The 19th Light Dragoons with the rest of the cavalry were sent, under Floyd, to the Carnatic, to recruit. The regiment reached Madras early in August; and, as horses to remount the cavalry were not procurable, three native cavalry regiments were dismounted in order to complete the horses required for the 19th. The 3rd and 5th Native cavalry had their ranks partially filled in the same way, so that by the end of the monsoon these three Regiments were ready to rejoin the army.
“The 19th Light Dragoons, which under their gallant leader, had made so powerful an impression on the minds of the enemy during the war, was again completely remounted; and with the addition of the draughts and recruits that had arrived from England, was in nearly as great force as when it first took the field. This favourite corps was reviewed by General Musgrave at the Mount in the beginning of October, when it shewed near four hundred mounted, both men and horses in perfect order.”[31]
Meanwhile, the army at Bangalore was engaged in securing the passes into the Carnatic, and in reducing the numerous hill fortresses that abounded in Mysore. The most important of these, Nundydroog and Savandroog, were taken by assault on the 19th October and 21st December, respectively. Tippoo, on his side, had not been idle. In the middle of June a large Mysore force invested Coimbatore, which was weakly held. The defence was obstinate, and after a two months’ siege the place was relieved from Palghat. In October, it was invested a second time, and, the attempts to relieve it being unsuccessful, Coimbatore was forced to surrender, on 3rd November. Several parties of Mysore horse also succeeded in making raids into the Carnatic, doing much mischief. One party penetrated to within a few miles of Madras, early in January, after the cavalry had marched to rejoin Cornwallis, and carried off much plunder. During the preceding half century, the country within fifty miles of Madras had been the constant scene of warlike operations. In that period, Madras had fallen to a French attack, and been held by them for four years. Again, it had been frequently threatened and once besieged, by France, and Hyder had dictated a peace within sight of Fort St. George. Too often, the inhabitants of Madras had heard the sound of an enemy’s guns, and seen the sky red with the glare of burning villages: and now again the horsemen of Mysore were plundering and burning within sight of the Mount. But it was for the last time. Shevtamodoo was plundered and burned by one of these parties.
In the meantime, large convoys of supplies and material were being forwarded to Bangalore, the last and most important, conveying all the ammunition for the army, being escorted by the 19th Light Dragoons under Colonel Floyd. Ascending by the Pednaikdirgum Pass, on the 23rd December, and marching by Kolar, Ooscotta and Bangalore, he joined Cornwallis at Magre, near Ootradroog, on the 12th January 1792. Everything was now ready for an advance on Seringapatam, and the army was in a more efficient state than it had been at any time since the war began. Owing to Lord Cornwallis’ excellent arrangements, supplies of all sorts were in the greatest abundance. The only deficiency was in horses for the Cavalry. The losses experienced in this respect, in the previous year, had not been made good, and this arm of the service was represented only by the 19th Light Dragoons, six troops, the 3rd Native Cavalry, six troops, the 5th Native Cavalry, four troops, and the Body Guards of Lord Cornwallis and General Medows, one troop each. The force altogether consisted of 22,033 men, of which about 15,500 were infantry. The advance was still delayed by the absence of the Nizam’s force, which was occupied in the siege of Gurramconda. On the 25th January it arrived, under the command of the Nizam’s son, Secunder Jah. Part of the Mahratta contingent, under Hari Punt, had already joined Lord Cornwallis, but the greater part, under Pareshram Bhow, had gone off on a plundering expedition to the northwestward, in defiance of the agreement made six months before. It did not join the British force, till the campaign was over.
The Bombay army, under Abercromby, consisting of eight thousand four hundred men, was also on the march from the westward. Ascending by the Poodicherim Pass, Abercromby directed his march by Periapatam and Eratoor, so as to join hands with Cornwallis in front of Seringapatam.
On the 31st January, Cornwallis held a review of his whole force at Hooliadroog, for the benefit of his allies. As the Nizam’s son reached the right of the line “a salute of 21 guns was fired from the park, while the cavalry, with drawn swords and trumpets sounding, received him with due honours as he passed their front. He returned the officers’ salute, and looked attentively at the troops. The 19th Dragoons, of which they had all heard, attracted their particular notice.”[32] On the following day, the army marched, and encamped within sight of Seringapatam, at about seven miles’ distance, on the 5th February. No opposition on the march was experienced.
Seringapatam is situated on an island in the Cauvery river, four miles in length and a mile and a half broad. At the western end of the island was the fortress, the eastern portion being also strongly defended by connected batteries and redoubts. On the north side, on what may be called the main land, was an oblong space about three miles in length, enclosed by a hedge of cactus and other thorny plants, and commanded by redoubts on the highest points. In this space Tippoo was encamped. He believed that he could protract the defence, till the coming of the monsoon and the scarcity of supplies should force Cornwallis to raise the siege; he further believed that no serious attack would be made on the position, till the arrival of Abercromby’s force. But Cornwallis had plans of a very different nature. The 6th being spent in reconnoitring, orders were issued, about sunset, for the troops to parade at once for a night attack. About 8 o’clock all was ready, and the infantry advanced in three columns, the centre column being headed by Cornwallis in person. The cavalry were left to guard the camp, and the artillery were left behind also. When all was ready, Cornwallis sent word of his plans to his native allies, who were dismayed at hearing of an advance against a fortified camp without artillery, and that his lordship should have gone to fight “like a common soldier.” Moving in silence, the heads of the columns, which were more than a mile apart, came in touch with the enemy about half past ten. The attack was completely successful. One redoubt after another was carried, Tippoo’s camp was taken, some of the troops, in their ardour, crossing the stream and penetrating to the farther side of the island. The brunt of the fighting fell on the centre column, which, towards daylight, was heavily attacked by the Mysore troops, who had recovered from their first surprise. The fighting continued till five o’clock in the afternoon of the 7th, the last serious attack being headed by Tippoo’s French regiment. But nothing availed to dislodge the British troops from the positions they had gained, and Tippoo was forced to withdraw on to the island, where also our troops had made good their footing. Our loss amounted to 535 of all ranks, killed, wounded and missing. Eighty guns and an enormous quantity of supplies were captured. The enemy’s loss was estimated at four thousand killed, great numbers having been forced into the river and drowned. Greater still was the loss caused by desertion; numbers of the enemy having taken advantage of the confusion, to throw down their arms and make off to their homes. The whole loss to the Sultan, in killed, wounded and missing, was estimated at twenty thousand men.
On the 12th, the cavalry under Floyd were detached to meet Abercromby, with whom he effected a junction on the 14th. In a private letter, still extant, he writes:—
“On the 11th February I convoyed 13,000 Brinjarries (Brinjara bullocks carrying grain) into camp. On the 12th February, I was detached with nine squadrons, one battalion of sepoys, and about 1500 allied horse, to meet General Abercromby, and his army.
On the 14th of February, I was attacked by full 4000 of the enemy’s horse, who had got in among my baggage, and attached themselves to my allied horse. I soon recovered every article of my baggage, but was forced to stop there, not being able to distinguish friend from foe. The Nizam’s Horse under a son of the Nawab of Canoul, and the Mahratta Horse also kept firm. The enemy drew off, rather worsted by the allied horse. Immediately, the head of Abercromby’s column appeared at a distance, and the enemy made for them. I posted my battalion, my allied horse, and my baggage, and ranged along between the enemy and Abercromby’s with the nine squadrons of our own horse; the enemy collected and went clear off.”