After several skirmishes, Hyder Ali made a general attack on the British while they were in camp near Cuddalore. This was repulsed, the 16th Battalion being cited in orders as having behaved especially well. [Sidenote: Battle of Porto Novo.] The Army continued its march southwards, and found the united armies of Hyder Ali and the French, under Lally, in position near Porto Novo on July 1st. The enemy numbered 60,000 regulars with 47 guns and 120,000 irregulars. Coote attacked the enemy’s left flank, which was broken, and caused the general defeat of the enemy. The 16th was in the second line under General Stuart, which covered the left of the attack and finally repulsed the cavalry under Lally, which made a desperate final attempt to break the British line. The casualties were:—Killed: European, 19; Native, 64. Wounded: European, 38; Native, 198. Missing: European, 1; Native, 18. Total, 338. The Battalion’s losses were:—Killed: 1 European drummer and 3 rank and file. Wounded: Ensign John Haynes, 2 subadars, 2 havildars, and 20 rank and file. Missing: 1. Total, 30. Coote especially praised the steadiness and spirited behaviour of the Sepoy Corps. The victory could not be followed up owing to lack of cavalry and supplies, but it broke the spell and terror of Hyder’s name. The army now moved north to effect a junction with the Bengal detachment, which was marching down the coast. This having been accomplished, the whole force returned to St. Thomas’ Mount on August 8th, and was reorganized into five brigades. The 16th was placed in the 2nd Brigade, Colonel Ross Lang, Right Wing, under Sir Hector Munro. On August 16th the whole army marched, and having taken Tripasore, continued its westerly advance. [Sidenote: Battle of Pollilore.] The whole strength of the enemy was found in position at Pollilore, on the same ground on which Baillie’s detachment had been destroyed the previous year. The effective British strength was 11,000 and that of Hyder Ali and the French 150,000 (regulars and irregulars), with 80 guns. Coote attacked and penetrated the enemy’s centre with his right wing, while his left outflanked the enemy’s right. A general retreat of the enemy then commenced. The British casualties were:—Killed: Europeans, 24; Native, 105. Wounded: European, 54; Native, 207. Missing: Native, 63. Total, 453. Again the lack of cavalry, supplies, and transport prevented the victory being exploited, and the army fell back on Tripasore on August 29th. [Sidenote: Battle of Sholinghur.] The Fort at Vellore, which was besieged by the enemy, being in urgent need of relief, Coote with great difficulty collected sufficient transport and rations to march with this object on September 21st.