An account of the arrival of Sikundur Jah and Foulad Jung the son of Nizám Alí Khán with Mushír ul Moolk, and a large army from the vicinity of Pankul in the camp of the English Commander-in-Chief, and the defeat of the troops besieging Mudgiri by the eldest son of Tipú, Prince Futteh Hydur; also, the death of Hafiz Furíd uddín Khán, styled Moyud ud dowla who was slain in the vicinity of Gurum Koonda— the advance also, a second time of the Commander-in-Chief of the English army to Seringaputtun, the arrival of the Mahratta Chief with his army, and the conclusion of peace between the English and the Sultán according to the views or instructions of the two confederates, (the Mahrattas and the Nizám) with other events of the year 1207, Hijri.— A. D. 1792.

AFTER the return of the English Sipahsalar (Lord Cornwallis) unsuccessful from Seringaput­tun, the Sultán with his usual prudence and fore­sight, as soon as the River Kauveri became ford­able, despatched his eldest son Prince Futteh Hydur* with a large body of troops, and pay for one year, to the besieged garrison of Gurum Koonda, who had to that period manfully resisted their enemies. As soon, therefore, as the prince received his orders from the Sultán, he marched by the route of Turri Gira towards the Souba of Sura, and keeping his troops under cover of the jungles or forests of Gulwari and Bookaputtun, encamped his troops there, while he himself, with a small detachment (that is the Jánbáz horse) selected from the whole army and taking with him the money, marched lightly equipped towards Gurum Koonda. Hafiz Furíd uddín, the commander of the besieging party, being aware of Futteh Hydur’s advance, prepared for action and left his batteries to meet him, when all at once the brave young prince with his Jánbáz horse, fell in with and charged him so vigorously and effectually, that after but little fighting he separated the head of Hafiz from his body and it was stuck on a spear’s head, and the whole of his followers, being totally defeated and dispersed, fled to Kirpa. The troops manning the batteries and the trenches now aban­doning their property, with their lives only, took the road to the desert of annihilation.

The conquering prince, therefore, took posses­sion of the baggage of the defeated party, with their tents and standards, and sent them into the fort,— he next burned the materials of the bat­teries, and then having made over the money for the payment of the garrison to the commanding officer in the fort, and exhorted him to defend him­self strenuously, took his receipt and marched towards the fort of Mudgiri. Sekundur Jah and Mushír (ul Moolk) with twenty-five thousand horse and thirty thousand foot had about this time encamped at Moorsun Pilly and Ulumbari, which towns are about sixteen or seventeen kose from Gurum Koonda, but on hearing this intelligence, being in some alarm, they sought the cover of the hills and jungle of Sankul Pala. The brave prince, therefore, marched by night from his encampment to attack the besiegers of Mudgiri, who were Mah­ratta troops, and on his arrival there, raised the confusion of the day of judgment among them, and cutting off the head of the Mahratta officer who commanded there, returned victorious to the presence.

At this time also, Kumruddín Khán was com­missioned to collect grain, cattle and other necessaries, and was sent to Nuggur. After the lapse of about a week, the Hydurabád or Moghul chiefs, with their army marching by the route of Banga­lore, joined the English Commander-in-Chief, at or near Khán-Khán-Hulli. During this time also, General Meadows after the capture of the hill fort of Nundi Gurh, with a strong force marched towards the Barh Mahl district, with an intention to take the fort of Kishingiri, and assaulting the town at night, captured it, and gave it up to plunder. The troops then ascending the mountain, reached the gate of the fort, when the garrison being aroused, came forward to repel them, and crowding to the walls poured forth such a fire of guns, musketry, rockets and shells that they put them to flight, and not satisfied with that, courageously pursued them and put the greater part to the sword. The General, therefore, marched back and joined the grand army. Colonel Gowdie, with his division of troops after the capture of Nundi Gurh, marching by the route of Bangalore and Hussoor, first sub­dued the hearts of the Killadárs of Rai Kote with but little trouble, and by shewing them a sum of money and firing a few shots at the fort, it was surrendered, and having left a garrison in it he returned. But to proceed,— as soon as the rainy season was over, the Sipahsalar (Lord Cornwallis) with the army of the Nizám of Hydurabád again marched to attempt the capture of the City of Seringaputtun, and by long stages by the route of Chinaputtun and Ootridroog arrived there, and encamped near Kurri Gooreh one day, and then leaving the Hydurabád army in the rear and placing some infantry in charge of the small fort of Kurri Gooreh, the General passed through the defile of the hills of Hurroor and still moving on at mid­night fell on the batteries, which by the treachery of the Sultán’s imbecile ministers had been left without defenders, and took possession of them and keeping up a heavy cannonade advanced towards the Sultán’s camp. The Sultán, who with his army had encamped on this side of the river (Kauveri), and whose spies, scouts, and intelli­gencers had given him no information of the advance of the enemy, was completely deceived and as he had no time or opportunity to oppose them, ordered his musketeers and archers to file off to the rear, and retire to the city and place it in the best order of defence, while he himself mounted his horse and with a few faithful servants turned his face to the field of battle. From the darkness of the night, however, the troops fell into disorder and not being able to distinguish friend from foe, fought among themselves.

In this confusion Imán Khán and Mír Muhammad, Sipahdárs, with their regiments arrested the advance of the enemy and performed their duty right manfully, and to the extent of their means drove the dark vapours of pride out of the heads of their opponents, but they were at length both slain.

During this time, General Meadows with the greatest gallantry advanced, and at one assault took possession of the walls of the city, or rather suburb of Ganjam, and the Lal Baugh, which were defended by a deep ditch and strong towers. The loss of these by the neglect of Mehdi Khán, the Sáhib Dewán, left a great chasm in the foundations of the kingdom, for it happened on that night that the whole of the garrison of the fort above-men­tioned, without the orders of the Sultán, were sent for under pretence of distributing their pay, and stationed before the gate of the fort of Seringa­puttun, and the walls and towers being left entirely bare of defenders, the General was victorious.

As soon as this intelligence reached the Sultán, he, with the whole of his army, retired into the city, and appointed two Risalás, or regiments of Assud Illáhi Infantry,* (himself asking or entreat­ing their aid) to recover the batteries which had been taken that night by the English.

As soon, therefore, as the morning dawned, these regiments marched to attack the batteries and advanced to the foot of the ramparts. It happened, however, that the Sipahsalar of the English army, was himself present in the battery, and his men consequently remained firm and drove back the storming party, and although they repeated their assaults again and again, victory refused to shew them her lovely face, and most of the Jánbáz,* or bravest men sacrificed their lives in these unavailing attacks.