with the whole of the cavalry and a brigade of
infantry, went out to examine the defences of the town and fort.
Seeing a large body of laden elephants and camels, escorted by a
strong body of horsemen, Colonel Floyd rode with the cavalry to attack
them. The movement was a rash one, as the guns on the fort opened
fire, and although at first he defeated the Mysore horse, a heavy fire
was poured upon him, when entangled in broken ground. He himself was
shot by a musket ball which, striking him in the face, passed through
both jaws. It was at first believed that he was dead, but he was
carried back to camp, and ultimately recovered. This rash attack cost
the lives of seventy-one men, and of four times as many horses.

As Tippoo's army was lying at a distance of only six miles away, the
general determined that it would be best, in the first place, to
capture the town without delay; and to assault the fort on that side,
as he could then do so without any fear of an attack by Tippoo; who
would be able to harass him, constantly, were he to approach the fort
from any other direction. Orders were therefore issued for the 36th
Regiment, supported by the 26th Bengal Sepoys, and a party of
artillery under Colonel Moorhouse, to prepare to storm the north gate
of the town at daybreak the next morning.

As soon as dawn broke, the troops rushed forward against the gate. The
outside work was speedily stormed, but as they issued from it, towards
the gate itself, they were received with a very heavy fire from the
walls, together with a storm of hand grenades. Colonel Moorhouse
brought forward a six pounder, receiving two wounds as the piece was
run up to the gate. The first time it was fired, it had no effect
beyond making a small hole, and the next shot had no greater success.
Colonel Moorhouse ordered a twelve-pounder to be brought up, but as he
was aiding to put it into position, another ball struck him, and he
fell dead.

While the artillerymen were pouring shot after shot into the gate, the
roar of musketry was unceasing, the 36th keeping up an incessant fire
upon the enemy upon the wall, in order to cover, as much as possible,
the operations of the gunners. At last, the gate gave way. The troops
poured in, cheering loudly, and the enemy at once fled.

Many, however, took up their positions in the houses, and kept up a
galling fire, until their places of refuge were stormed by detachments
of troops, scattered through the town. By