For four days the army marched towards Seringapatam, along a road hemmed in by dense jungle interspersed with flat country thickly dotted with clumps of trees. As his column advanced Arthur was constantly on the watch for signs of the enemy. This was the kind of country where Tipoo’s men could hold up the British army with ease. Long enough to prevent them from reaching and taking Seringapatam before the monsoon season struck. But there were no ambushes, no attacks of any kind, and the army continued its march without interruption until it approached the large village of Malavalley late one afternoon.

The jungle had given way to land that was largely clear of trees. Arthur was riding near the head of his column when he heard the dull thud of distant guns, and a moment later a divot of earth flew into the air some distance beyond his foremost troops. Spurring Diomed forward he drew out his telescope and trained it on the low hills on the far side of Malavalley.The puffs of smoke that hung in the still air gave away the enemy artillery positions. As Arthur turned his attention to the enemy guns he saw dense formations of infantry on the slope below the guns and, on the top of the hill, the unmistakable shapes of elephants.

He lowered his telescope and pulled out his pocket watch. If Tipoo’s forces stood their ground there was still time to attack them before the day was out. He turned to his small group of staff officers. ‘Lieutenant Beaumont!’

‘Sir?’

‘Ride to General Harris and tell him that I have sighted the enemy. He may have reports of the sighting from his own men by the time you arrive, but tell him that I respectfully suggest that we attack the enemy at once, before they withdraw under cover of night.’

While he waited for a response Arthur quickly gave orders for his men to prepare for battle. The 33rd Foot and the six sepoy battalions marched forward and deployed in company columns facing the hills where the enemy waited, occasionally chancing a long shot from some of their heaviest guns.The Nizam’s infantry units formed up to the left of the 33rd and the cavalry took up their position on the flanks. As he watched them manoeuvre Arthur prayed that General Harris would seize the chance to attack the enemy. Given that there were only a few hours of light left in which to fight a pitched battle, it was possible that Harris might wait until dawn, by which time the enemy could easily have melted away.

The army was just completing its deployment when General Harris rode up.