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188 The dawn of day removed one of the difficulties which had retarded the progress of the British force; but it destroyed the hope of executing the original plan, which required the cover of night; still, as the most arduous part of the march had been accomplished, Lord Cornwallis determined to force Tippoo to action on ground believed to be less advantageous to him than that which he had chosen. The Sultan was so far from declining the challenge, that, on perceiving the English about to gain possession of a hill which commanded the left of his army, he seized upon it himself, with a considerable body of cavalry and infantry and eight guns; he then very promptly changed his front to the left, covering one flank by a steep hill previously in his rear, and the other by a ravine which had run along his former front.

From the nature of the ground, the weak state of the cattle, and the annoyances of the enemy's horse, the passage of the British infantry to the same side of the ravine with the enemy was slow; it was, however, at length accomplished, and the requisite disposition made for action. Opposite to the enemy's main body, nine battalions were posted in a first line, under General Meadows and Colonel Stuart, and four in a second line under Colonel Harris; while five battalions, under Colonel Maxwell, were destined for an attack upon the enemy's corps on the hill, and with this last the action commenced.

On the approach of Colonel Maxwell, the enemy's eight guns were drawn off; but the infantry kept their ground, and maintained a heavy though ill-directed fire of musketry. Colonel Maxwell had no guns, but he advanced with a rapidity and impetuosity which speedily broke the line of the enemy's infantry, and even overtook some of the guns on the opposite descent of the hill. The infantry made a struggle to defend them, but in vain; the possession of the guns followed the possession of the hill. The rapid success of Colonel Maxwell on the hill was a signal for the advance of the two lines below against the