbecility of the Rajah, and Supremacy of the Prime Minister – Hyder puts down the latter, and takes his Place – He usurps the Sovereign Authority – Extends his Territories by Conquest – Is defeated by the Mahrattas and buys them off – Conquers Malabar and Coorg – Formidable Confederacy against him – Dissolves it, and forms a Coalition against the English – Territorial Possessions and Resources of the contending Parties at this Period – Battle of Trinomaly – Hyder deserted by the Nizam – Successes of the British – Hyder singularly foiled in a Night Attack – The British on the point of Defeat saved by a Stratagem – Dreadful Scene at Bangalore – Gallant Defence by an English Sergeant – Repeated Success of Hyder – Destruction of Captain Nixon's Detachment – Critical Condition of the English – Hyder compels them to a Treaty of Peace 134

CHAPTER IX. Hyder forms a Confederacy against the English – War between France and England – Capture of French Possessions in India –Hyder invades the Carnatic – Supine Conduct of the Madras Government – Colonel Baillie's Detachment – Its difficult March to join the Army – Intercepted by Hyder– His Assaults repulsed – Fatal Delay of Colonel Baillie – Formidable Attack by the Enemy – Baillie's Detachment surrounded – Heroic Defence of the Anglo-Indians – Explosion of Tumbrils – Destruction of Baillie's Detachment – Sufferings of the Prisoners – Successful Operations of Hyder – Reinforcement from Bengal under Sir Eyre Coote – He advances against Hyder – Single Combats Successful Operations of the Anglo-Indian Army – Battle of Cuddalore – Affairs of Polliloor and Sholinghur – Destruction of Colonel Braithwaite's Detachment – Action at Arnee – Death of Hyder Ali and Accession of Tippoo Sahib – Peace between France and England – Capture of Biddenoor by General Mathews – Recaptured by Tippoo – Peace with Tippoo 149

CHAPTER X.

Religious Zeal of Tippoo Sultan – He assumes an Imperial Title – Confederacy against him – Hostilities succeeded by Peace – Tippoo pursues his proselyting Mania in Malabar – Resolves to seize on Travancore – Interference of the British – Tippoo attacks the Lines of Travancore – His Failure and frightful Loss of Life – His final Success – Confederacy against Tippoo between the English, the Nizam, and the Mahrattas – The Anglo-Indian Army takes the field under General Meadows – Its successful Operations – Gallant Retreat of Colonel Floyd's Detachment – Tippoo suddenly invades and ravages the Carnatic – Lord Cornwallis assumes the Command of the Army – By a skilful Movement he invades Mysore – Siege of Bangalore – Gallant Cavalry Affair under Colonel Floyd – Storming of the Pettah of Bangalore – Death of Colonel Moorhouse – Capture of the Pettah – The Fort breached and stormed – Brave Defence by Bahander Khan – Capture of Bangalore and Consternation of Tippoo – Junction of the Nizam's Contingent – Singular Appearance of the Hyderabad Troops – Their Inefficiency – Advance of the Anglo-Indian Army on the Enemy's Capital – Defeat of Tippoo before Seringapatam 169

CHAPTER XI.

Sufferings of the Anglo-Indian Army – Romantic Gallantry of the Rajah of Coorg – Lord Cornwallis retires on Bangalore – Junction of the Mahrattas – Their singular Siege of Darwar – They furnish the Army with abundant Supplies – Graphic Description of their Camp Bazaar – The Brinjarries – Capture of Hooleadroog – Plundering Habits of the Mahrattas – Deplorable State of Tippoo's Prisoners – Arrangements for the ensuing Campaign – Murder of Prisoners at Oussoor – Nundidroog stormed and taken – Noble Defence of Fort Coimbatore – Storming Party repulsed – Both Parties reinforced – Surrender of Coimbatore on favourable Terms – Infraction of the Treaty –Savindroog invested – Description of that remarkable Fortress – Difficult and laborious Operations – Savindroog breached and successfully stormed – Ootradroog invested – Treachery of the Killadar – Carried by Escalade 190