Campbell’s Summary of Events Leading to the Armistice; letter to Bombay dated October 4, 1783[1]

In his letter of May 18, Campbell had informed the Council that Tipu’s army had camped on a hill about three miles distant from the fort, and that he had received information that Mathews had surrendered Bednur 27 days earlier.

On the 20th, about 3,000 of Tipu’s infantry, with cavalry and three guns, reached the river bank of the Gurpur north of the fort, passing by the hill on which the 1st and 8th English Battalions were posted. A part of these forces retreated to the defence lines built at the bazar. Tipu’s advance was halted. Both parties were fully engaged in constructing defence lines and batteries. The English replenished the fort’s stores from their ships.

Tipu’s forward line, about a mile distant, extended the river towards his main encampment. His guns opened fire from a distance of about 700 yards. The following day several sepoys from the 8th Madras Battalion deserted. Several Europeans reconnoitred English outposts from Tipu’s camp, while his forces strengthened the earthworks.

On 22nd morning, Tipu’s guns created great damage to the English defence line. His infantry captured some houses but were driven out. Two sepoys of the 5th Battalion, from Bednur, brought information that Tipu’s heavy artillery was being brought via Husseingiri Ghat. That afternoon, redeployment of Tipu’s forces north of the fort indicated an attack on the advance English post on the hill. Some captured sepoys confirmed that Lally's Corps and the French Battalion had taken positions on a hill in front and to the right of this post.

About half-past five the next morning, showers of rockets and gun fire fell upon the hill. The attack was led by the French, supported by a column of sepoys on each flank. The English retreated, and all advanced posts were withdrawn and deployed within the fort and its outworks. English losses, including from desertion, from the 19th were over 300.

Musket fire and construction of earthworks continued. The ditch opposite the East Gate was deepened, and ammunition was sent over to the Octagon Battery. A pattamar arrived with despatches from Tellicherry. A demand for the fort’s surrender was rejected.

The monsoon intensified. On the 26th, the fort’s magazine curtain suffered considerable damage from a battery of over 12 guns opposite it. The following day, gunfire intensified from a battery of two guns opposite the Lower Gate to the left of the Durbar, and another two guns at the Pagoda to the southward. Tipu’s forces repulsed an English attempt to destroy them, and the fighting continued. Four large mortars threw stones of immense weight into the fort causing great damage.

Within the fort, heavy monsoon rains destroyed cattle, and the number of sick and wounded, without shelter from mortar stones or gunshot, daily increased.  On June 3, another demand for surrender was rejected. A royal salute was fired on the 4th, the king’s birthday.

The fort began to crumble under heavy bombardment, the fighting intensified. English night sallies to disable the mortars did not stop them throwing large stones into the fort. June passed with continual bombardment, repairs to the fort, and sallies to impede Tipu’s operations. Tipu’s many surrender demands were all rejected.

June proved to be a month of remarkably moderate weather. Offensive and defensive operations continued on both sides, with Tipu’s forces approaching ever closer, even occupying parts of the fort temporarily.  The fighting was now at the very walls, gates, and towers of the fort. The deaths of 130 soldiers and sepoys, and four officers was recorded on the 5th.

On the 19th, a letter from Piveron du Morlay, French envoy to Tipu, informed Campbell that peace having been concluded between Britain and France in Europe, hostilities on the Coromandel Coast had ceased. It included instructions from Madras that negotiations should commence for an armistice.

Meanwhile, Tipu attacked the Octagon Tower (located across the River Gurpur on Bengre). He also proposed through Piveron du Morlay that should deliver up the fort and march with the garrison and baggage to Tellicherry. Campbell refused. The Octogon Tower fell on the 21st.

On instructions from Bussy, the French commander, all French troops fighting alongside Tipu’s army withdrew and left his camp. Tipu, having captured the Octagon Tower, thereby cutting all communication between the fort and the sea, ceased hostilities and prepared for an armistice.

[1] Forrest, George W. 1887. Letters, Despatches, and other State Papers preserved in the Bombay Secretariat, Home Series, Vol II, 287-293. Bombay.