DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25987#0165
OFTHEWARWITHTITPOOSULTAUN. igt
small streams, twelve or fifteen inches deep ; and when arrived at
the stone glacis, the troops ascended by the slope which terminates
the glacis before the north-west bastion, to the top of the retaining
wall which forms the outer part of the ditch. In the inner part
of this wall are steps, made by single projecting stones, by which
they could descend into the ditch without using scaling ladders ;
but these were employed by the right column, in getting over
the retaining wall. The water in the ditch, directly opposite to
the breach, was only about knee deep, although much deeper on
either side. The breach was wide, and the ascent easy; and when
upon it, unless at the very summit, the troops could not be seen
from the west cavalier. As the defences to the right and left had
been silenced by the batteries, the breach was, in fact, a place of
safety: the danger was in getting to it.
Being arrived at the summit of the breach, a formidable ditch
appeared between it and the cavalier, or the second wall; but
as the enemy had not cut off the breach, and were unable to
defend the inner rampart, on account of the destructive Are of the
enfilading battery, it was only formidable in appearance. This
rampart is of mud, and seems to be the remains of the ancient fort
of Seringapatam. There were no obstacles to moving to the right
and left, along the outer rampart, from which there are several
communications to the inner one.
On the right attack, as the enemy had retreated precipitately at
the first onset, few of them were killed upon the southern ram-
part ; but in the rear of the great round tower, about three hundred
yards from the breach, Majors Dallas, Allan, and myself, dis-
covered three men apparently dead ; two of them, from their dress
S 2
small streams, twelve or fifteen inches deep ; and when arrived at
the stone glacis, the troops ascended by the slope which terminates
the glacis before the north-west bastion, to the top of the retaining
wall which forms the outer part of the ditch. In the inner part
of this wall are steps, made by single projecting stones, by which
they could descend into the ditch without using scaling ladders ;
but these were employed by the right column, in getting over
the retaining wall. The water in the ditch, directly opposite to
the breach, was only about knee deep, although much deeper on
either side. The breach was wide, and the ascent easy; and when
upon it, unless at the very summit, the troops could not be seen
from the west cavalier. As the defences to the right and left had
been silenced by the batteries, the breach was, in fact, a place of
safety: the danger was in getting to it.
Being arrived at the summit of the breach, a formidable ditch
appeared between it and the cavalier, or the second wall; but
as the enemy had not cut off the breach, and were unable to
defend the inner rampart, on account of the destructive Are of the
enfilading battery, it was only formidable in appearance. This
rampart is of mud, and seems to be the remains of the ancient fort
of Seringapatam. There were no obstacles to moving to the right
and left, along the outer rampart, from which there are several
communications to the inner one.
On the right attack, as the enemy had retreated precipitately at
the first onset, few of them were killed upon the southern ram-
part ; but in the rear of the great round tower, about three hundred
yards from the breach, Majors Dallas, Allan, and myself, dis-
covered three men apparently dead ; two of them, from their dress
S 2