On the 5th of April, 1799, the Anglo-Indian Army took their station opposite the western front of the fortress, at the distance of about two miles. The position was strong; their right resting on elevated ground, and their left upon the river Cauvery; while several topes, or groves of trees, which they successively captured, afforded ample materials for the construction of the works.[1] The enemy still occupied a defensive line behind an aqueduct, on which Colonels Wellesley and Shawe made a night attack and were repulsed; but, being reinforced, they carried it in open day.
Meanwhile General Floyd was detached, with a considerable body of infantry and cavalry, and twenty field-pieces, to meet and escort General Stuart and the Bombay army. Tippoo made a large detachment to intercept them; but all attempts failed, and the united bodies joined General Harris in safety on the 14th. Before their arrival Tippoo had addressed a letter to the Commander-in-Chief, declaring that the writer had adhered firmly to treaties, and asking the meaning of the advance of the English armies, and the cause of hostilities. General Harris replied, by directing the Sultan's attention to the letters of the Governor-General for explanation.
Deliberations were now held as to the point whence the town might be most advantageously attacked. There was a south-western angle, by assailing which the besiegers could have obtained a lodgment on the island, and been thereby secured from the expected swelling of the Cauvery; while at the extreme west, the walls extending along the
- ↑ "After a night attack on one of these in front of the position, from which the besiegers had been greatly annoyed by a constant discharge of musketry, a curious incident occurred while returning in the dark to the lines. Lieutenant Lambton came up, and assured General Baird, to whose staff he was attached, that the troops, instead of marching from, were marching on the enemy. The guide, on being referred to, was obstinate in asserting that he was right, while Lambton declared that in the starlight he had clearly ascertained that, instead of moving to the southward, the troops were marching directly north. Baird procured a pocket-compass, and, putting a fire-fly on the glass, ascertained that his march was erroneous, and his guide entirely astray. Fortunately he had time to remedy the mistake, jocularly observing that 'in future he should put more faith in the stars than he had done formerly.'" – Hook's "Life of Sir David Baird."
