Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/224

216 those of Chunda-saheb, commanded by Allum-Khan, the governor of Madura, kept close to the rear of the French. A cannonade ensued, the hottest without doubt, for the time it lasted, that had ever been seen on the plains of Indostan; for the French fired from 22 pieces of cannon and the English from nine. Such of the English troops as were not employed at the guns found shelter behind the choultry and the buildings near it, whilst the whole of the enemy's army stood exposed on the open plain, suffering in proportion to this disadvantage. The French battalion in half an hour began to waver, and drew off their guns to a greater distance, upon which the English advanced their artillery, and the men of the battalion who supported them were ordered to sit down with their arms grounded; by which precaution many lives were saved. They still continued to retreat, but Chunda-saheb's cavalry kept their ground for some time, and sustained the cannonade with much more firmness than had ever been observed in the troops of India: they were spirited by the example of their commander, Allum-Khan, whose head was at length taken off by a cannon-ball, as he was encouraging them to advance; on which disaster they gave way and retreated likewise. The Captains Clive and Dalton continuing to advance with the first division of artillery, followed the French, who flung themselves into a great water-course near the French rock, where they were on the point of being enfiladed by a fire that would have made great havock amongst them; when major Lawrence, satisfied with the advantages that had been gained, and unwilling to expose the men to more fatigue under such a burning sun, ordered the pursuit to cease. Seven men of the battalion were struck dead by the heat, and 14 were killed or disabled by the cannonade. The French lost about 40 men; and 300 of Chunda-saheb's troops, with 285 horses and an elephant, were found dead on the plain. The success of this day might have been much greater, had the confederate troops behaved with common activity, instead of which they remained at a distance, idle spectators, nor could they be prevailed on to make a single charge, even when the enemy's cavalry retreated. This inaction proceeded not from want of bravery, but from the treachery of Morari-row, who being at this time in treaty with Chunda-saheb, was unwilling to bring his Morattoes