The Nizám now, after a consultation with Rukn­uddowla, sent a message to the Nawaub Bahadúr, desiring that he should despatch a body of his own troops, well acquainted with the country, to plunder, and lay waste the Souba of Arkat, and the vicinity of China­puttun, (Madras), &c. and likewise, to collect cattle, and provisions; that they might strike fear and dis­may into the hearts of Muhammad Alí Khan, and the English. Although, in time of need, the Nawaub did not mind attacking a wild elephant, still he did not relish this division of his army; the Nizám, however, was so importunate and troublesome in this matter, and used words so exciting, and was, besides, so infatuated in his opinion of his own troops, that at length he prevailed, and brought the Nawaub to consent to despatch his cavalry, regular and irregular infantry, and light guns, under the command of his son (Tippoo), selecting, to accompany him, Meer Alí Ruza Khan, Mukh­doom Sáhib, Muhammad Alí, commandant, Ghazi Khan, &c. Chiefs of note,— and he was acccordingly despatched to that quarter; the Nawaub leaving himself but few troops,— that is to say, five or six hundred horse of his own stable,* two thousand regular infantry, four thousand foot, and his artil­lery; but all ready for action. Hybut Jung was nominated to the command of the troops remaining with the Nawaub. The Nawaub, however, at that time had not let fall the reins of caution; and, as he had no confidence at all in Rooknuddowla, and the other Chiefs of the Moghul army, wherever he encamped he surrounded his encampment with a stockade, or an abattis,* and to this defence he directed there should be four gates or roads, on each of which he stationed strong guards and artillery.

When the English officer arrived at Turnamul, he detailed the strength of the combined armies, (Hydur’s and the Nizám’s), and their numerous artillery, to the government of Madras; and General Smith, a brave and able officer, who was then employed in urgent duties near Nuthur Nuggur, (Trichinopoly,) was despatched, by the governor of Madras, to oppose the Nizám and Hydur, with four thousand regular infantry, eight hundred Euro­peans,* three thousand horse of the Souba of Arkat, four thousand Karnatic foot, and a great quantity of provisions and stores; and he proceeded, by forced marches, by the route of Runjun Gurh, and arrived at Turnamul. When these two Sirdárs or officers, blood-drinkers,* met and made themselves acquainted with the strength and description of the Nawaub’s and Moghul armies, they did not estimate the Moghul army at the value of a grain of barley. After having halted for a week, they formed their troops, and marched on, straight forward, without deceit or guile, like lions, to attack the combined armies; firing their guns as they moved on. The Nawaub, with the same number of troops that remained with him occupied his ground of encampment, and directed his artillery men to open their fire on their enemies. The Nizám, in the meanwhile, had sta­tioned hinself on the right flank of the English troops, and was firing away with his guns, without aim or object. His horse, also, in number like ants, or locusts, surrounded the English army in clusters. The English officers, however, by their penetration and experience, soon perceiving that the Nawaub had arranged his troops in the best order and position possible, and had kept his ground firmly, and that the Moghul army, like a herd of timid deer, was standing about without order, now, with a view to deceive their opponents, advanced quickly from the flank, and immediately charged the Nizám’s body guard, giving them several quick discharges from the guns, and, with very little fighting, completely routed them, and took the whole of their cattle, stores and artillery, with the tents, standards, and Bazar of their camp. Spiritless and ashamed, the Nizám now quitted the field, and retreated, venting his spleen in cursing the want of judgment shewn by his Dewaun, Rookn­uddowla, and the rest of his Ameers and Khans. His troops, who had never been engaged in a hard fought or well contested battle, left their master to his fate, and, like a flock of sheep at the sight of a wolf, were so scattered, that even round the elephant of the Nizám, scarcely two thousand horse remained. On witnessing this want of colour, the Nawaub bestowed many maledictions on the female relations* of the runaways, and ordered his artillery off quickly to Singar Peeth; but he himself remained on the field with ten light guns. The English officers having completely plundered the Moghul camp, now returned to attack Hydur. The brave Nawaub, dragging off his guns, and fire­ing, and retiring step by step, halted and fought, occasionally, at different points on his route. The Nizám, at length, arrived at Singar Peeth, where he encamped; and the Nawaub, sorely displeased at the irregularity and disorder of the Moghul army, pitched his tents at the distance of a fursung from them; while the English General and his troops, victorious, encamped on the battle field. The Nawaub now quickly despatched his camel riders and Hurkaras, (messengers,) with letters, to his son Tippoo, who had been plundering the country in the environs of Madras, commanding him to return. He, also, sent a message to the Nizám, to the effect,— that the expectations formed of his, the Nizam’s, brave troops and the ability and experience of his Ameers and officers, had been well proved, in as much that, in time of need, not a thousand men with their arms, nor one Ameer of respectability had remained with the stirrup— i. e. the Nizám; that with such troops therefore, strong only in numbers and shew, it was evident they could never expect to conquer the stormy, warlike, English;* that the wisest course to be followed, was, that the Nizám should encamp at Kaveriput­tun; and he, (Hydur,) his particular friend, by every art and device which knowledge could supply, would oppose and defeat the English, and put them to flight. The Nizám followed his advice, and accordingly marched from this place, and encamped at the said town of Puttun.

In the meanwhile, until the arrival of his son, the Nawaub moved about in the vicinity of Singar Peeth, Barh Mahl, and Ootangiri, and when Tip­poo arrived, with all the officers and troops, and great store of provisions and cattle, the Nawaub was freed from all thought and apprehension; and, having ranged his right and left wings in order of battle, he remained in readiness for action. At this time, the Nizám, sending his Ameers to Hydur, begged with great importunity that he would visit him; and, although the Nawaub in his heart was unwilling to accede to his request, yet to keep on friendly terms with him, he marched with his army, and they met, and embraced and conversed together. They then consulted how they were to overcome their strong enemy, and the Nawaub, seeing on the forehead of the Nizám the signs of grief for the late defeat, essayed to comfort him, and said, with a view to his encouragement, that victory and defeat came from God; that similar mischances had often befallen kings and princes of great renown, who, nevertheless, had attained the very highest ranks of fame for strength of mind and courage; and that it was only consistent with the character of Chieftainship, that he should not allow the rust of doubt and despondency to rest on the clear mirror of his heart, nor permit the dust of shame or regret to stick to the skirt of his intentions and projects.* That he recommended therefore that with the care and caution worthy men of rank and station, he, the Nizám, should march with his army to Huskote; and he, Hydur, his well-wisher, by policy and management would subdue his enemies, and conquer the Karnatic Payanghautin the best and easiest manner. The Nizám agreed to this proposal and marched towards Huskote. Rooknuddowla, however, his minister, with Manuvvur Khan, Kur­nooli, Ismail Khan, Elichpoori, Rai Rumba, and twenty thousand horse, were attached to the Nawaub, and remained with him.

The Nawaub now, with his own troops, and accompanied by Rooknuddowla, crossed the Ghaut of Tubul Pulli, and besieged Amboor Gurh, which was held by an English garrison, and left no means untried to take the place. Khaki Shah, a Fuqeer, a companion and friend of the Nawaub’s, was here killed by a cannon shot from the fort. As soon as the Chiefs of the English army became aware of the siege they advanced by forced marches, by the route of Karnatic Gurh, Dhoby Gurh, Kylas, and Pulli Koonda, to Amboor. The Nawaub, therefore, when he heard of the arrival of the English troops, raised the siege, and encamped in the neighbourhood of Vud Cheri and Bapun Pilli.