Dirom, the principal chronicler of the campaign, says:—
“Tippoo had meant a more serious opposition to this junction, and for that purpose had detached the whole of his cavalry on the evening of the 13th; they had crossed (the Cauvery) a few miles above the fort, and lay in wait till Colonel Floyd moved in the morning of the 14th. The detachment of allies, in spite of the Colonel’s orders, and the remonstrance of Major Scott, who was sent with them, remained loitering on the ground for some time after the Colonel had marched: the Sultan’s horse seized the opportunity, and attacked them with great vigour. They stood their ground for some time, and then retreating towards Colonel Floyd, he returned to support them, and soon put the enemy to the rout.”
On the 16th, Abercromby joined Cornwallis on the north side of Seringapatam, without further hindrance, and preparations were made for prosecuting the siege. On the 19th, Abercromby made a detour, and, crossing the Cauvery, invested the place from the south. A strong Brigade, under Colonel Stuart, was entrenched on the island, and Floyd with the Cavalry was stationed about four thousand yards to the eastward, linking up the distance between Cornwallis and Abercromby. Seringapatam was completely invested. On the 22nd, an attack on Abercromby’s force was repulsed with loss, and then Tippoo, who had been for some days in negotiation with Cornwallis, realised that the time for surrender had arrived. The losses he had experienced in the fighting of the 6th and 7th, rendered prolonged resistance impossible.
It was no part of Lord Cornwallis’ policy to destroy the Mysore State, but the disposition of Tippoo, “a faithless and violent character on whom no dependence could be placed” required that his power should be so far curtailed, as to render him less dangerous. On the 23rd February, the preliminaries of peace were signed by Tippoo, and warlike operations ceased, much to the disgust of the army, whose minds were inflamed to an extraordinary degree against the Sultan, on account of the barbarous cruelties inflicted by him on all prisoners that fell into his hands. One of the stipulations was that two of Tippoo’s sons should be handed over, as hostages for the due performance of the treaty of peace. On the 26th, the young princes were received by Lord Cornwallis with much ceremony. The occasion seems to have made a great impression at the time. Three,[33] if not more, pictures of the event were painted by A. W. Devis, a well-known artist, who was present. In all of them, Colonel Floyd is prominently represented, a fine martial figure. Cornet Hale and Captain Child of the 19th Light Dragoons also appear in some of the pictures. This was evidently regarded in India as the most striking event in Lord Cornwallis’ career in the country. The base of the statue erected to him in Madras, has another representation of the scene.
The Princes remained in British territory till March 1794, when they were sent back to the Sultan with all honour.
AN OFFICER OF THE XIXTH LIGHT DRAGOONS, 1792.
to face p. 99.