Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/223

Book III. In the mean time the major advanced towards Elimiserum. This is a rock with a fortified pagoda on the summit, where the French had mounted cannon: it is situated three miles to the south-east of the French rock; and between these two posts the greatest part of the enemy's army were drawn up in order of battle: the rest were in a line which extended from the French rock to the village of Chucklypollam by the river side. The major, informed of this disposition, made to surround him if he passed to the north of Elimiserum, directed his march to the south of it: and before he came in sight of the enemy, the whole of the confederate troops, employed for the Nabob, were in the field, and by their appearance deterred the enemy from making any detachments to attack the major. At noon, captain Dalton's party, with the Mysoreans and the Nabob's troops, met him half-way between Elimiserum and the sugar-loaf-rock, whilst Morari-row with the Morattoes remained kirmishing faintly with the enemy. The sun striking excessively hot, the troops where ordered to halt and refresh themselves; but in less than half an hour the scouts came in at full speed, bringing intelligence that the whole of the enemy's army was advancing, and that the fire of their cannon had put the Morattoes to flight: these soon after came up, and forming with the rest of the allies in the rear of the Europeans and Sepoys, followed them slowly at a distance. Captain Clive having reconnoitred the enemy, reported, that there was a large choultry, with some stone buildings, not far from the front of the French battalion, which they, busied in forming their line, had neglected to take possession of. On this advice he was ordered to proceed with the first division of artillery, supported by the grenadiers, as fast as possible to the choultry, whilst the rest of the column moved up slowly in regular order. The enemy, instead of sending forward a detachment to prevent them, contented themselves with cannonading as their battalion advanced, which had approached within 800 yards of the choultry by the time the English detachment arrived there: and now made a push against their artillery, which was so well pointed, that it kept them at a distance until the rest of the battalion and Sepoys came up. The confederate troops, unwilling to expose their horses to a cannonade, halted at a distance; but