Chapter 6 Summary

Four days later the British army arrives at Seringapatam. While the army settles in, Tippoo prepares his defenses, which are primarily cannons mounted on the city walls. He also has about thirty thousand troops within the walls. The British army and the Indian forces employed by the East India Company amount to fifty thousand, along with many field pieces and siege cannons.

Sharpe and Lawford examine a stack of rockets on the city wall. Lawford explains that the rockets can be deadly but have little accuracy. While British officers scout the area around the city, Sharpe and Lawford witness the use of rockets. At this long of range they do little than turn heads and cause horsemen to take minor evasive action. The effect is more psychological than physical with all the sputtering, flaming and erratic courses. Sharpe comments that Tippoo has thousands...