at this moment Hyder, who had passed Sir Hector Munro in the night, began to show the heads of his columns, moving down upon the line, which induced Kennedy and Gowdie immediately to call off their detachment from the captured guns to join the main body.
At this juncture Colonel Baillie formed his force, consisting of little more than three thousand men, in line, upon the bank of an old nullah or watercourse, and opened his guns upon the enemy; but Hyder, too powerful an antagonist for a mere handful of men, so disposed his immense army as completely to surround him, and commenced a destructive fire upon him from his artillery in every direction. The enemy were, however, continually repulsed, their infantry gave way, while their cavalry were falling fast, and it is said that Hyder was only prevented from retreating by the persuasions of Colonel Lally,[1] who represented to him that retiring would bring him in contact with Sir Hector Munro, who was in his rear. At this moment also, and while the English were actually sustaining the combined attack of Hyder and his son Tippoo, two of their tumbrils exploded, arid in an instant the brave men, who were on the eve of gaining one of the most splendid victories ever achieved, were deprived of their ammunition, and the services of all their artillery.
In this helpless and dreadful state, under a heavy and continuous fire of cannon and rockets, these gallant but unfortunate soldiers remained from half-past seven until nine o'clock. The slaughter of the British began to be tremendous as the enemy closed in upon them on every side. Colonel Fletcher had carried off the Grenadier company of the 73rd, to support the rear guard, and was never heard of more. Hyder came with his whole army on their right flank, charging them with columns of horse, while the infantry kept up a heavy fire of musketry. These were followed by the elephants and Mysore cavalry,
- ↑ A relation of Count de Lally.
