When the colonel gave the orders to halt, my father said to me: "'This foolish officer will sacrifice all our lives.

Does he think that three thousand men can withstand one hundred thousand, with a great number of guns?
We will go while we can.

We can do no good here.' "We mounted our horses and rode off.

In the darkness, we came suddenly upon a body of Tippoo's horsemen, but dashed straight at them and cut our way through, but with the loss of half our force, and did not draw rein until we reached Madras.
"The roar of battle had been heard at Conjeveram, and the fury and indignation in the camp, at the desertion of Colonel Baillie's detachment, was so great that the general at last gave orders to march to their assistance.

When his force arrived within two miles of the scene of conflict, the cessation of fire showed that it was too late, and that Baillie's force was well-nigh annihilated.