ructed of a tough red clay, crumbled but slowly. Still, the
breach was day by day becoming more practicable, and Tippoo, alarmed
at the progress that had been made, moved his army down towards the
east side of the fort, and seemed to meditate an attack upon our
batteries. He placed some heavy guns behind a bank surrounding a large
tank, and opened some embrasures through which their fire would have
taken our trenches, which were now pushed up close to the fort, in
flank.

Lord Cornwallis at once directed a strong force to advance, as if with
the intention of attacking the new work, and Tippoo ordered his troops
to retire from it. It was evident, however, that he had determined to
give battle in order to save the fort, and the English general
therefore determined to storm the place that very night, the 21st of
March. The preparations were made secretly, lest the news should be
taken to Tippoo by one of the natives in the town, and it was not
until late in the evening that orders were issued to the troops which
were to take part in the assault.

The column was to be composed of the grenadier and light companies of
all the European regiments, and these were to be followed and
supported by several battalions of Sepoys. The force, commanded by
Colonel Maxwell, at eleven o'clock issued from the town and advanced
through the trenches. The besieged were vigilant, and the instant the
leading company sprang from the trenches and, in the bright moonlight,
ran forward to the breach, a number of blue lights were lighted all
along the ramparts, and a heavy musketry fire was opened.

The scene was eagerly watched by the troops in the camp, every feature
being distinctly visible. The storming party could be seen, rushing up
the breach and mounting, by ladders, over the gateway, which was the
central object of attack. The enemy gathered in masses at the top of
the breach, but as soon as the stormers collected in sufficient
strength, and charged them with the bayonet, they broke and dispersed.

The grenadiers moved along the ramparts to the right, clearing it of
its defences as they went along. The light companies did the same
along the ramparts to the left, while the Sepoys descended into the
body of the fort. The whole of the defenders fled towards the Mysore
gate at the other end of the fort, and when the three bodies of troops
met there, they found the gate blocked by the masses of fugitives.

They charged them on all sides. The