In March a French fleet arrived off the coast, landed a force of three thousand men to assist Hyder, and informed him that a much larger division was on its way.
Fortunately, this did not arrive, many of the ships being captured by the English on their way out.

In the course of the year there were several fights, but none of any consequence, and things remained in the same state until the end of the year, when, on the 7th of December, Hyder died, and Tippoo was proclaimed his successor.
"Bussy arrived with fresh reinforcements from France in April, and took the command of Hyder's French contingent, and in June there was a battle between him and a force commanded by General Stuart, the successor to Sir Eyre Coote, who had been obliged to resign from ill health, and who had died in the spring.
"The French position was a very strong one, and was protected by numerous field works.

The battle was the most sanguinary fought during the war, considering the numbers engaged.

The English carried a portion of the works, and captured fourteen guns, and, as the French retired during the night, were able to claim a victory.

Their loss, however, was over a thousand, while that of the French was not more than a third of that number.
"During that year there was little fighting down here.