The National Register.
London, England, 1808-09-11 00:00:00

to assist in the evacuation of that post. Hitt Lordship baiting
,-formed a junction with the. British army, was ordered to cover
the retreat with his force of 10,000 men, and in this service
Major Wellesley had many opportunities of distinguishing him-
self, particularly at Alost, where they bud taken post on the
retreat of the Duke of York from Gmmmont. On the 6th of
July the French army had advanced near to Alost, and haVing
attacked the out-posts, drove in all the picquets; but the
British rapidly forming kept them in check for a considerable
time, and at last obliged them to retire, leaving a number of
killed and wounded behind them. During the whole of this
memorable retreat, Major Wellesley commanded the rear-guard
of this little army, and covered it with a spirited and judicious
activity, under the most trying difficulties ; so as not only to
acquire the approbation of his superiors, but also to raise the
admiration of all his brother Officers ; some faint idea of the
suPrings of the whole detachment may be formed, when wo
recollect that from the time of their landing at Ostend, they had
marched until their embarkation, without either tents or bag.
gage.
Shortly after being promoted to the 33d regiment, Lieut..
Colonel Wellesley accompanied his brother, the then Lord
Mornington, to India, and immediately on his arrival was put
in orders to embark with his regiment along with the force
destined for the attack of Manilla, but the intrigues of France
with the native Princes, obliged the new Governor General to
change his plans on the instant, and reserve his troops for the
defence of the British territories. It was now Ascertained that
the friendly protestations of Tippets Sultaun were merely ti
cloak for his ambitious designs, the Governor General therefore
resolved on decisive measures, stud the Madras army, under
Lieut.-General Harris, received orders to concentrate at Vel-
lore, about which time also the Nizant's contingent, amounting
to about 8000 of the Company's troops, and an equal number
of his own native infantry, marched from Hyderabnd, under
the command of Meer Allton Baltauder, and arrived At 'Venom
in time to joie the British army. In order to place the Nizam's
force on the most respectable footing, and render it es efficient
as possible, the Commander in Chief thought it prudent to aug-
ment it with the 33d regiment, giving the command of till the
British troops serving trith Meer Allum, to the Hon. Colonel
Wellesley, an arrangement which was highly gratifying to the
native 'General, and gave additional confidence to his army.
Having learnt that Tippoo had moved from Periapatam
on the 14th of Marc!,, 1799, with his whole force, in order to
meet the British ; our troops at day break on the morning of
~the 27th marched towards hlallavelly, Colonel Wellesley's
division moving so as to corer the army on the left Hank, pre-
pared to act according to circumstances. Our army had ad-
vanced but a small distance from its ground, when Tippoo's
forces were seen drawn up in order of battle; a cannonade im-
mediately commenced on the part of the enemy, which, as the
line formed, was answered by our on n artillery and soon
4cnerul.
The crafty Stilt:tun determined to make a bold push en
the Nizaut's force, expecting an easy victory; he however
only gave Colonel -Wellesley an opportunity Of distinguishing
himself, for a column of two thousand men having moved for-
ward in excellent order, were unexpectedly opposed by the
13d regiment, who coolly reserved their fire, and having teceived
that of the enemy at the distance of 80 yards, gallantly advanced
with, the bayonet, when the column gave way, and being
thrown iuto disorder, the whole of Tippoo's army 11°



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