Hyder Ali was holding a pass through the Sholinghur Hills on the direct road with his whole army. The British army arrived at the pass on September 27th, and at once attacked. Hyder Ali did not realize that the British were seriously attacking. The 2nd Brigade and the Cavalry were sent to turn the enemy’s left flank while the rest of the army attacked frontally. The attack was entirely successful and the enemy fled in disorder after the defeat of the Mysore Cavalry. The strengths of the opposing armies were: British, 11,500; Mysore, 150,000, and 70 guns. The British casualties were only 20 killed, 58 wounded and 9 missing. Owing to the continual dissensions between the civil and military authorities, an efficient supply and transport service was impossible. Government also would not sanction the raising of cavalry. So for the third time in this year decisive victory was missed. Coote declared that he would rather have had five days’ rice than the trophies and credit of the victory. In 1889 the battle honour “Sholinghur” was sanctioned for the Battalion in commemoration of its services in this battle. [Sidenote: Relief of Vellore.] Vellore having been relieved on November 3rd, the army returned to Madras, where it arrived on December 3rd. [Sidenote: Defence of Tripasore.] Tripasore, the main base of the army, was attacked by Hyder, but held out until relieved, the garrison being under the command of Lieutenant Bishop, of the Battalion. [Sidenote: 1782: Relief of Vellore.] Early in January it again became necessary to relieve Vellore, to effect which the army marched on the 2nd, and, after some fighting, the place was relieved on the 11th. Hyder intercepted the return march, but on two occasions refused battle. [Sidenote: Surrender of Permacoil.] In May the Fort of Permacoil, held by a company of the Battalion under Lieutenant Plaw, was forced to surrender. [Sidenote: Relief of Wandewash and Battle of Arnee.] Owing to the continued lack of transport the army was practically immobile, and Hyder Ali laid siege to Wandewash and other forts. To draw him off Coote marched towards Arnee, Hyder’s principal depot. This had the desired effect and the British were overtaken on June 2nd, about three miles from Arnee. The rear guard held the enemy until the army was formed up, when the whole line advanced and drove the enemy back. The advance had to be stopped for a time owing to an attack by 11,000 cavalry on the baggage, which was covered by the 2nd Brigade. This being repulsed, the advance continued until the exhaustion of the infantry called a halt. There being no cavalry, the pursuit could not be continued. The army later fell back on Madras. Owing to ill-health, Sir Eyre Coote handed over command to Brigadier-General Stuart in September, and returned to Bengal. [Sidenote: 1783.]