offensive and defensive, was accordingly concluded with Nizam Ali, and a similar treaty was made with the Peishwa. The accession of both powers to the alliance was accelerated by the expectation of recovering from Tippoo the possessions of which they had been deprived by himself and his father.
Before these arrangements were completed, a British army, under the command of the Governor of Madras, General Meadows, consisting of about fifteen thousand men, formed into six brigades, was assembled on the plains of Trichinopoly.[1] Tippoo seems not to have been prepared for this prompt movement of the English, who, in June, 1790, commenced the campaign on the boldest system of offensive warfare; their aim being nothing less than, by the most direct route, to ascend the Ghauts from the south, and advance upon Seringapatam. As compared with the northern road, through the frontier district of the Baramahl, this had the disadvantage of being more remote from Madras, and consequently from all military supplies and stores; but it led through a country more abundant in forage and provisions, and avoided the obstacle presented by the powerful fortress of Bangalore.
It was necessary, however, to begin by reducing the strong places possessed by the Sultan in the low country; and General Meadows, fixing his head-quarters at Coimbatore, employed in this service Colonel Stuart, who had acquired much experience in Southern India. In the course of his operations, the important fortresses of Palgant and Dindigul fell to the English, Eroad having previously surrendered to a detachment under Colonel Oldham, as Sattimungalum did at a subsequent period.
The last of these places, commanding the important pass of Gujelhutty, which opened the way into the heart of the country, was occupied by Colonel Floyd with a
- ↑ In 1788 there were in India only one regiment of British Dragoons, and nine regiments of British and two of Hanoverian infantry, in all about eight thousand European troops, in addition to the Company's establishments. – Dirom.
