ltaun at his
capital. His army burned with impatience to revenge the cruelties which
Tippoo had inflicted on their unfortunate countrymen who had fallen into
his hands by the chances of war. Lord Cornwallis began his march
early in May, 1731, and General Abercrornbie moved towards the same
destination, though by a different line. The forces under his lordship
reached Arikera, on the Cavery, and about nine miles from Seringapatam,
on the 13th of May, and Tippoo having ventured to oppose him, the
Mysorean army was defeated and obliged to seek shelter under the guns of
the capital. The road to Seringapatam was now open to the English, and
the prize seemed to be within their reach, but at this time General
Abercrornbie had not arrived, and Lord Cornwallis convinced that his
force was not sufficient to invest the city, his camp being half-filled
with the sick and dying, was compelled to retreat. He sent orders to
General Abercrornbie, who had reached Periapatam, about three marches
from Seringapatam, to retire towards the coast, while he himself
retreated towards Bangalore. He had scarcely left the scene of his
victory, having first demolished his heavy artillery, when he was joined
by the Mahratta army, under the command of Purseram Bhow, a celebrated
Mahratta warrior, and Harry Punt, a Brahmin of the highest rank, who
was likewise charged to act as minister plenipotentiary to the whole
Mahratta league. Had these chiefs arrived before the recent battle,
Tippoo Sultaun would have been besieged in his capital, but the swelling
of the rivers, the sickly state of his soldiers, and the loss of his
artillery forbade all thoughts of returning, and Lord Cornwallis
therefore continued his march towards Bangalore. Tippoo boasted that
he had gained a great victory, though at the same time he made some
fruitless attempts at negociation. During the following autumn great
preparations were made for renewing the war in Mysore. The ensuing
campaign opened early in February, 1792, the forces under Lord
Cornwallis and General Abercrornbie resuming their former plan of
operations. This time both armies met under the walls of Seringapatam;
while the forces of the Peishwa and of the Nizam encamped at a little
distance from the city, and furnished to the British army a plentiful
supply of stores and provisions. Tippoo's forces awaited the approach of
Lord Cornwallis under the walls of his capital, but they were defeated,
and Seringapatam was in c