Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/220

212 guns, every man endeavouring to save himself by precipitate flight. Many of them ran into a choultry in the grove, where they were so crowded together that they were not able to make use of their arms. The English drew up before the choultry, and to spare the impending slaughter of their fire, offered quarter, which was accepted with joy, and the Frenchmen coming out one by one, as they were ordered, delivered up their arms, and were made prisoners. The English troops fighting at the water-course were immediately convinced of the success of the detachment, by the sudden silence of the enemy's artillery: but the enemy's infantry remained ignorant of it, and continued the fight, until some of the fugitives from the grove informed them of the disaster, on which they immediately took flight, and their horse dispersed at the same time. The field being thus cleared, the whole army united, and remained under arms until day-break, when they found themselves in possession of nine field pieces, three cohorn mortars, and 60 European prisoners. They likewise counted 50 dead on the field, and not less than 300 Sepoys: for the enemy had exposed these troops more freely than the others. Of the English, 40 Europeans and 30 Sepoys were killed, and a great number of both wounded.

Pari of the fugitives took shelter in the neighbouring fort of Covrepauk, which was summoned to surrender; but the governor returned answer, that the troops of Raja-saheb were much more numerous than his garrison, and, contrary to his inclination, intended to defend the fort: a detachment was threfore sent to invest it, but before they arrived the fugitives abandoned it, upon which he submitted.

From hence the troops proceeded to Arcot, and the next day marched towards Velore, not in expectation of reducing the place, but in hopes that some hostilities would induce Mortiz-ally to pay a contribution, or at least to deliver up the elephants and baggage, which Raja-saheb had deposited in his fort soon after he had raised the siege of Arcot; but before the troops came in sight of Velore, captain Clive received an order from the presidency of Fort St. David, to repair thither with all his force, for it was now determined to send