demolished, and an immediate assault ordered. The precipitous face of the rock was soon covered by the storming party, who, heedless of the dangerous nature of the ascent, succeeded in gaining the citadel on the eastern peak, the defenders being so taken by surprise as to offer no opposition. Meanwhile, another division, after climbing the rock above the breach, made its way towards the western peak, whence the commandant of that citadel had sallied to attack the assailants of the eastern peak. Met midway by our second division, and seeing that shots from the batteries below were falling among his men, he retreated to his post, but was so closely followed that pursuers and pursued entered the citadel together, the commandant falling at its gate. This notable feat of arms was followed by the capture by escalade of the fort of Hutridrúg (Utradrúg), and the reduction of several other minor strongholds, all of which, except the first, were seized without much resistance.
The toils were now being closely woven round the 'tiger,' and Lord Cornwallis commenced his march on Seringapatam. He encamped six miles to the northward of that capital on February 5, 1792, having been joined by the main army of the Nizám, which was accompanied by Sir John Kennaway the Resident at Haidarábád. The remainder of Nizám Alí's troops had been detained in the ineffectual blockade of Gurramkondá in the Kadapa territory, while the Maráthá hosts under Parasu Rám Bháo were engaged in the congenial occupation of plundering the
