DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25987#0120
88
VIEW OF THE ORIGIN AND CONDUCT
the river Cauvery; on the right was encamped, ^ , the
Nizam's contingent; and in the rear of both were the cavalry and
the Nizam's horse facing the westward. In their front was a chain
of advanced posts, on high ground, occupied, chiefly, by the
Nizam's infantry, commanded by British officers.
This position of the army before Seringapatam was uncom-
monly strong; fronting the east, the right of the camp was on high
commanding ground, whence it gradually descended to the left
Hank, which was doubly secured by an aqueduct, and by the river
Cauvery.
This aqueduct, which issues from a dam across the Cauvery, at
Ranambaddy, amply supplied the camp with the finest water. Its
winding course, in many places, served as a strong entrenchment;
and several deep ravines, intersecting the rear of the camp, ren-
dered it utterly impenetrable for the enemy's cavalry.
Besides these immediate advantages of security and strength,
there were others of much greater importance to the operations
which were now to be undertaken. Five large topes, of cocoa,
areka, bamboo, and other trees, furnished within the camp, an
abundant stock of materials for the siege, which was an advantage
that no other situation near Seringapatam could have afforded.
We knew also from experience, that the front of this admirable
encampment would be equally protected with the flanks and rear,
when we had once established our advanced posts ; which, in the
first instance, would be nearly the same as those occupied by Sir
Robert Abercrombie in the former war.
VIEW OF THE ORIGIN AND CONDUCT
the river Cauvery; on the right was encamped, ^ , the
Nizam's contingent; and in the rear of both were the cavalry and
the Nizam's horse facing the westward. In their front was a chain
of advanced posts, on high ground, occupied, chiefly, by the
Nizam's infantry, commanded by British officers.
This position of the army before Seringapatam was uncom-
monly strong; fronting the east, the right of the camp was on high
commanding ground, whence it gradually descended to the left
Hank, which was doubly secured by an aqueduct, and by the river
Cauvery.
This aqueduct, which issues from a dam across the Cauvery, at
Ranambaddy, amply supplied the camp with the finest water. Its
winding course, in many places, served as a strong entrenchment;
and several deep ravines, intersecting the rear of the camp, ren-
dered it utterly impenetrable for the enemy's cavalry.
Besides these immediate advantages of security and strength,
there were others of much greater importance to the operations
which were now to be undertaken. Five large topes, of cocoa,
areka, bamboo, and other trees, furnished within the camp, an
abundant stock of materials for the siege, which was an advantage
that no other situation near Seringapatam could have afforded.
We knew also from experience, that the front of this admirable
encampment would be equally protected with the flanks and rear,
when we had once established our advanced posts ; which, in the
first instance, would be nearly the same as those occupied by Sir
Robert Abercrombie in the former war.