“Hyder thought proper to fall back a few miles to the ground on which he had defeated the detachment under Colonel Baillie, where he took up a strong position, and, influenced by a superstitious notion of its being a lucky spot, had determined, as I was informed by my intelligence, to try his fortune in a second battle. I accordingly marched on the 27th, in the morning, towards him, and, as reported, about 8 o’clock we discovered his army in order of battle and in full force to receive us, and in possession of many strong and advantageous posts, rendered the more formidable by the nature of the country lying between, which was intersected by very deep watercourses; in short, nothing could be more formidable than the situation of the enemy, and nothing more arduous than our approach to present a front to them. I was obliged to form the line under a heavy cannonade from several batteries, as well as from the enemy’s line, which galled us exceedingly, and was a very trying situation for the troops, who bore it with firmness and undaunted bravery, which did draw the highest honour and showed a steady valour not to be surpassed by the first veterans of any nation in Europe. The conflict lasted from nine in the morning till near sunset, when we had driven the enemy from all their strong posts, and obliged them to retreat with precipitation, leaving us in full possession of the field of battle.” The loss of the British was upwards of 400 killed and wounded, almost all being native troops. There was one circumstance peculiar to this field of battle, which stamped it with aggravated horrors. It is described by Captain Munro in his narrative as follows:— “Perhaps there come not within the wide range of human imagination scenes more affecting or circumstances more touching than many of our army had that day to witness and to bear. On the very spot where they stood lay strewed amongst their feet the relics of their dearest fellow-soldiers and friends, who near twelve months before had been slain by the hands of those very inhuman monsters that now appeared a second time eager to complete the work of blood. One poor soldier, with the tear of affection glistening in his eye, picked up the decaying spatterdash of his valued brother, with the name yet entire upon it, which the tinge of blood and effects of weather had kindly spared.... The scattered clothes and wings of the flank companies were everywhere perceptible, as also their helmets and skulls, both of which bore the marks of many furrowed cuts.” Upon this spot the army halted two days, and it then retired to Tripassoor, to secure provisions. At this period the health of Major-General Sir Hector Munro compelled him to leave the army, which led to Colonel Craufurd becoming second in command, the charge of the regiment devolving upon Major John Shaw.