On the 5th March, the British force reached Bangalore, and took up its ground without any loss, beyond a few casualties caused by a distant cannonade on the march. On the following day, the army changed ground, and took up a better position on the North West face of the pettah.[27] In the afternoon, Colonel Floyd was detached to the south west of the town, to cover a reconnoissance by the engineers. He had with him his own brigade, consisting of the 19th Light Dragoons under Captain Child, and five Regiments of native Cavalry, besides a Brigade of three battalions of Infantry, with a detachment of Artillery under Major Gowdie. The work was satisfactorily accomplished, and the force was about to return, when a body of the enemy’s horse appeared. Leaving the infantry and guns, Floyd moved against it, and, on its giving way, discovered some Mysore infantry, and guns, with large masses of baggage and stores, elephants, bullock carts, camels and all the paraphernalia of an Eastern Army on the march. Tippoo was changing his ground, and, by accident, the reconnoitring party had crossed the rear of his line of march. Disregarding his orders, Floyd allowed himself to be persuaded to attack, by the young officers who were clamorous for the fray. The temptation was irresistible, and the cavalry advanced at a gallop. Some parties of infantry were charged and broken, and nine guns captured. As the advance continued, the ground became much broken with ravines and low rocky hills. The horses were exhausted, and the enemy, collecting their forces, opened a heavy fire of musketry and rockets that checked the advance. At this moment, Floyd fell from his horse, apparently dead, with a musket ball in his head. At his fall, the squadron behind him made a half wheel to avoid trampling on their leader. This threw the line into confusion, the flank squadrons took it for a signal to retire, and, in a few moments, the whole force was falling back. Fortunately for Floyd, Corporal Murray and Private Buchanan remained with him, and, examining his wound, found that it was not mortal. Murray remained with him, while Buchanan galloped after the regiment, and in a short time returned with a troop of the 19th, under Cornet Roderick Mackenzie: Floyd was mounted on Buchanan’s horse and brought back to the regiment. He was able to halt the regiment, and show a front to the enemy, which checked them; but darkness was coming on; the enemy pressed on, and the confusion was very great. The exhausted horses were scarcely able to get back through the ravines they had cleared with ease in their advance, and had it not been for the good judgment of Major Gowdie, who had advanced a mile beyond the place where he had been left, and covered the retreat with his brigade, the losses would have been very great. Lord Cornwallis, who had been able to see what was occurring from the encampment, put a division in motion, and met the whole detachment returning. Floyd’s wound was caused by