Battle of Sultanpettah Tope

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Battle of Sultanpettah Tope
Part of 4th Mysore War
Date: 4 May 1799
Location: Srirangapatnam, Karnataka
Presidency: Madras
Co-ordinates: 12.418346°N 76.695989°E
Result: British retreat
Combatants
East India Company
Nizam of Hyderabad
Kingdom of Mysore
Commanders
General George Harris
Colonel Arthur Wellesley
Tipu Sultan
Strength
Casualties

'The Storming of Seringapatam

In order to clear the ground in front of the walls for the batteries, several woods, or topes, had to be scoured of the enemy entrenchments they concealed. Wellesley was given the task to take the Sultanpettah Tope in a night attack with his regiment of the 33rd. The attack was a failure. No reconnaissance had been made during the day, and between the dense cocoa, bamboo and betel trees were deep irrigation canals. The 33rd was met with a furious barrage of musket fire and rockets that sowed panic and confusion in the ranks. The regiment pulled back and the Tope was scoured successfully of Tippoo’s troops the next morning by Wellesley. The night attack on the Tope marked Wellesley deeply. “I have come to a determination; when in my power, never to suffer an attack to be made by night upon an enemy who is strongly posted, and whose posts have not yet been reconnoitred by daylight", he wrote to Richard.'
Total War Centre Forums posting


External Links

Wikipedia - Anglo-Mysore Wars Wars
Wikipedia - 4th Mysore War
Seringapatam 1799