The Battalion was employed on ordinary garrison duty until 1789, when it joined a force operating against some insurgent zamindars in Southern India. At the end of the year, owing to an expected outbreak of war with Tippoo, it formed part of the army assembling at Wallajabad with the intention of entering Mysore from the south. Coimbatore and other places in this district were occupied, the Battalion being with the 1st Native Brigade, which took the Fort of Suttiamungalum, which it garrisoned. On September 11th Tippoo suddenly descended the Guzzlehutty Pass with 40,000 men. Information of this move had been received, but was disbelieved at headquarters, and the detachment was ordered to hold on. After holding off the attack of Tippoo, it was decided to retire at daybreak on the 14th, but the detachment was overtaken and a battle ensued at Cheyur, in which the Brigade lost 148 Europeans and 408 natives killed and wounded. Six guns and all the baggage were lost, but the enemy was checked. Erode, which was held by a company of the Battalion under a subadar, was forced to surrender on September 25th.
Tippoo, hearing of a concentration at Vellore, marched north unobserved, and was not followed by the army until November 8th. The Battalion with the 1st Europeans, 14th and 20th Battalions, was left to hold the Coimbatore District with headquarters at Palghatcherry.
Siege and Surrender of Coimbatore.
The enemy sent a force which besieged Coimbatore in June. The siege was raised by a force consisting of the Battalion and some local levies, and a company was left to strengthen the garrison. In October the enemy again attacked Coimbatore and an attempt to relieve the place having failed, it surrendered after a defence of a month.
1792.
In December orders were received to clear the district. This was done, and by March, 1792, the force had, with great difficulty, reached the head of the Guzzlehutty Pass, but was ordered to retire as peace had been made.
The battle honour “Mysore” was granted to the Battalion in 1889, for services during the campaigns of 1790-92.
1793.
War was declared against France in 1793, and volunteers from the Battalion formed part of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion for the expedition against Mauritius, but this was abandoned.
1795.