He continued his march next morning without opposition, and after proceeding two miles entered a jungle. The Sultan had concentrated his army about this spot, and on the preceding day had thrown up three batteries, one in the centre of the grove and one on each flank. No sooner had Colonel Baillie entered the jungle than a heavy and destructive fire was opened upon him from 57 pieces of cannon. The march was continued in the form of a square, with the sick, baggage, and ammunition in the centre; and though the detachment was assailed on all sides by an immense force, the enemy after a desperate conflict of three hours’ duration, was driven back at every point. Thus repulsed, Hyder Ali determined to retreat, and orders had been given to Colonel Lally, a French officer in the service of the Sultan, to draw off his men, and to the cavalry to cover the retreat, when two explosions were seen to take place in the British line. These laid open one entire face of their column, destroyed their artillery, and threw the whole into irreparable confusion. This occurrence revived Hyder’s hopes, his cavalry charged in successive squadrons, and his infantry poured volleys of musketry upon the devoted band. Reduced at length to little more than 400 men, Colonel Baillie formed these into a square upon a small eminence. Here, after two-thirds of the number had been killed or disabled, the officers with their swords, and the soldiers with their bayonets, repulsed thirteen charges. At length, borne down by fresh bodies of horse, Colonel Baillie, to save the lives of the few brave men who survived, displayed a flag of truce. Quarter was promised, but no sooner had the men laid down their arms, than they were savagely attacked, and only by the humane interference of the French officers were any lives saved. One of these officers,[1] speaking of this action says:— “Too great encomiums cannot be bestowed on the English commander and his troops, for in the whole of this trying conflict they preserved a coolness of manœuvre which would have done honour to any troops in the world. Raked by the fire of an immense artillery, the greater part of the action within grape shot range, attacked on all sides by not less than 25,000 horse and 30 battalions of Sepoys, besides Hyder’s European troops, the English column stood firm, and repulsed every charge with great slaughter. The horse driven back on the foot, the right of our line began to give way, though composed of the best troops in the Mysore army.” In this action, known by the name of the battle of Perambaucum, Lieut.-Colonel Fletcher and 29 European officers, with 155 rank and file were killed; Lieut.-Colonel Baillie with 34 officers, and almost all the European privates, were wounded; 16 officers and privates remained unhurt, who, with the rest, were made prisoners. The whole of the sepoys were either killed, taken, or dispersed.