General assault.

advanced; but that as soon as they should be seen to approach the posts of the enemy, then the fire should be directed against that line of fire, in the fort itself, from which most annoyance might be expected.

The directions of these attacks were given to Colonel Wellesley, who on that day commanded in the trenches, which he did with such precision and gallantry, that the two columns, which advanced a little after sunset, stormed the intrenchment with great spirit, threw the enemy into confusion, and succeeded in establishing the posts, which were immediately secured as effectually as possible from the annoyance of the fire from the works.

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To detail all the various gallant occurrences during this memorable siege would require volumes; must therefore content ourselves with noticing, that the batteries having at noon, on the 3d of May, rendered the breach almost practicable, scaling ladders, fascines, and other materials, were ordered to be sent to the trenches, after sunset, and to be kept in readiness for the assault.

The breach being considered practicable, on the evening of the 3rd, the troops destined for the assault were stationed in the trenches, before day-break of the 4th, at which time Colonel Wellesley was ordered to take the command of the reserve in the advanced works, in order to act as circumstances might point out, his own regiment, the 33rd, forming part of the left column, under Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlop, which was to attack the northern rampart.

About half-past one in the afternoon General Baird, having completd his arrangements, stepped out of the trench, drew his sword, and, in the most heroic and animating manner, said to his men, "Come, my brave fellows, follow me, and prove yourselves worthy the name of British soldiers!" In an instant both columns rushed from the trenches, and entered the bed of the river, under cover of the fire of the batteries; but, being immediately discovered by the

Anecdotes of the Forlorn Hope.

enemy, they were assailed by rockets and musquetry. In six minutes the Forlorn Hope, closely followed by the rest of the troops, had reached the summit of the breach, where the British colours were almost instantly displayed; a most glorious and animating sight to the rest of the army, whose anxiety was im mediately relieved; for until our troops had crossed the ditch, (although every precaution was taken for filling it, if necessary,) even the most sanguine minds could not be utterly void of doubt.*

In a few minutes more the breach, one hundred feet wide, was crowded with men, who, being now collected in sufficient force to enter upon the rampart, filed off to the right and left according to General Baird's instructions.

The conduct of Tippoo himself was on this occasion highly creditable to his personal character. According to his usual custom, he went out early in the morning to one of the cavaliers of the outer rampart,

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* The Forlorn Hope was led by a serjeant of the light company of the Bombay European regiment, who volunteered his services on the occasion; his name was Graham. He ran forward to examine the breach; and mounting it he pulled off his hat, and with three cheers called out Success to Lieutenant Graham," (alluding to his having a commission if he survived,) on which he rejoined his party, and remounted with them with the colours in his hand. Upon reaching the rampart, he struck the colour staff in it, exclaiming, "Damn'em, l'u shew them the British flag!" and was at that moment shot through the head. The gallant fellow left an European widow and four children behind him, who were, however, taken care of.

Lieutenant-Colonel Dunlop, who greatly distinguished himself, received his wound, in a personal contest with one of Tippoo's Sirdars, who assailed him with his scymeter, about half way up the breach, making a desperate cut at the Colonel, which the latter was so fortu nate as to parry, and instantly returned with a cut that laid his adversary's breast open: the Sirdar, although mortally wounded, made ano ther blow at Colonel Dunlop, which struck him across the wrist of the right hand, and nearly cut it through. The Sirdar then instantly reeled back, and fell on the breach, where he was bayopetted by the soldiers as they passed. Colonel Dunlop still went on at the head of his men until he ascended to the top of the breach, where he fell from the loss of blood, and was carried off to the rear by some soldiers.

Conduct of Tippoo.

whence he could observe what was doing on both sides. He remained there till about noon, when he took his usual repast under a Pandal. At this time he seems to have had no idea of an immediate attack, even though told that the British lines were unusually crowded with Europeans; but merely sent orders to Meer Goffar, a favourite officer, to keep a strict guard. He was informed a few minutes afterwards that Meer Goffar was killed by a cannon shot.-"Well," said he, " Meer Goffar was never afraid of death." Yet he was evidently agitated, ordered the troops near him immediately under arms, and desired his servants to load his carbines; and, hastening along the ramparts towards the breach, he then met a number of his troops flying before the van of the assailants, who, he now first perceived, had mounted the walls. Here he exerted himself to rally the fugitives, encouraging them both by voice and example. He repeatedly fired on our troops himself, and one of his servants asserted that he saw him bring down several Europeans from the breach.

At this critical moment, the front of the European flank companies approached the spot where he stood; he now found himself almost deserted, and was forced to retire to the traverses of the north ramparts. These he defended, one after another, with the bravest of his men and officers; and indeed several times, assisted by the infilading fire from the inner walls, obliged our troops to halt in their advance, until the 12th regiment crossing the inner ditch took him in flank. Yet even then, whilst any of his troops remained with him, he disputed every inch of ground; until he approached the passage across the ditch to the gate of the inner fort. Here he complained of pain and weakness in one of his legs, in which he had received a bad wound when very young; and ordering his horse to be brought, he mounted; but, seeing the Europeans still advancing on both the ramparts, he made for the gate followed by his palanquin,