Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/527

 Cn.AP. VI.] SIEGE OF TRICHINOPOLY. 4!)3

in the letter of De Ciittans, who, after obtaining what was equivalent to a pro- ad. 1753. raise of pardon, had been unjustifiably hung by ]lajor Lawrence. It was situ- ated on the west side, near the north-west angle of the walls, and had once formed part of a gateway. This part, so far as it jutted beyond the wall, had been converted into a solid battery with embrasures ; the remainder retained its original form, and led by zigzag passages inclosed between terraces to a gate in the inner wall. The enemy had learned, both from the letter of De Cattans and from deserters, the exact mode of entrance, and must tluis have been aware of the difficulties which it would be necessary to sui mount, but they still pre- ferred the battery as the most accessible point of attack, because the ditch imme- diately in front of it was almost choked up by a rock on a level with the water.

On the night of tlie 27th November the greater part of the enemy's aimy Assault se- crossed over from the island. 'J'he Mysoreans and Mahrattas were distributed ana tom- in parties round the walls, and by approaching the ditch and making other p,*i^j''* demonstrations, were to divert the attention of the garrison while the French battalion were carrying out the real attack, which was planned as follows: — At three o'clock in the morning GOO of the battalion were to commence the esca- lade, and the remaining 200, together with a large body of sepoys, were to wait at the outside of the ditch, ready to cross as soon as the escaladers should have gained an entrance into the town. Tiie battery was guarded by fift}" sepoys and some European gunners. All these were present and on the alert when the roimds passed at midnight, and yet the event proved that, three hours after, the greater part had absented themselves, and the few who remained had fallen fast asleep. Owing to this gross breach of duty, the whole of the escalading party were able to cross the ditch and mount the battery without causing the least alarm. Tlie sleepers being at once despatched with the bayonet, the assail- • ants began to move forward, intending not to fire till they Avere fired upon. This intention was fnistrated by an accident. Within the battery, close to a slight wall inclosing it at the back, was a pit thirty feet deep. It was not ob- served in the dark, and as several of the party screamed in tumbling into it, some shots were let off. This was alarm sufficient, and all the garrison were instantly in motion. The French, aware that concealment was now impossible, turned the two gims which they found in the batterj-, and fired them into the town, together with a volley of firearms, at the same time endeavouring to strike terror by beating their drums and shouting Vive le Roi ! Captain Kilpatrick, still unable to leave his bed, gave his instructions with gi'eat coolness and pre- cision to Lieutenant Harrison, the next in command, who not only executed them but improved upon them, and by the precaution of keeping up an inces- sant fire on the passage leading to the gate in the inner wall, killed the two persons who were hastening forward to burst it open with a petard.

The attack had now become almost desperate. From the ramparts and ter- serious iws races commanding the battery the garrison assembled at their posts Qommenced